More than 15,000 people flooded the Colorado Springs airport to see the best planes and pilots in the world.

Planes, trucks and heavy equipment held the kids attention while the parents enjoyed a world class air show.

Even World War II aircrafts were here, something Hell Hawk Pilot Archie Maltbie loves to see.

"I flew 98 missions from April of 1944 until the end of the war in May 1945," Maltbie said.

To the throngs of people who came out Saturday these are just planes. But for Maltbie they are part of the greatest accomplishment of his life.

"I believe that if the Germans had been able to do to our troops what we did to theirs, they had had air superiority, that we would have lost the war," Maltbie said.

Maltbie was part of the 365th fighter group and took part in nearly every major battle in Europe. But the members of his heroic group are dwindling.

He said this year only 12 were well enough to make the trip to this air show.

"We are having a reunion of the few of us that were left, and the air show is part of our scheduled activities," Maltbie said.

Even though the heroes of World War II are fading away, this air show continues to give us all a chance to show our appreciation to all the men and women who take to the skies and risk their lives for freedom.

"The thing that justified the risks we took in the war was the very knowledge that we were saving a lot of lives on the ground," Maltbie said.

If you weren't able to get out to the air show Saturday you have another chance on Sunday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.