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The OV-10 Bronco F-AZKM in September 2022. (Photo © Gee Bee for WWN)north

The French-based OV‑10 Bronco, registered F‑AZKM and flown by Chuck Berry, was involved in a crash-landing yesterday morning in Lezno, Poland. Fortunately, available sources indicate that the pilot is quite shaken by the accident but otherwise unhurt.

The accident’s cause is unknown at this time. Videos are circulating online, showing the Bronco crash-landing with its gear retracted. The footage shows the aircraft suffered a substantial impact with heavy damage to the airframe.

Built in 1971, OV‑10 Bronco F‑AZKM is a former German air force aircraft that was used as a target tow. After being retired from military service, it was exported to France in 1991 and was not operational for several years before being restored to full airworthiness by the Musée Européen de l’Aviation de Chasse in Montélimar.

Returning to the skies in 1997, it was one of the very few airworthy Broncos still flying in Europe, and a regular participant in French and European airshows.

Sources :

• Footage on the crash-landing from Air Plus News on Facebook

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The accident aircraft : Fouga Magister No. 480, registered F-AZQC (Photo Laurent Salard / Air Spot Photos (CC BY-SA 4.0))

Disaster struck on Monday, May 11, 2026, in the Seine-et-Marne region of France when a vintage Fouga CM.170 Magister crashed shortly after takeoff from Melun-Villaroche Airport. Both occupants of the aircraft lost their lives.

The accident occurred at approximately 4:15 p.m. in a wooded area located between Fontainebleau and Chailly-en-Bière. According to several witnesses at the scene, a loud explosion was heard before a fireball appeared in the sky, followed by the aircraft crashing into the forest.

The aircraft involved was Fouga CM.170 Magister F-AZQC, serial number 480, operated by the Fouga 480 association based at Melun-Villaroche.

Emergency services quickly converged on the crash site, which was difficult to access due to the dense vegetation. Upon arrival, rescue personnal were only able to confirm the deaths of both occupants, while a small vegetation fire caused by the impact was quickly brought under control on the edge of the Fontainebleau forest.

The 53-year-old pilot held a professional CPL license and reportedly had approximately 15,000 flying hours according to the first information released by the Melun public prosecutor’s office. The passenger, who came from northern France, was taking part in an experience flight aboard the aircraft.

The investigation has been entrusted to the Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses pour la sécurité de l’aviation civile (BEA), assisted by the Air Transport Gendarmerie. Investigators will now work to determine the exact circumstances of the accident. Possible causes under consideration include mechanical failure, pilot error, or a bird strike.

We extend our deepest condolences, prayers, and thoughts to the families and loved ones of the victims of this tragic accident.

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The P-51D Mustang “Charlotte’s Chariot II”, registered N251CS (Photo Alan Wilson (CC BY-SA 2.0))

The warbird community is mourning the loss of Dan Fordice, who was killed on May 12, 2026, in the crash of his North American P-51D Mustang “Charlotte’s Chariot II” near Tallulah-Vicksburg Regional Airport, Louisiana. Fordice was a respected warbird pilot and philantropist. The circumstances of the crash are currently under investigation by the NTSB.

A veteran of both the U.S. Army and the Mississippi Army National Guard, Dan Fordice was well known within the historic aviation world for his passion for preserving the memory of the Second World War through flying aircraft and educational projects. He served on the General Staff of the Commemorative Air Force and founded the Southern Heritage Air Foundation, dedicated to preserving veterans’ stories and aviation history.

Fordice’s Mustang, “Charlotte’s Chariot II”, was a North American P-51D-30-NA Mustang carrying serial number 44-74977.  After leaving USAF service, it was registered N5448V by Wayne Clevenger in 1957. It was owned by several owners until 2009, when it was purchased by Fordice and re-registered N251CS and repainted as “Charlotte’s Chariot II”, a Mustang flown during World War II by Lieutenant Cary Salter, a pilot of the 354th Fighter Group.

Lieutenant Cary Salter, a pilot of the 354th Fighter Group with his P-51 Mustang (FT-π), serial number 44-63747) nicknamed “Charlotte’s Chariot II”. (Photo USAAF via Cary Salter)

Friends and fellow pilots remembered Fordice as a passionate advocate for veterans and historic aviation. In a statement released after the accident, the Commemorative Air Force described him as “a passionate warbird pilot” who believed historic aircraft were “powerful tools for education, remembrance, and honoring freedom.”

The loss of both Dan Fordice and “Charlotte’s Chariot II” is a tragic reminder of the risks involved in operating vintage aircraft, even in the hands of experienced pilots. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go to Dan Fordice’s family, friends, and the many members of the warbird community who knew and flew alongside him.

Sources :

• AVWeb | P-51 Mustang Pilot Killed In Louisiana Accident
• Commemorative Air Force | Remembering Dan Fordice Warbird Pilot and Patriot
• Warbirds Wiki | P-51D (Charlotte’s Chariot II) 44-74977
• Vicksburg Post | Dan Fordice killed in plane crash in Tallulah

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A VF-103 F-14B Tomcat firing an AIM-54 Phoenix missile. (Photo Robert Sullivan (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0))

According to an article published by Stefano D’Urso on The Aviationist website, an F-14D Tomcat could return to the skies in the United States under the “Maverick Act.” The proposal aims to allow the restoration to flying condition of one example of the legendary U.S. Navy carrier-based fighter, retired from active service since 2006.

The proposal has already been approved by the Senate and must now be approved by the House of Representatives. If passed, it would authorize the transfer of three F-14 Tomcats to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission, with one of the aircraft potentially being restored to flying condition.

The Tomcat in question would be a former museum aircraft, whose restoration would involve extensive technical and administrative work. The return to flight of a Tomcat would represent a major event in the warbird world, as no example is currently airworthy outside Iran, the last operational user of the type.

Designed by Grumman in the 1970s, the F-14 Tomcat became famous for its variable-geometry wings, powerful AWG-9 radar, and AIM-54 Phoenix missile capable of engaging targets at very long range. The aircraft also remains closely associated with popular culture thanks to the movie Top Gun and its iconic role in American naval aviation during the Cold War.

Source: U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission | The Aviationist (in English)

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Douglas TBD-1 Devastator BuNo 1515 in its current resting place in the Jaluit lagoon, Marshall Islands. ( Source : Air/Sea Heritage Foundation )

The Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) has announced, in an official statement, the launch of an extraordinary project: the recovery of a Douglas TBD-1 Devastator missing since 1942. Of the 129 Devastators built, none has survived to the present day in a museum or private collection. The aircraft, identified as BuNo 1515, is now considered the only example still sufficiently well preserved to make such an operation feasible.

The Devastator holds a unique place in U.S. Navy history: the fleet’s first all-metal torpedo bomber, it marked the beginnings of modern carrier-based aviation and took part in the first American offensives in the Pacific. Yet its career was brief; quickly outclassed by more advanced aircraft, it was nearly erased from collective memory following the catastrophic losses suffered during the early stages of the war.

BuNo 1515 has rested since 1 February 1942 in the lagoon of Jaluit, in the Marshall Islands. On that day, shortly after taking off from the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown during the raid on the Marshall and Gilbert Islands — the first American offensive operation in the Pacific — the aircraft was forced to make an emergency water landing. Its three crew members (Ensign Herbert R. Hein Jr., AOM3C Joseph D. Strahl, and S1C Marshal E. Windham) survived the crash but were captured by the Japanese. They did not regain their freedom until the end of the war in 1945. Their aircraft, however, slowly sank into the lagoon’s waters.

It was not until 1997, following its initial discovery — and especially in 2003 — that the wreck began to attract the attention of specialists. The Air/Sea Heritage Foundation, accompanied by archaeologists and conservators, carried out seven successive expeditions to document the aircraft. Texas A&M University, through its Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation, became involved in 2006, notably producing a 3D model using photogrammetry.

Despite more than 80 years underwater, the aircraft remains surprisingly intact — the engine is still in place and the airframe structure is complete, despite its prolonged immersion.

The Devastator Project - Saving Douglas TBD-1 Devastator (BN 1515)

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The project, named “The Devastator Project,” now brings together an international partnership: the Air/Sea Heritage Foundation, the Naval History and Heritage Command, Texas A&M’s Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation, the Marshall Islands Historic Preservation Office, as well as local authorities from Jaluit Atoll. The recovery of the wreck will follow an extremely strict archaeological and conservation protocol. Once recovered, the aim is to stabilize and preserve the aircraft in its current condition.

An artist’s rendering shows how the Devastator will be displayed in Washington.

An artist’s view showing how the Devastator will be displayed in Washington.

Once stabilized and treated against corrosion, the Devastator will join the collections of the future National Museum of the United States Navy, currently under development in Washington, D.C., and will be the only preserved example in the world.

To learn more, click on the image below:

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Spitfire Mk I R6613 of No 92 Squadron RAF, as it would have appeared on the day it was lost in combat, 11 September 1940. (Illustration © Gaëtan Marie)

UK-based Spitfire enthusiast and author Greg Davis has reached a significant milestone with his long-running Spitfire Mk I restoration project. The aircraft, Supermarine Spitfire Mk I R6613, has successfully passed inspection by the Civil Aviation Authority and is now officially registered as G-RRST.

The legendary 29-victory British ace Robert Stanford-Tuck.

The chosen registration pays tribute to Squadron Leader Roland Robert Stanford Tuck, who flew R6613 on seven occasions during the Battle of Britain. The aircraft itself has a notable combat history: on 11 September 1940 it claimed a Messerschmitt Bf 110 before being shot down later the same day. Its pilot at the time, Jim Paterson, managed to bail out safely, though he suffered burn injuries.

R6613’s manufacturer plate and a copy of Robert Stanford-Tuck’s logbook. (Photo courtesy Greg Davis)

The restoration project is particularly complex, comprising more than 200 individual structures, parts, and recovered fragments, all supported by strong provenance. It also carries added historical weight, as the late Peter Arnold was able to contribute to the CAA review process shortly before his passing, lending further authority to the aircraft’s documentation and approval.

With the registration now secured, Greg Davis has made clear his ambition to return R6613 to the air in single-seat configuration. To achieve this, he is actively seeking an investment partner to provide the financial backing required to complete the restoration and bring this historically significant Spitfire back to flying condition. Greg Davis can be reached at the address ttssp@outlook.com.

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(Illustration © Chris Sandham-Bailey / Inkworm )

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Lancaster PA474, one of only two airworthy examples in the world — the other being operated by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum — will receive a new paint scheme following its major maintenance program scheduled to begin in October 2025 at RAF Coningsby.

When it emerges from the workshops in 2027, it will wear the colors of Lancaster LM220 of IX Squadron as it appeared in 1944–1945.

The BBMF’s Lancaster B I PA474 in its current colors (Photo © Damien Defever for LEB)

The scheme will include nose art featuring the inscription “Getting Younger Every Day,” inspired by an advertisement from the William Younger brewery, along with a bearded character nicknamed “Father William.” LM220 took part in the Tallboy raids against the battleship Tirpitz, and also flew during the Exodus repatriation missions in May 1945.

Source: Vintage Aviation News | New Markings for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Lancaster in 2027

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The North American TF-51D 44-72483 in its new livery ar Airmotive Specialties ( Photo Airmotive Specialties Inc )

The Airmotive Specialties Inc. workshop, located in Salinas, California, unveiled this week the first photos of the P-51D Mustang “Hel-eter” in its new colors. This marks an important milestone in the restoration of this aircraft, whose return to airworthy condition has been underway for several years and is expected to lead to a new first flight within the next few weeks.

The aircraft, which has been converted to the two-seat TF-51D configuration, now sports a livery inspired by P-51D 44-72577 on the Pacific theater. Bearing the code 527 painted on the fuselage, it is expected to receive the “Hel-eter” nose art on its engine cowling.

This Mustang, serial number 44-72483, has a rich history: delivered to the USAAF on January 23, 1945, it was assigned to the 354th Fighter Group of the 9th Air Force, where it carried the tactical code AJ-R. After the war, it was transferred to the Flygvapnet, the Swedish Air Force, as Fv 26087, before joining the Fuerza Aérea de Nicaragua (Nicaraguan Air Force), where it flew under the code GN85.

Brought back to the United States in December 1963, it was long mistaken for another aircraft destroyed during the conflict. It was only in 1966, thanks to the efforts of David Forrest, that its true identity was officially re-established with the FAA.

The P-51D 44-72557 Mustang Hel-Eter (Profile © Gaëtan Marie / Bravo Bravo Aviation)

The aircraft then began a new civilian life, changing hands several times before being acquired in November 1975 by Dan Martin, a seasoned pilot and well-known figure at the Reno Air Races. Registered as N151DM, the Mustang was restored and flew for more than three decades under the name “Ridge Runner III” (P-51 Mustang Survivors – P-51D-20NA 44-72843), in tribute to Major Pierce W. McKennon, ace and leader of the 4th Fighter Group. Dan Martin flew the Mustang in many editions of the Reno Air Races.

After 37 years of ownership, Dan Martin sold the aircraft in June 2011 to Pat Harker, based in Minneapolis. Harker launched a complete restoration, entrusted to Airmotive Specialties, with the goal of converting the aircraft to TF-51D standard while restoring an appearance faithful to its original military service.

Today, thanks to the meticulous work of the Salinas team and the passion of its new owner, the Mustang “Hel-eter” is preparing to take to the skies again, nearly 80 years after it was first built.

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“Randy” Cunningham (right) and William P. Driscoll (left) in the cockpit of a McDonnell F-4J Phantom II of Fighter Squadron 96 (VF-96), May 1972. (Photo San Diego Air & Space Museum archives)

Randy “Duke” Cunningham, former U.S. Navy fighter pilot and Vietnam War ace, passed away on August 27, 2025, at the age of 83. He was one of the most recognized American aviators of the conflict, credited with five aerial victories that made him the first U.S. Navy ace of the Vietnam War.

Born on December 8, 1941, in Los Angeles, California, Cunningham entered naval aviation in the 1960s and was eventually assigned to fighter squadron VF-96 “Fighting Falcons” aboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation. Flying the McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II with his radar intercept officer (RIO), Lieutenant (jg) William P. “Irish” Driscoll, Cunningham quickly proved his skill in combat.

Cunningham and Driscoll scored their first victory on January 19, 1972, when they shot down a North Vietnamese MiG-21 over Laos. This was followed by a second victory against a MiG-17 on May 8, 1972.

On May 10, 1972, one of the most dramatic aerial combats of the war took place. In the course of two missions that day, Cunningham and Driscoll downed three enemy fighters — a MiG-17 in the morning, and later two more MiG-17s during a fierce dogfight over Hanoi.

Cunningham and Driscoll flew this F-4J Phantom II of VF-96, radio callsign “Showtime 100” to score three aerial victories. (Photo US Navy)

These actions brought Cunningham’s total to five confirmed victories, making him and Driscoll the first U.S. Navy aces of the Vietnam War and the only naval aces of that conflict. They were forced to eject later that day after their Phantom was struck by a surface-to-air missile during the return from the second mission. Rescued at sea, both men survived.

For his valor, Cunningham was awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Purple Heart. Following his combat tour, he became a Top Gun instructor, passing on his experience to a new generation of navy fighter pilots. His wartime record, and particularly his May 1972 missions, made him one of the most publicized American pilots of the era.

After his retirement from the navy, Cunningham was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1990, representing California’s 50th district. His political career ended in 2005 when he resigned after pleading guilty to corruption charges, for which he served more than seven years in prison.

Despite the controversies that marked his later life, Cunningham will be remembered within aviation history circles as a skilled combat pilot and one of the few American jet aces.

Our thoughts and prayers go to the family and friends of Randy “Duke” Cunningham.

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The Fieseler Fi 156 Storch of the US Air Force Museum (Photo USAF Museum)

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, located in Dayton, Ohio, has recently reinstalled in its World War II Gallery an iconic aircraft of German aviation: the Fieseler Fi 156C-2 Storch.

Removed from display in 2017, the aircraft underwent a complete restoration between 2024 and 2025, carried out by the museum’s technical teams. This meticulous work, spread over eighteen months, has given the aircraft a new lease on life.

Built in 1940 in Germany, this Storch is one of the few surviving examples of the famous liaison and reconnaissance aircraft used by the Luftwaffe. Known for its extremely short takeoff and landing capabilities, the Fi 156 was able to operate on rough terrain and in difficult conditions.

Exported to Sweden in 1943, it entered service with the Flygvapnet under the designation S 14B. The Storch was retired from service in 1948. After being withdrawn from active duty, it remained in Europe before returning to Germany in the 1960s. It was briefly flown by Erich Hartmann, the famous Luftwaffe ace, before being acquired in 1973 by two American veterans, Lt. Col. Perry A. Schreffler and Maj. Robert C. Van Ausdell, both former World War II pilots and TWA employees. The aircraft then flew with the civilian registration N156SV.

In 1974, the two men donated the aircraft to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, where it was displayed for several decades. At that time, it sported a livery inspired by that of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s personal Storch, used in North Africa. This paint scheme, although popular with visitors, did not correspond to the aircraft’s actual history.

The restoration begun in 2024 has corrected this inconsistency. The museum’s teams completely disassembled the aircraft, removing the wings, the original fabric, and inspecting every structural element. The mechanical components were overhauled, the landing gear restored, and a new paint scheme applied.

Storch Aircraft Move Aug 2025 Highlights NMUSAF

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