What says Halloween better than pumpkin bombing?

Those hard-pressed for events that inject new life into time-worn Hallow's Eve festivities may want to venture out on Oct. 28 to Smartt Field in St. Charles County.

The St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau notes in its most recent newsletter, and this is a direct quote, that "airplane pumpkin drop competitions start at 10 a.m."

It continues to urge folks to watch World War II planes "carpet bomb an airplane with pumpkins." (Again, a direct quote.)

Dennis Bampton, operator of the St. Charles Flying Service, said private pilots can fly their own planes, or rent one at the airport, and then pay $20 for three pumpkins to drop out of their craft and onto a target. That's the 10 a.m. fun.

At 1:30 p.m., the Commemorative Air Force will fill the bomb bays of its two WWII birds and strafe a scrapped airplane that Bampton said was severely damaged in a thunderstorm several months ago.

All that fun takes place at Smartt Field, 6390 Grafton Ferry Road in Portage des Sioux. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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