Oct 25 2011
Tadeusz Sawicz died on October 19, 2011. Born in 1914 in Warsaw, he joined the Polish air force in 1934 and fought the German invaders in 1939, flying P.11c fighters. After the fall of Poland, he joined France and began flying with Groupe de Chasse III/10 but had to flee to North Africa after the defeat.
He reached Great-Britain in time to take part in the Battle of Britain and flew with the RAF for the rest of the war. Continue reading
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/10/25/tadeusz-sawicz-%e2%80%a0/
Oct 20 2011
Group photo of No. 457 Squadron's pilots at RAF Station Redhill in 1942. William Smith is perhaps one of them. (Australian War Memorial image SUK15004. )
The wreckage of a Spitfire that was shot down in April 1942 was unearthed in Hardifort in Northern France. The remains of the pilot, William James Smith, were found at the crash site.
Smith, a 24 year-old Australian, was flying with No 457 Squadron when he was shot down and killed. The aircraft’s wreckage is rumoured to be sent back to England for display, although some sources indicate its final destination will be the French museum La Coupole. Continue reading
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/10/20/wreckage-of-spitfire-recovered-in-france/
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/10/17/flying-legends-2012-dates/
Oct 15 2011
This rare colour video shows captured Japanese and German aircraft and equipment being presented in Wright Field, Ohio, in October 1945.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/10/15/video-captured-japanese-and-german-aircraft-in-wright-field-1945/
Oct 13 2011
Whiteside's record-breaking Yak-3U "Steadfast" (Photo Jack Snell (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)).
On October 10, Will Whiteside broke the world speed record for an piston-engine powered aircraft of less than 6,600 lbs. This record was held since 1935 by Howard Hughes in his H1 racer, and was only broken in 2002 by an H1 replica. Flying his Yak-3U “Steadfast”, Whiteside broke the record at 407 mph, beating the H1 replica by 102 mph. Continue reading
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/10/13/howard-hughes-record-broken-by-reno-racer/
Oct 12 2011
That is what James Cutler, a British historian, claims to have discovered. For years, it was presumed that Gibson had run out of fuel or crashed while flying at low altitude. On the night he was killed, he was flying a de Havilland Mosquito, acting as a pathfinder for heavy bombers raiding Germany. The date was September 19, 1944. Continue reading
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/10/12/was-guy-gibson-killed-by-friendly-fire/
Oct 11 2011
Flight Lieutenant Wallace Cunningham, who has died aged 94, flew Spitfires during the Battle of Britain, when he was awarded the DFC. Read his obituary on the Telegraph.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/10/11/flight-lieutenant-wallace-cunningham-%e2%80%a0/
Oct 10 2011
Updated Oct 12, 2011 After a little-known restoration program by Aviarestoration, an Il-2 Shturmovik recently took to the skies in Russia. While over 35,000 Il-2 were built, there are few survivors, and until recently, no flying example of this legendary attack aircraft.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/10/10/il-2-shturmovik-takes-to-the-skies-in-russia/
Oct 08 2011
Reminiscent of the National Air Races which were held from 1920 à 1949, an air race will be held on October 15th in Cleveland. The race is open to both standard and experimental aircraft. All racers will follow a six-branch 150-miles course starting and ending at Cleveland Municipal Airport. The public can watch the races from the airport, with free admission. Visit the Cleveland Air Race Revival blog for more information.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/10/08/cleveland-air-race-revival-2011/
Oct 06 2011
Kenneth H. Dahlberg (Photo USAF)
Kenneth H. Dahlberg, World War II fighter ace with 14.5 victories to his credit, died on October 5 aged 94. Shot down and captured during the war, he became a successful businessman upon his return to the USA.
He played a key role in the Watergate scandal. Part of the money used to fund the Watergate burglars transited through Dahlberg’s hands. However, his testimony helped make the case public and he was never charged for any wrongdoings. Continue reading
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/10/06/kenneth-h-dahlberg-%e2%80%a0/
Oct 01 2011
A No 1 Squadron RAAF F-111 Aardvark in 2007. (Photo USAF)
Australian defence minister Jason Clare has announced that seven F-111 Aardvark will be made available to museums and historical organizations in the country. Australia was the only foreign operator of the type, which served in the RAAF from 1973 to 2010. Continue reading
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/10/01/seven-f-111-ardvaark-to-go-to-museums-in-australia/
Oct 01 2011
Photo Javier Pedreira (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Classic Wing’s Tiger Moth G-ANPE was damaged on Friday September 30 when it overshot the runway at Duxford. The two people on board received minor injuries and were taken to the hospital. The aircraft has received substantial damage. Continue reading
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/10/01/tiger-moth-g-anpe-damaged-in-duxford/
Sep 29 2011
I normally wouldn’t post an ad here but this British AIrways is certainly worth seeing. Enjoy! 🙂
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/09/29/british-airways-classic-aircraft-video/
Sep 28 2011
The B5N Kate replica. (Photo D. Miller (CC BY 2.0))
On Monday 26 September at 8:50 AM, the replica of a Japanese B5N “Kate” torpedo-bomber operated by the Tora! Tora! Tora! group of the Commemorative Air Force ran into engine trouble while returning to Texas from an airshow in Bullhead City.
With his engine out, pilot Bill Fier immediately picked a cotton field near Thatcher, AZ, where he performed a gear-up landing. After skidding over some 30 yards, the aircraft halted to a stop. Fier was unharmed and the aircraft only received light damage. Continue reading
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/09/28/kate-replica-makes-a-belly-landing-in-arizona/
Sep 25 2011
A DHC Beaver preserved at the Canadian Air & Space Museum (Photo Plismo (CC BY-SA 3.0))
The Canadian Air & Space Museum based in Toronto recently was served with an eviction notice by its landlord, Downsview Park group. Door locks have been changed and the museum has been closed to the public since September 24. Plans for the historic building are to convert it into a four-pad ice complex. Continue reading
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/09/25/canadian-air-space-museum-receives-eviction-notice/
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