Bertrand Brown

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Spitfire PR.XIX PS890 flies again in Duxford

Spitfire PR.XIX PS890/F-AZJS at Duxford in 2015 (Photo Alan Wilson (CC BY-SA 2.0))

The Spitfire PR.XIX PS890/F-AZJS flew again on 6 August 2020 at Duxford with John Romain at the controls. The aircraft was heavily damaged in a take-off accident in June 2017 and was sent to Duxford for complete repairs. It still carries its former markings of No 152 Squadron RAF in south-east Asia. The aircraft is …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/08/09/spitfire-pr-xix-ps890-flies-again-in-duxford/

Pierre Robin has passed away

A Robin DR-400. (Photo redskin83 (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0))

Pierre Robin, who designed the famous Robin DR-400 with Jean Delemontez, passed away on 5 August 2020. Robin aircraft are ubiquitous on French airfields and also a common sight abroad. Robin Aircraft’s most famous design was the DR-400, of which 2,700 were built. Born in 1927, Pierre Robin was buried on 7 August in Talant, …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/08/09/pierre-robin-has-passed-away/

Sea Fury down in Duxford, crew escapes with minor injuries

The Hawker Sea Fury T.20S WG655 G-INVN in 2019 (Photo Alan Wilson (CC BY-SA 2.0))

The Norwegian Spitfire Foundation’s Hawker Sea Fury T.20 G-INVN was involved in an accident today near Duxford in the UK. Fortunately, the pilot and his passenger only suffered minor injuries. The aircraft was seriously damaged, as can be seen on the accident photos. The causes of the accident are not yet known. The Imperial War …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/08/04/sea-fury-down-in-duxford-crew-escapes-with-minor-injuries/

François Emile Fayolle, a Frenchman killed at the peak of his career

François Émile Fayolle’s name is almost forgotten today. Yet this native of Auvergne fled to England as early as July 13, 1940 to keep fighting the German invaders and became one of the most prestigious Free French pilots. After several assignments to RAF fighter squadrons, he joined No 340 (Free French) Squadron with other great …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/08/04/francois-emile-fayolle-a-frenchman-killed-at-the-peak-of-his-career/

New Warbird Shirt : Jacky Cochran & Wesley Smith’s Gee Bee “QED” air racer

A new Warbird Shirt has been added to the shop : Jacky Cochran & Wesley Smith’s air racer Granville Gee Bee R-6 International Super Sportster, also nicknamed the “Q.E.D.”  Cochran and Smith flew this aircraft in the famous 1934 McRobertson air race from London to Melbourne. The Warbird Shirt shop helps us pay for the …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/07/16/new-warbird-shirt-jacky-cochran-wesley-smiths-gee-bee-qed-air-racer/

Historic Helicopters to acquire and restore to airworthiness two Belgian Sea King helicopters

Historic Helicopters made a successful bid with the Belgian defense ministry to acquire two Westland Sea King Mk 48 helicopters that were retired from the Belgian Air Component in 2019. The two airframes, RS 02 and RS 04, will be brought back to airworthiness by the Somerset-based association, which already owns several ex-Royal Air Force …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/07/09/historic-helicopters-to-acquire-and-restore-to-airworthiness-two-belgian-sea-king-helicopters/

Stampe & Vertongen SV-4 crashes in France, one deceased and one wounded

A Stampe & Vertongen  Stampe SV-4 crashed near the Angers-Marcé airport on Saturday the 4th of July, killing its pilot. The second crew member was hospitalized and is in critical condition. Both crew members and the aircraft were part of Stampe Aéro Passion, an association based at the Angers-Marcé airport. The causes of the accident …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/07/05/stampe-vertongen-sv-4-crashes-in-france-one-deceased-and-one-wounded/

Bristol Beaufighter wreck discovered on UK beach

Dog walkers recently discovered the wreck of a Bristol Beaufighter TF. X on the beaches near Cleethorpes, in the United-Kingdom. The Royal Air Force Museum believes this wreck to be that of Beaufighter TF. X JM333 of the Royal Air Force’s No 254 Squadron, which crashed after a dual engine failure shortly after take-off from …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/06/02/bristol-beaufighter-wreck-discovered-on-uk-beach/

BAPA acquires Bendix upper turret for its B-25J Mitchell restoration

The Belgian Aviation Preservation Association was recently able to acquire a Bendix upper turret as part of its B-25J Mitchell restoration project : For several years we have been looking for parts to restore the B-25J to stock configuration. One of the most difficult parts to find has been the very rare Bendix upper turret. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/05/15/bapa-acquires-bendix-upper-turret-for-its-b-25j-mitchell-restoration/

Terry Clark, one of the two last Battle of Britain airmen, has passed away

William Terence Montague Clark, DFM, AE, better known as Terry Clark, passed away on 7 May 2020 at the age of 101, just a few hours before the 75th anniversary of VE-Day. Born on April 11, 1919 , Terry Clark flew as navigator and radar operator in the Royal Air Force from 1938 to 1945. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/05/09/terry-clark-one-of-the-two-last-battle-of-britain-airmen-has-passed-away/

Jerzy Główczewski, last surviving Polish fighter pilot of World War II, has passed away

Jerzy Główczewski, who is reported to have been the last surviving Polish fighter pilot of World War II, passed away in New York on 13 April 2020 aged 97. Główczewski was born in Warsaw, Poland, in 1922 and fled the country after the 1939 German and Soviet invasions. After pilot training, he was assigned to …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/04/20/jerzy-glowczewski-last-surviving-polish-fighter-pilot-of-world-war-ii-has-passed-away/

Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation C-54 Skymaster damaged by tornado in South Carolina

The Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation Douglas C-54 Skymaster was severely damaged by a tornado at the Walterboro airport, South Carolina.  The aircraft seems to have been blown into a hangar, resulting in major damage. Please read the full official statement from the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation below:

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/04/14/berlin-airlift-historical-foundation-c-54-skymaster-damaged-by-tornado-in-south-carolina/

Hispano-Suiza HS-77 engine recovered from Lake Zug in Switzerland

A Hispano-Suiza HS-77 engine (license-built version of the Hispano-Suiza HS 12Ycrs) was recovered from the Zug lake in Switzerland. The engine belonged to an EKW C-35 that crashed in the lake on 19 May 1940, killing its two crewmembers. The aircraft and its propeller, which was also recovered, will be displayed at the Transportation Museum …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/03/23/hispano-suiza-hs-77-engine-recovered-from-lake-zug-in-switzerland/

Two killed in Ryan PT-22 crash in France

The Ryan PT-22 Recruit 41-1964 (N53018) in Cerny in 2014 (Photo Johnny Comstedt (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0))

Two people were killed in the crash of their Ryan PT-22 Recruit (registered N53018) near Beaulieu in the Puy-de-Dôme department in France on Sunday the 23rd of February. The causes of the accident are not yet known but witnesses indicate hearing unusual sounds coming the accident aircraft just before the crash, suggesting engine problems could …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/02/24/two-killed-in-ryan-pt-22-crash-in-france/

Frank Losonsky, last surviving member of the Flying Tigers †

Frank Losonsky, the last known survivor of the American Volunteer Group, better known as the “Flying Tigers”, passed away on 6 February 2020, aged 99. Having served two years in the US Army Air Corps, Losonsky became a crew chief with the 3rd Squadron of the Flying Tigers in 1941.  After the group was disbanded …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/02/09/frank-losonsky-last-surviving-member-of-the-flying-tigers-%e2%80%a0/