Apr 11 2019
Lieutenant Colonel Richard “Dick” E. Cole, Jimmy Doolittle’s copilot and last surviving member of the Doolittle raid on Tokyo on 18 April 1942, passed away on 9 April 2019. Born in 1915, he enlisted as aviation cadet in 1940. He was one of the 80 crew members selected to take part in the famous raid …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2019/04/11/lt-col-richard-dick-cole-last-surviving-member-of-the-doolittle-raid-has-passed-away/
Apr 04 2019
On 17 March 2019, the Morane-Saulnier MS.733 Alcyon No. 134 (registered F-WYOT) made its first flight after a four-year restoration. This first test flight lasted thirty minutes, and was made with gear extended. Five other flights were made since. This aircraft is a former French air force example, and was purchased by a Swiss owner …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2019/04/04/morane-saulnier-ms-733-flies-again-in-france/
Mar 02 2019
The Aircraft Restoration Company (ARCo) announced on its Facebook page that the Spitfire T.9 “Indy” made a wheels-up landing at Denham Aerodrome on Wednesday the 27th of February. The pilot and copilot were unharmed but the aircraft sustained some damage, the extent of which will be evaluated when the aircraft is brought back to Duxford. …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2019/03/02/spitfire-t-9-pt462-damaged-in-gear-up-landing/
Feb 05 2019
The North American Mustang Mk 23 “Duffy’s Delight” (serial A68-170, registered VH-SVU) of the Royal Australian Air Force Museum recently made its first engine runs since the engine was returned from overhaul. The aircraft was fully restored in the nineties and made its first post-restoration flight on 17 February 1999. In 2012, the aircraft was …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2019/02/05/engine-runs-for-raaf-museum-mustang-duffys-delight/
Jan 30 2019
After an unexpected first flight on 31 December, the prototype of Tom Reilly’s North American XP-82 Twin Mustang made its first “official” flight on Monday 28 January. Ray Fowler was again at the controls of the XP-82 for this “second first flight”, which went very well. Warbird Digest made this video showing the first flight. You …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2019/01/30/first-official-flight-for-xp-82-twin-mustang-prototype/
Jan 26 2019
In an effort to reduce expenses, Lufthansa has announced that they are withdrawing their financial support to their foundation, the Deutsche Lufthansa Berlin-Stiftung. The foundation has been operating the Junkers Ju 52/3m D-CDLH among other aircraft since 1986 and offered paying recreational flights in Germany and Europe. The aircraft is the oldest airworthy Ju 52 in …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2019/01/26/lufthansa-withdraws-its-financial-support-to-ju-52-recreational-flights/
Jan 02 2019
Tom Reilly’s North American XP-82 Twin Mustang prototype made an unexpected first flight on 31 December 2018 during a high-speed taxi test. Ray Fowler, who was at the controls, flew the aircraft after picking up too much speed to stop safely within the remaining runway length, and flew for about five minutes before bringing back …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2019/01/02/unexpected-first-flight-for-xp-82-twin-mustang-prototype/
Dec 15 2018
Hawker Hunter N323AX, operated by ATAC (Airborne Tactical Advantage Company) crashed into the sea off Honolulu on 13 December 2018. Its pilot ejected before the crash but was seriously injured. Available reports indicate his injuries are not life-threatening and that he is recovering. The pilot was acting as a civilian contractor taking part in the …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/12/15/pilot-injured-in-hawker-hunter-ejection-off-honolulu/
Dec 09 2018
A hangar fire at the Melun-Villaroche airfield near Paris destroyed two privately-owned de Havilland Vampires Saturday morning, according to local media and sources. The fire reportedly started in one hangar, totally destroying the aircraft inside, before spreading to the neighbouring hangar and severely damaging another Vampire. Some sixty firefighters were engaged to contain and stop …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/12/09/two-de-havilland-vampires-destroyed-in-hangar-fire-near-paris/
Dec 05 2018
The CAF French Wing is proud to present the latest issue of its documentary series, History and Duty of Remembrance. In this episode, Stéphane Duchemin receives Henri Ecochard, Free French and Piper L-4 pilot. Henri Ecochard was 16 when war was declared in 1939 and 17 when, a year later, he joined the Free French forces …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/12/05/henri-ecochard-free-french-piper-l-4-grasshopper-pilot/
Nov 26 2018
The French newspaper Le Républicain Lorrain reports that the Spitfire PR.XIX registered F-AZJS, which was damaged in a take-off accident in June 2017, is currently being restored by Historic Flying Limited in the United-Kingdom as well as in the USA. The aircraft is expected to fly again in the spring of 2019. More information and …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/11/26/spitfire-pr-xix-ps890-to-fly-again-in-2019-following-post-accident-restoration/
Nov 21 2018
The Swiss federal civilian aviation office (Office fédéral de l’aviation civile, OFAC) has temporarily grounded the two Junkers Ju 52 used by Ju-Air, based in Dübendorf. The examination of the wreck of the aircraft that crashed on August 4, killing all 20 on board, has revealed structural damage to the wing spars. This type of damage …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/11/21/switzerland-ofac-temporarily-grounds-ju-airs-junkers-ju-52s/
Nov 18 2018
The P-51D Mustang “Pecos Bill” (s/n 44-74445, registered N4132A) crashed yesterday in Fredericksburg, Texas. Little information is available on this tragic event but police have announced that the pilot and his passenger were killed in the crash. Some sources indicate that the passenger was a World War II veteran. Our thoughts and prayers go to …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/11/18/two-killed-in-p-51d-mustang-pecos-bill-crash-in-texas/
Oct 28 2018
The CAF B-24/B-29 Squadron has announced on its Facebook page that its B-24 “Diamond Lil” returned to the air on October 22 for the first time in over two years. During this time, the bomber’s interior was restored and three of the engines were overhauled. Diamond Lil is one of only two airworthy B-24 Liberators …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/10/28/b-24-diamond-lil-flies-again/
Oct 24 2018
The Ithaca Aviation Heritage Foundation’s Thomas-Morse S-4B Scout recently made its first post-restauration flight. The aircraft was donated to the foundation in 2010 and was meticulously restored to airworthiness. More information is available from Aerodynamic Media.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/10/24/thomas-morse-s-4b-scout-flies-again/
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