Brigadier General Dick Lord, the Fleet Air Arm pilot who has died aged 75, was instrumental in the development of America’s Top Gun fighter pilot academy, made famous by the film of the same name. Read his obituary on the Telegraph.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/11/07/brigadier-general-dick-lord-%e2%80%a0/
Nov 05 2011
A-26 Invader to be restored in France
An A-26B of the 553rd Bomb Squadron, 386th Bomb Group. (Photo USAF)
A Douglas A-26 Invader recently arrived in Avignon and should be restored. It is A-26B-45-DL s/n 44-34172, built by Douglas in Long Beach, California.
Sold as surplus in 1958, the airframe was owned by several different companies and individuals. Continue reading
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/11/05/a-26-invader-to-be-restored-in-france/
Oct 29 2011
Swift Enterprise runs R-2800 Double Wasp on biofuel
Swift Enterprise, producer of 100SF, a lead-free biofuel meant to replace 100LL aviation fuel used in piston-engined aircraft, recently ran a Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp radial engine with 100SF. The engine ran well and Swift Enterprise claims the performance achieved was could only be previously achived by using 115/145 octane rating gas.
Swift Enterprise recently ran a 1933 Ranger L-440 engine with its fuel. It appears 100SF is a valid replacement for 100LL but, as with most biofuels, will only succees if production costs can be substantially lowered.
Read more on the EAA website or General Aviation News.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/10/29/swift-enterprise-runs-r-2800-double-wasp-on-biofuel/
Oct 25 2011
Henri de Bordas †
Henri de Bordas, Free French ace, died on October 22, 2011. Bordas was still a student when France fell and he rallied England in 1940. Trained as a fighter pilot in the RAF, he flew during most of the war, flying some 320 wartime missions. He was credited with 11 aerial victories, including ten V-1 “buzz bombs”.
After the war, Bordas served in various positions in the French air force and as a consultant with the government. Read his biography (in French) on the website of l’Ordre de la Libération.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/10/25/henri-de-bordas-%e2%80%a0/
Oct 25 2011
Tadeusz Sawicz †
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
Wreckage of Spitfire recovered in France
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
Video: Captured Japanese and German aircraft in Wright Field, 1945
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
Howard Hughes record broken by Reno racer
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
Was Guy Gibson killed by friendly fire?
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 †
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
Il-2 Shturmovik takes to the skies in Russia
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
Cleveland Air Race Revival 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 †
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
Seven F-111 Ardvaark to go to museums in Australia
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/
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