Category: News

Hawaii Mars flies again after 9 years

The Hawaii Mars, one of the largest and most iconic flying boats in the world, has taken flight for the first time since 2016. This event marks a significant milestone in the plan to fly it to the British Columbia Aviation Museum later this month. After a series of successful taxi tests, the Martin JRM …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2024/08/05/hawaii-mars-flies-again-after-9-years/

Restored Fagen Fighters WWII Museum SB2C-5 Helldiver flies again after 79 years

The Fagen Fighters WWII Museum in Granite Falls, Minnesota, announced the successful test flight of their restored SB2C-5 Helldiver on July 22, 2024, marking its first flight since 1945. The Helldiver, built in early 1945 and originally stationed at Naval Air Field Newport, Rhode Island, and NAS Dahlgren, Virginia, crashed during a test flight on …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2024/08/04/restored-fagen-fighters-wwii-museum-sb2c-5-helldiver-flies-again-after-79-years/

UK : Pilot killed in Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire crash

The Spitfire Mk IX MK356 of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight crashed on Saturday, May 25, not far from its base at RAF Coningsby. The pilot, whose identity has not yet been revealed, tragically died in the accident. According to witnesses, the Spitfire appeared to have suffered an engine failure. The Vickers Supermarine Spitfire …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2024/05/25/uk-pilot-killed-in-battle-of-britain-memorial-flight-spitfire-crash/

Wreck of Richard Bong’s P-38 “Marge” found in Papua – New Guinea

On May 23, the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center and Justin Taylan of Pacific Wrecks announced that the wreckage of Richard Bong’s P-38, nicknamed “Marge,” had been discovered in Papua New Guinea. This discovery is the result of an expedition in Papua New Guinea that began on May 1st.

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2024/05/24/wreck-of-richard-bongs-p-38-marge-found-in-papua-new-guinea/

Clarence “Bud” Anderson has passed away

The famous American pilot and ace, Clarence Emil “Bud” Anderson, passed away on Friday, May 17th. He was 102 years old. Born on January 13, 1922, in Oakland, United States, “Bud” Anderson served as a fighter pilot during World War II with the 357th Fighter Group and ended the war with a total of 16.25 …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2024/05/18/clarence-bud-anderson-has-passed-away/

After 80 years, the last C-47 Dakotas in military service worldwide are being retired

After an extraordinary 81 years of dedicated service, the South African Air Force (SAAF) is retiring its fleet of Douglas C-47 Dakotas.  These aircraft, known for their robustness and versatility, have been a mainstay of South African military aviation since 1943. The SAAF was the last military operator of the C-47, meaning the type is …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2024/05/17/after-80-years-the-last-c-47-dakotas-in-military-service-worldwide-are-being-retired/

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 …

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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.

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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. …

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

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.

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