Berkeley Township Historical Society To Host Dinner And A Movie On Thursday

Want to see what Lakehurst Naval Air Station looked like back in the 1940s?

Then come to the Berkeley Township Historical Society and watch this Wallace Beery potboiler at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at the township recreation building at 630 Route 9.

The movie was filmed at Lakehurst Naval Air Station and also starred Jackie Gleason and other actors, who stayed at the Old Meriod Hotel in downtown Toms River.

You'll even be treated to a free dinner of hot dogs, rolls, sauerkraut, coffee, tea, soda and cookies.

During World War II, Chief Aviation Pilot Ned Trumpet (Wallace Beery) is in charge of a blimp at Lakehurst, New Jersey naval base. "Old Gas Bag" brags about his "son" and realizes that he will need someone to impersonate his fictional son. Trumpet finds Jess Weaver (Tom Drake), a young disabled man, arranging for an operation to fix his legs, injured in a riding accident. Afterward, Weaver goes along with the deception and soon earns his Navy wings and commission as an Ensign.

While on a submarine patrol mission, his "father" orders an unauthorized and premature attack on a German submarine, (orders have been sent to break off the attack, the "father" does not convey the orders) but the youngster's bomb misses and the submarine fires back, hitting the airship. Trumpet takes over the controls and sinks the submarine, but Weaver faces a court-martial for disobeying orders but the older man takes the blame for his actions. Young Weaver is awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, he gives the DFC ribbon to his "father." Leaving Lakehurst, young Weaver attends pilots training at NAS Pensacola.

Weaver transfers to the Ferry Command, and while on assignment in Burma, his aircraft crashes in Japanese territory. Trumpet rushes to the scene with a rescue team. Both are successfully brought out and are decorated for their heroism. Weaver indicates that he will be returning to the lighter-than-air service in Lakehurst, to reunite with his "father."

Image: Wikipedia