The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Airbase Georgia- Georgia’s largest WWII flying museum and a completely volunteered-run organization- partnered with Redwood Educational Technologies to host a screening, with presenting sponsors of The Citizen and Peachtree City Convention & Visitors Bureau, of Crosswinds: The Courageous Life of Cornelia Fort, on Saturday, June 28, bringing an educational and patriotic event to town days before the Fourth of July. The film was shown at Airbase Georgia’s Warbird Museum hangar in Peachtree City, surrounded by historical aircraft and festive patriotism.

The Crosswinds documentary overlays the history of World War II with the life and experience of Cornelia Fort, the first woman pilot to lose her life in service to our country. Though the weather impacted turnout, around 100 people attended and enjoyed the film and the WWII-era planes on display- planes  maintained and still flown by the CAF Airbase Georgia volunteers.

Timed near the Fourth of July, the event served as a powerful reminder of the individuals’ stories that define American history. Fort’s life and legacy embodies the determination, freedom, and sacrifice that is celebrated during the holiday.

Airbase Georgia’s mission to “educate, inspire, and honor” is shown in their efforts to bring light to lesser-known figures in American history. This event is a perfect example of their mission, showcasing Cornelia Fort and her legacy as a woman who broke barriers during wartime. 

“At the time, America was an aviation nation, and she caught the bug,” said Chris Madrid, Development Officer at Airbase Georgia.  “She became a pilot in the time where very few people were pilots and even fewer were female”

“Her story, nearly lost to time, reminds us that courage means taking the first step forward- especially when you are among the first to do so,” said Madrid, during opening remarks at the event.

Judy Stanford Miller, the film’s creator, is passionate about telling the stories of historical heroes, specifically in the World War II era. Upon discovering Cornelia Fort’s story at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, what was once just a familiar-sounding name to her became an intriguing story of a trailblazing aviator that she wanted to explore further. During the pandemic in 2021, Miller collaborated with Madrid at Airbase Georgia to create a webinar for the Pearl Harbor anniversary that centered round Cornelia Fort’s place in the infamous day. The webinar was extremely well-received, putting Miller in contact with some members of the Fort family, and sparked the creation of an in-depth documentary on Cornelia Fort. Over the past three years, Miller has dedicated herself to telling Fort’s story in a way that both inspires and educates.

“The stories from her life are absolutely timeless for youth and adults today,” said Miller. “When she found her passion, she followed it and made it happen regardless.”

Born into an affluent family in Nashville, Cornelia Fort’s love for flying was considered unconventional. Her father even made her brothers promise to never fly an airplane, but the thought of their daughter wanting to pursue aviation never crossed her parents’ minds. Despite the stigma about what a woman of her time and background should and should not do, Cornelia Fort pursued her passion, ultimately becoming a pioneering figure in aviation and the war effort.

Fort’s story in Crosswinds, displays the often-overlooked efforts of women during WWII. As we celebrate the Fourth of July and reflect on the freedom we enjoy through the courage of American heroes, Cornelia Fort serves as a prime example of defying the odds through tenacity and perseverance.

The documentary will next be screened at the largest aviation event in the nation, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, attracting over 680,000 people to celebrate aviation in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The event will take place on July 26 in the Skyscape Theatre, allowing a large audience to learn more about Cornelia Fort and her story.  Airbase Georgia’s next public event will be their Open House in October, with details to come. For more information on upcoming events, museum visits, or how to get involved, visit their official website.