Nov 21 2020
Sergent-chef René Billotet, born on 18 April 1925 in Dôle (France) and last survivor of the Royal Air Force’s No 342 (Free French) Squadron passed away at his home aged 95. Better known in France as the Groupe de Bombardement Lorraine, the squadron played an essential and unusual role during the D-Day landings. On the …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/11/21/rene-billotet-last-survivor-of-no-342-free-french-squadron-has-passed-away/
Oct 29 2020
Joseph “Jeff” Moureau, the last Belgian pilot to have fought with a Belgian squadron in the Royal Air Force, has passed away at age 99, according to the Belgian air component. “With sadness, the Belgian air component says farewell to the last Belgian Spitfire fighter pilot in World War II”, the Belgian Air Component wrote …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/10/29/joseph-jeff-moureau-the-last-belgian-pilot-to-fight-on-d-day-has-passed-away/
Oct 24 2020
The Nieuport 23C-1 replica built by Nieuport Memorial Flyers made a successful maiden flight in Grenchen, Switzerland, on 21 September 2020. The aircraft, registered HB-RNA, was flown by Isidor von Arx. It is powered by the rotary engine of a Thulin A (Swedish license-built Blériot XI). This project was started in the year 2000. Its …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/10/24/nieuport-23-replica-flies-in-switzerland/
Sep 20 2020
The B-25 Mitchell “Old Glory” was seriously damaged when it struck an irrigation ditch during an off-airport landing attempt near Stockton, California. The three crewmembers on board were injured and two were taken to the hospital but fortunately their injuries are not life-threatening. “Old Glory” is North American B-25J Mitchell built in 1944 (serial number …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/09/20/three-wounded-in-b-25-old-glory-crash-in-california/
Sep 20 2020
A DHC-1 Chipmunk crashed on September 17th near Paulinenaue in Germany. The pilot, aged 68, was killed in the crash and his passenger was gravely wounded. The aircraft, built in 1952 and registered D-ELLY, had taken off from Bienenfarm airfield moments before. The causes of the accident are unknown at this time. Our thoughts and …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/09/20/fatal-dhc-1-chipmunk-crash-in-germany/
Sep 02 2020
A Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c replica crashed at Sywell Aerodrome in the United-Kingdom while training with five other aircraft in preparation for a display later this month. Fortunately, pilot Matthew Boddington survived the crash and has been hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. The aircraft is part of the Bremont Great War Display Team, which offers …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/09/02/pilot-wounded-in-raf-b-e-2c-replica-crash-at-sywell-aerodrome/
Aug 29 2020
The Belgian Aviation Preservation Association (BAPA) collection has opened up to the jet age. After having recently received two Turbomeca Marboré II engines equipping the Fouga C.M.170 Magister. (one being cut out in a didactic way and the other on its original maintenance support), a first jet has been added to the association’s aircraft collection. It …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/08/29/belgian-aviation-preservation-association-acquires-ex-french-air-force-dh-100-vampire/
Aug 25 2020
For three decades, Duxford was synonymous with the world-famous Flying Legends airshow, but The Fighter Collection, organizer of the event, and the Imperial War Museum Duxford have announced that the event will no longer be hosted at Duxford. To date, no information is available about the future location of the airshow, or what the potential …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/08/25/flying-legends-airshow-will-no-longer-be-held-in-duxford/
Aug 16 2020
Flyaspitfire.com has announced on its Facebook page that it has received approval to start passenger flights with their new twin-seat Spitfire, Spitfire TE308, which has received a new paint scheme in honor of No 457 Squadron “Grey Nurse” of the Royal Australian Air Force. TE308 was built as a Spitfire Mk IX and did not …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/08/16/spitfire-t-9-te308-flies-again-with-new-colours/
Aug 09 2020
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 …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/08/09/spitfire-pr-xix-ps890-flies-again-in-duxford/
Aug 09 2020
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, …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/08/09/pierre-robin-has-passed-away/
Aug 04 2020
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 …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/08/04/sea-fury-down-in-duxford-crew-escapes-with-minor-injuries/
Jul 09 2020
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 …
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/
Jul 05 2020
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 …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/07/05/stampe-vertongen-sv-4-crashes-in-france-one-deceased-and-one-wounded/
Jun 02 2020
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 …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/06/02/bristol-beaufighter-wreck-discovered-on-uk-beach/
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