Category: News

Pilot injured in Hawker Hunter ejection off Honolulu

Hawker

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 …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/12/15/pilot-injured-in-hawker-hunter-ejection-off-honolulu/

Two de Havilland Vampires destroyed in hangar fire near Paris

The Melun-Villaroche airfield (Google Maps screenshot)

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 …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/12/09/two-de-havilland-vampires-destroyed-in-hangar-fire-near-paris/

Henri Ecochard, Free French Piper L-4 “Grasshopper” pilot

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 …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/12/05/henri-ecochard-free-french-piper-l-4-grasshopper-pilot/

Spitfire PR.XIX PS890 to fly again in 2019 following post-accident restoration

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

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 …

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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/

Switzerland: OFAC temporarily grounds Ju-Air’s Junkers Ju 52s

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 …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/11/21/switzerland-ofac-temporarily-grounds-ju-airs-junkers-ju-52s/

Two killed in P-51D Mustang “Pecos Bill” crash in Texas

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 …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/11/18/two-killed-in-p-51d-mustang-pecos-bill-crash-in-texas/

B-24 Diamond Lil flies again

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 …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/10/28/b-24-diamond-lil-flies-again/

Thomas-Morse S-4B Scout flies again

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/

Condor Squadron SNJ-5 Texan crashes on highway, no fatalities

Three SNJ/T-6 of the COndor Squadron in formation. The accident aircraft is the closest one on this shot. (Photo Alan Wilson (CC BY-SA 2.0))

An SNJ-5 Texan belonging to the Condor Squadron made an emergency landing on a highway near Agoura Hills, California following an engine failure on October 23, 2018. The pilot managed to land on the highway between traffic and made a power-out landing there. Unfortunately, the aircraft hit the central divider and was destroyed in the …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/10/24/condor-squadron-snj-5-texan-crashes-on-highway-no-fatalities/

First engine run for Shuttleworth Collection’s new Albatros D.Va

The Shuttleworth Collection’s newly-arrived Albatros D.Va replica made its first engine run on October 1st. Source: The Shuttleworth Collection’s Facebook page

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/10/03/first-engine-run-for-shuttleworth-collections-new-albatros-d-va/

Pilot killed in Yak-9UM crash in Australia

A man was killed in the crash of his Yakovlev Yak-9UM in the state of Victoria in Australia, on Friday the 7th of September. The causes of the accident are unknown at this time. The aircraft, Yak-9UM CH-YIX, was one of the series of aircraft built by Yakovlev in the early 1990s, and was powered …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/09/09/pilot-killed-in-yak-9um-crash-in-australia/

More than 40 L-Birds to commemorate 75th anniversary of D-Day and Battle of Normandy

As part of the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy in June 2019, preparations have begun for an exceptional commemoration. These jubilee commemorations will probably be the last ones to be attended by veterans of World War II. From the 6th to the 9th of June 2019, the French association L-Birds back …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/08/09/more-than-40-l-birds-to-commemorate-75th-anniversary-of-d-day-and-battle-of-normandy/

Junkers Ju 52 crashes in Switzerland [updated]

The Junkers Ju 52/3m registered HB-HOT and operated by Ju-Air crashed this afternoon shortly before 5:00 PM on the Piz Segnas, a mountain in the Glarus Alps in Switzerland. There is very little information about this tragic incident and no reports on the number of victims is available at this time. Ju-Air operates three Ju …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/08/04/junkers-ju-52-crashes-in-switzerland/

Unique Moynet M.360 Jupiter flies again in France

First flight of the Moynet Jupiter (Photo © Espace Air Passion)

The Moynet M.360/6 Jupiter made its new maiden flight on July 26 in France after a lengthy restoration done by Espace Air Passion/GPPA (Groupement de Préservation du Patrimoine Aéronautique). The test crew was composed of Christian Ravel and Jean-Pierre Lambin. The Moynet M360/6 was built in 1965 and had not flown since 1978. Designed as an …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/08/02/unique-moynet-m-360-jupiter-flies-again-in-france/

Squadron Leader Geoffrey Wellum DFC †

Squadron Leader Geoffrey Harris Augustus Wellum DFC passed away on 18 July 2018, aged 96. A former RAF fighter pilot, he took part in the Battle of Britain in 1940. He remained in frontline service until 1943, when he became a test pilot on the Hawker Typhoon and ended the war as a gunnery instructor. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/07/22/squadron-leader-geoffrey-wellum-dfc-%e2%80%a0/