Bertrand Brown

Author's posts

Video : Watch the DTAM’s P-47 Thunderbolt’s display at Oshkosh

We covered the first flight a few months ago : Dakota Air Territory Museum’s P-47D Thunderbolt 42-27609 flies again. The YouTube channel AirshowStuff has shared this video of the display of the Dakota Territory Air Museum’s P-47 Thunderbolt flown by Bernie Vasquez during the latest gathering at Oshkosh. This P-47D Thunderbolt won the Grand Champion …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2023/08/30/video-watch-the-dtams-p-47-thunderbolts-display-at-oshkosh/

A P-51 Mustang returns to the skies in the United Kingdom

North American P-51D-30-NT 45-11518 G-CLNV on its maiden flight at Sywell ( Photo © Peter Green )

On Friday, August 25th, at Sywell in the United Kingdom, English pilot Pete Kynsey conducted the first post-restoration flight of the North American P-51D 45-11518, registered as G-CLNV on the British civil register. Restored by Air Leasing Ltd, led by Richard Grace, this P-51 was built in 1945 and was taken over by the Royal …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2023/08/30/a-p-51-mustang-returns-to-the-skies-in-the-united-kingdom/

UK : Pilot wounded in crash of Wildcat AX733

A U.S. Navy Grumman F4F-3 in early 1942. (Photo US Navy)

The pilot of the Grumman FM-2 Wildcat AX733 (registered G-KINL) was seriously wounded in a crash at Heveningham Hall near Halesworth, Suffolk, in the United-Kingdom. Thankfully, the few available sources seem to indicate that the pilot’s injuries were non-life-threatening and that he has left the hospital.

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2023/07/09/uk-pilot-wounded-in-crash-of-wildcat-ax733/

Paul Ehlen killed in crash of his Curtiss P-40E Warhawk in Montana

The Curtiss P-40E AK753 at Oshkosh (Photo © Damien Defever)

It is with great sadness that we learn of the death of Paul Ehlen. He crashed yesterday afternoon in Curtiss P-40E Warhawk ‘AK753’, registered as N4420K and belonging to the Wings of the North Air Museum,  near Hamilton, Montana. Little information is available about this tragic event but the police announced that Paul Ehlen, the …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2023/06/28/paul-ehlen-killed-in-crash-of-his-curtiss-p-40e-warhawk-in-montana/

Watch footage of Lockheed VC-121A Constellation “Bataan” returning to flight

Gorgeous footage of the first flight of Lockheed VC-121A Constellation “Bataan”, which once served as the personal transport for General MacArthur,  has been uploaded by Skyes9 on YouTube : Push the sound up and enjoy !

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2023/06/26/watch-footage-of-lockheed-vc-121a-constellation-bataan-returning-to-flight/

Lewis Air Legend’s VC-121 “Baatan” flies again

Lewis Air Legend’s Lockheed VC-121A Constellation “Bataan”, which served as General MacArthur’s personal aircraft, flew again on 21 June 2023 after an eight-year restoration by Fighter Rebuilders in Chino, California. Footage of the first flight can be viewed on Lewis Air Legend’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/reel/3572688642970226 The Lockheed  VC-121A Constellation “Bataan” holds a rich history spanning …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2023/06/22/lewis-air-legends-vc-121-baatan-flies-again/

Dakota Air Territory Museum’s P-47D Thunderbolt 42-27609 flies again

Following a lengthy restoration period by AirCorps Aviation, Republic P-47D-23-RA Thunderbolt serial number 42-27609 took to the skies again on 16 May 2023 in Bemidji, Minnesota. The first flight was a success and was flown by Bernie Vasquez, with Warren Pietsch and Ben Redman flying chase in P-51D Mustang “Miss Kitty III”. The aircraft belongs to …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2023/05/26/dakota-air-territory-museums-p-47d-thunderbolt-42-27609-flies-again/

No more National Championship Air Races at Reno-Stead Airport after 2023

Sadly, this is not a bad joke or an April’s Fool. The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA), the organizer of the National Championship Air Races at Reno-Stead Airport, Nevada,  announced on 9 March that the Reno Air Races will no longer take place at the world-renowned Reno-Stead Airport after this year’s edition, from 13 to …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2023/03/10/no-more-national-championship-air-races-at-reno-stead-airport-after-2023/

Flying Legends 2022 cancelled

It’s a great disappointment for warbird enthusiasts as The Fighter Collection has announced via the Flying Legends Facebook page that the 2022 edition of the world-famous Flying Legends airshow has been cancelled : Dear Flying Legends community, pilots and friends, It is with deep regret that we must confirm the cancellation of Flying Legends 2022. …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2022/02/11/flying-legends-2022-cancelled/

Video : The Return of the Hurricane

For a limited time, you can view a 55-minute documentary about the restoration of Hurricane P3351, recovered and remastered by the Historical Aviation Film Unit: Click here to view the video Restored from 1994 to 1999, P3351 made its first post-restoration flight on 12 January 2000. Since 2013, it has been based at Cannes-Mandelieu, France …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2022/02/03/video-the-return-of-the-hurricane/

World’s only surviving twin-seat Fw 190 to leave UK for Germany

Visitors of the Royal Air Force Museum Hendon, near London, will have been surprised to see the museum’s two-seat Focke-Wulf Fw 190 being disassembled. Based on information received from museum members, the Fw 190 is to be sent to Germany and will be on long-term loan with the Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr in Berlin-Gatow.

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2022/01/24/worlds-only-surviving-twin-seat-fw-190-to-leave-uk-for-germany/

Brigadier Charles McGee, one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen, passes away at 102

Charles Edward McGee, born on December 7, 1919, passed away in his sleep on Sunday the 16th of January 2022, aged 102. A member of the famous Tuskegee Airmen, he was deployed in  February 1944 with the 302nd Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group, which was then based in Italy. Flying the P-39 Airacobra, …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2022/01/18/brigadier-charles-mcgee-one-of-the-last-surviving-tuskegee-airmen-passes-away-at-102/

First engine runs for Messerschmitt Bf109G-6 WkNr 410077

The Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 Werk Nr. 410077, under restauration by Midwest Aero Restorations Ltd and belonging to Bruce Winter of San Antonio, Texas, has had its first engine run since 1943, in Danville, Illinois. Midwest Aero Ltd has posted this video of the engine runs on its YouTube channel.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2021/11/17/first-engine-runs-for-messerschmitt-bf109g-6-wknr-410077/

New Warbird Shirt : B-25 Air Apaches

A new design has been added to the Warbird Shirt shop. It is dedicated to the 345th Bombardment Group “Air Apaches” whose  B-25 Michell bombers were easily recognizable with their decorated fins. The 345th Bombardment Group distinguished itself in combat in the Pacific from 1943 to 1945.

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2021/09/30/new-warbird-shirt-b-25-air-apaches/

Three wounded in Beech 18 crash in Corsica

Only a few days after the Beech 18 runway excursion at the Paris Air Legend airshow, we have learned that the Beech 18 registered G-BKGL crashed yesterday near Vescovato in Corsica. According to local authorities, the three people on board were wounded.  One has reportedly suffered severe burns, and is in a life-threatening condition.  A …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2021/09/15/three-wounded-in-beech-18-crash-in-corsica/