Many remember the tragic days of World War II and the memorable battles fought on land, at sea...and in the air.

A visit to the Texas Air Museum in Rio Hondo is more than a simple lesson in history however. It is a step back into time when the war planes of that era (and others) battled to dominate the skies over a war-torn world with history dangling delicately in the balance.

Visitors to the museum can see artifacts from the very first dogfight in the early 1900s as well as aircraft and war relics from World Wars I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam conflict, and two island towers taken from aircraft carriers used in World War II and Desert Storm.

One of the few air museums with restoration facilities, the Texas Air Museum is instrumental in acquiring aircraft relics and restoring planes to their original (and working) condition. At most times, visitors can tour these restoration areas and see some of the work in progress, and talk to some of the volunteers who contribute their time to preserving history.

And there's more than one "Winter Texan" who has volunteered their time to the cause. These volunteers are enthusiastic about sharing their skills and knowledge in the hope that the preservation of history will be a concept passed down to younger generations.

The Texas Air Museum, just outside Harlingen, in Rio Hondo, Texas, will be holding their annual FLY IN on November 9 from 7-11am.

The museum will tage Flying demonstrations of their historical aircraft including a WWII re-enactment. Also scheduled to appear is the Texas Studebaker Car Club and a chance to win your very own 1964 mint-condition Studebaker!

A hot home-made Waffle breakfast will be served with museum admission. For more information, check out the official Texas Air Museum Web site, or call (956)748-2112.