Frank Losonsky, the last known survivor of the American Volunteer Group, better known as the “Flying Tigers”, passed away on 6 February 2020, aged 99.
Having served two years in the US Army Air Corps, Losonsky became a crew chief with the 3rd Squadron of the Flying Tigers in 1941. After the group was disbanded in 1942, he returned to the his home town in Detroit where he got married. He later returned to China as a mechanic with China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC) flying the “Hump” before returning to the US again. After his service, he joined TransAsiatic Airlines in Burma and became a pilot.
Our thoughts and prayers go to Frank Losonsky’s family and friends. Continue reading
Paul Caswell Powe Farnes (Photo Oem89 (CC BY-SA 4.0))
Wing Commander Paul Caswell Powe Farnes, the last surviving ace of the Battle of Britain, passed away on 28 January 2020 aged 101. His death takes place only a few weeks after that of Maurice Mounsdon, and there are now only two surviving Royal Air Force pilots of the Battle of Britain: F/L William Clark and F/O John Hemingway. Continue reading
Stinson AT-19 Reliant NC50249 in 2012 (Photo Jack Snell (CC BY-ND 2.0))
Two people were killed and one was injured in the crash of Stinson AT-19 Reliant NC50249 near the Auburn Municipal Airport in California on 24 January 2020. Police sources indicate that the two fatalities are 80 year-old Anthony Lawrence Wright Sr., the owner of the aircraft, and his 55 year-old son Anthony Lawrence Wright Jr. The third occupant was not named and is reported as being in critical condition. Continue reading
Spitfire Mk IX MJ755 in 2006 (Photo Matteo Arrotta (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0))
Supermarine Spitfire Mk IXc MJ755, also known as the “Greek Spitfire” for its uncommon markings, flew again on Sunday 19 January 2020 for the first time since 1953.
The aircraft, which was brought back to airworthiness by Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar, served on the Mediterranean front in 1944 and 1945 and was sold to Greece in 1947.
Its last flight took place on 8 September 1953, after which it was first stored and later displayed as a gate-guard in Tatoi air base. It was ultimately recuperated by the Hellenic Air Force Museum near Athens, which displayed it until 2008 when the decision was made to make it fly again.
The aircraft was remarkably complete and it is reported that very few parts needed replacement, making it one of the most authentic Spitfires flying today. Continue reading
Daniel Koblet at the controls of the Morane-Saulnier D-3801 (MS.406) HB-RCF at Duxford in 2015 (Photo Alan Wilson (CC BY-SA 2.0))
Swiss pilot and mechanic Daniel Koblet passed away on 14 January, aged only 60 after a short battle against illness. Koblet was well-known by classic aircraft and warbirds enthusiasts as a pilot and mechanic. He flew the sole surviving Morane-Saulnier MS.406 (actually a Swiss license-built D-3801) at airshows and participated in many aviation-related movies.
Our thoughts and prayers go to the family and friends of Daniel Koblet.
Valiant Air Command, Inc.’s General Motors TBM-3E Avenger returned to flight on 11 January 2020 after an 18-year long restoration.
The Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum is based near Titusville, Florida, and is home to a large collection of aircraft dating from World War I to the present. Continue reading
Maurice Mounsdon at the controls of his Hurricane (Photo Crown Copyright)
Flight Lieutenant Maurice Mounsdon, one of the last surviving pilots to have fought during the Battle of Britain, passed away on December 6 at the age of 101.
Born on 11 February 1918, Maurice “Mark” Mounsdon began his training on 24 August 1939 and was assigned to No 56 Squadron of the Royal Air Force on 3 June 1940 as the Battle of Britain was raging. Flying a Hurricane, he shared the destruction of a Dornier Do 17 on 3 July, and three weeks later probably destroyed a Junkers Ju 87 Stuka. Continue reading
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2019/12/13/maurice-mounsdon-one-of-the-last-surviving-pilots-of-the-battle-of-britain-has-passed-away/
A message from the Belgian Aviation Preservation Association
The restoration of the Belgian Aviation Preservation Association’s (www.bapa.aero) B-25 Mitchell is an ongoing project, as is the search for parts and equipment to re-equip what initially was an empty B-25 shell.
After obtaining the plexiglass canopy of the dorsal turret during the shooting of the “Catch 22” series, all that was needed was what came beneath it, i.e. a Bendix turret.
This is a rare and difficult to acquire part, but we were able to locate and reserve one in Australia, for $5400. It is incomplete but can serve as the basis for a full restoration.
We are therefore calling on all B-25 Mitchell enthusiasts and those who support our goal of honoring the Belgian crews that flew on the Mitchell with the Royal Air Force.
You can help us by donating to the Fondation Roi Baudouin :
BE10 0000 0000 0404 (BIC : BPOT BEB1) with the compulsory mention: « 128/2714/00065 »
If you are a Belgian fiscal resident, any donation over 40€ will make you eligible to a tax refund.
For our foreign supporters, a donation on the bank account of our association is also possible:
The world’s only airworthy Fouga CM.175 Zéphyr, a French naval jet trainer which first flew in 1959 and served until 1994, was damaged in a runway excursion on November 4. Nobody was hurt in the accident, but the right main gear struck an obstacle and the aircraft was damaged.
It has been established that the right wing will need to be replaced, and it is hoped that the right landing gear can be repaired. Zéphyr 28, which restored and operates the aircraft, hopes to be able to fly the aircraft again next year.
The Grumman OV-1D Mohawk N10VD in 2012 (Photo Chad Horwdel (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0))
A man was killed yesterday in the crash of Grumman OV-1D Mohawk N10VD at the Witham Field airport in Stuart, Florida. The pilot was alone on board and was rehearsing for the Stuart airshow, which was to begin that evening and continue the next day.
The causes of the accident are unknown and the National Transportation Safety Board has sent investigators to the scene. The accident was filmed by a witness.
Our thoughts and prayers go to the family and friends of the pilot.
The Collings Foundation ‘s Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress “Nine O Nine” (Photo Chris Kennedy (CC BY-NC 2.0))
More information has been released by authorities concerning the crash of the B-17 “Nine O Nine”. It is now being reported that seven were killed, and seven wounded (including one person on the ground).
The status of the survivors is not known as authorities are understandably declining to provide more details until the families of the victims have been properly informed.
Sources and witnesses indicate that the aircraft had reported engine trouble to ATC and was about to land on runway 06 of Bradley Internation Airport when it struck the ILS equipment located near the runway. The impact caused the aircraft to veer to the right and cross the grass surfaces and taxiway next to the runway before colliding with de-icing facilities.
The Collings Foundation ‘s Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress “Nine O Nine” (Photo Chris Kennedy (CC BY-NC 2.0))
The Collings Foundation’s Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress “Nine O Nine” crashed this morning shortly before 10:00 AM at Bradley International Airport near Hartford, Connecticut.
Available information on this tragic accident is incomplete and in many cases conflicting, but it appears at least two were killed. Several other were wounded, including one person on the ground. It is reported that 13 people were on board “Nine O Nine”: two pilots and a crewmember, as well as ten passengers.
It appears the aircraft ran into mechanical problems shortly after takeoff and that the accident happened as the pilots were landing the heavy bomber, which ended its run in buildings and was almost entirely destroyed by fire.
We’ll post more information when they become available.
Our thoughts and prayers go to the victims and their relatives.
An Aermacchi MB-326K (construction number 6574, registered I-MBCK) flew again on 26 September 2019 in Reggio Emilia near Bologna, Italy.
The aircraft was built in the mid 1970s and was intended for the Zairian air force. The aircraft was never delivered due to financial troubles in Zaire and no other owner was ever found, the aircraft thus ending as a gate guard for many years. Retired Italian Air Force officer Cdr. Maurizio Lodovisi, one of the pilots with the most time in the MB-326, was at the controls for the first flight.
Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Buttelmann, the youngest ace of the Korean War, passed away on September 16, 2019.
Henry Buttelmann was born in Corona, New York on 26 June 1929. Entering the Air Force pilot training program in 1952, he graduated and went through advanced gunnery training before being sent to Korea in December of that year to serve with the 25th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, equipped with the F-86 Sabre.
On June 19th, 1953, on his 55th mission scored his first aerial victory by downing a MiG-15. Eleven days later, he became the youngest ace in the Korean War when he shot down his fifth aircraft. By the time the Korean War ended on July 27, he had flown 65 combat missions and shot down a total of 7 enemy aircraft.
He was to see combat again during the Vietnam War, flying 46 combat missions in the F-105 with the 562nd Tactical Fighter Squadron in 1965. In 1969, he served for another 12 months in Vietnam, flying the F-100 Super Sabre with the Misty Forward Air Controllers and the 308th Tactical Fighter Squadron.
He retired from the Air Force in 1979 with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and was a resident of Las Vegas for over thirty years.
Our thoughts and prayers extend to the family and relatives of Henry Buttlemann.
The Belgian Aviation Preservation Association (BAPA) recently added a “classic aircraft from the future” to its collection !
The aircraft in question is the most recent variant of the famous Stampe & Vertongen SV-4 : the SV4-RS, built by Ultralight Concept.
The SV4-RS is an ultralight version of the SV-4 designed and built by Raoul Severin. The airframe received by the BAPA is one of the prototypes that underwent and survived stress tests in order to obtain the type’s certification in several countries. Continue reading
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