Commemorative Air Force – World Warbird News https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com The latest in warbirds and historical aviation Sun, 28 Oct 2018 18:42:38 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/WWN-icon-256-150x150.png Commemorative Air Force – World Warbird News https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com 32 32 B-24 Diamond Lil flies again https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/10/28/b-24-diamond-lil-flies-again/ https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/10/28/b-24-diamond-lil-flies-again/#respond Sun, 28 Oct 2018 18:37:44 +0000 https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/?p=3701

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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 in the world.

 

]]> https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/10/28/b-24-diamond-lil-flies-again/feed/ 0 C-47 “Blue Bonnet Belle” destroyed in accident https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/07/22/c-47-blue-bonnet-belle-destroyed-in-accident/ https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/07/22/c-47-blue-bonnet-belle-destroyed-in-accident/#respond Sat, 21 Jul 2018 23:17:43 +0000 https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/?p=3554

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The C-47 “Blue Bonnet Belle” of the Commemorative Air Force’s Highland Lakes Squadron has been destroyed in an accident as the aircraft was departing for Oshkosh. Of the 13 people on board at the time of the crash, 7 were injured, including one with significant burn injuries who was airlifted to the hospital. The aircraft was totally destroyed in the fire that followed the take-off accident.

The C-47 Blue Bonnet Belle N47HL (Photo D. Miller (CC BY 2.0))

The C-47 Blue Bonnet Belle N47HL (Photo D. Miller (CC BY 2.0))

 

https://www.facebook.com/mattgallagher20/posts/10156341282861531

 

Sources:

 

* Some sources indicate that 14 people were on board “Blue Bonnet Belle”.

 

 

]]> https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/07/22/c-47-blue-bonnet-belle-destroyed-in-accident/feed/ 0 “That’s All, Brother” flies again https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/02/02/thats-all-brother-flies-again/ https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/02/02/thats-all-brother-flies-again/#respond Fri, 02 Feb 2018 10:57:42 +0000 http://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/?p=3449

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The Douglas C-47A Skytrain “That’s All, Brother”, the aircraft that led the aerial invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, has flown again. The aircraft, whose unique history had somewhat been forgotten, hadn’t flown in nearly a decade and was scheduled to be converted to a turboprop by Basler Turbo Conversions in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The Commemorative Air Force discovered the aircraft and decided to restore it to airworthiness under its original specifications.

The first flight was made on January 31st, and was followed by two other test flights. Doug Rozendaal and Tom Travis were at the controls.

More information on the first post-restoration flight of this unique historical aircraft can be found on these websites:

]]> https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/02/02/thats-all-brother-flies-again/feed/ 0 CAF SoCal Wing Yak-3 flies again https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2017/03/09/caf-socal-wing-yak-3-flies-again/ https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2017/03/09/caf-socal-wing-yak-3-flies-again/#comments Thu, 09 Mar 2017 22:58:28 +0000 http://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/?p=3189

After being grounded for 8 years, the Yak-3 of the Commemorative Air Force’s SoCal Wing flew again today.

Find out more on the CAF SoCal Wing’s Facebook page or website.

]]> https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2017/03/09/caf-socal-wing-yak-3-flies-again/feed/ 2 CAF Dixie Wing P-63 Kingcobra flies again! https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2017/02/20/caf-dixie-wing-p-63-kingcobra-flies-again/ https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2017/02/20/caf-dixie-wing-p-63-kingcobra-flies-again/#respond Mon, 20 Feb 2017 16:44:42 +0000 http://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/?p=3187

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“After more than 40 years since it’s last flight, 16 years of restoration, being effected by the Mississippi River flood of 1993 and countless man hours by the dedicated volunteers of the CAF Dixie Wing, the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Dixie Wing Bell P-63A-6 Kingcobra serial number 42-68941 flew for the first time on Saturday February 18, 2017. Just after 1300hrs local time pilot Jim Dale took off from the Atlanta Regional Airport, home of the Dixie Wing.”

Find out more on the CAF Dixie Wing’s website or Facebook page.

]]> https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2017/02/20/caf-dixie-wing-p-63-kingcobra-flies-again/feed/ 0 “Tuskegee Airmen” P-51C flies again https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/12/04/tuskegee-airmen-p-51c-flies-again/ https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/12/04/tuskegee-airmen-p-51c-flies-again/#respond Sun, 04 Dec 2016 11:07:18 +0000 http://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/?p=3154

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The P-51C “Tuskegee Airmen” operated by the CAF Red Tail Squadron was damaged eight months ago in a landing accident in Dallas, TX. The aircraft was taken to AirCorps Aviation for repairs and flew again on December 1st with Doug Rozendaal at the controls.Rozeendaal reported that “there were no issues with the test flight and the aircraft flew great”.

]]> https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/12/04/tuskegee-airmen-p-51c-flies-again/feed/ 0 Nine P-40 to gather for AVG’s 75th anniversary in September https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/07/21/nine-p-40-to-gather-for-avgs-75th-anniversary-in-september/ https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/07/21/nine-p-40-to-gather-for-avgs-75th-anniversary-in-september/#respond Thu, 21 Jul 2016 14:24:46 +0000 http://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/?p=3076

Continue reading]]> Atlanta-Warbird-Weekend

Nine Curtiss P-40 will attend the 3rd annual CAF Atlanta Warbird Weekend on September 24 & 25 for the 75th anniversary of the American Volunteer Group, better known as the “Flying Tigers”. This will be the largest gathering of P-40 in recent times.

The event, hosted by the Dixie Wing, will take place at Dekalb-Peachtree Airport and many other warbirds will also be attending. World War II veterans, authors, 1940s Hollywood entertainers and reenactors will be present at the event, which is presented not as an airshow but as a warbird display and history education event, with aircraft rides available.

More information, including the complete list of attending P-40 and other warbirds, can be found on the 3rd annual CAF Atlanta Warbird Weekend website.

]]> https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/07/21/nine-p-40-to-gather-for-avgs-75th-anniversary-in-september/feed/ 0 CAF SoCal PBJ-1J Mitchell flies again after a 23-year restoration https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/05/23/caf-socal-pbj-1j-mitchell-flies-again-after-a-23-year-restoration/ https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/05/23/caf-socal-pbj-1j-mitchell-flies-again-after-a-23-year-restoration/#respond Mon, 23 May 2016 09:18:59 +0000 http://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/?p=3019

After a 23-year restoration by the Southern California Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, “Semper Fi”, the world’s only airworthy PBJ-1J Mitchell, flew again on May 15 in Ventura.

Visit the CAF SoCal’s website for more information and photos.

]]> https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/05/23/caf-socal-pbj-1j-mitchell-flies-again-after-a-23-year-restoration/feed/ 0 P-51C Mustang “Tuskegee Airmen” damaged in wheels-up landing https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/02/04/p-51c-mustang-tuskegee-airmen-damaged-in-wheels-up-landing/ https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/02/04/p-51c-mustang-tuskegee-airmen-damaged-in-wheels-up-landing/#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2016 14:41:17 +0000 http://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/?p=2950

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The P-51C Mustang “Tuskegee Airmen” of the Commemorative Air Force’s Red Tail Squadron was damaged in a wheels-up landing yesterday in Dallas. Pilot and Unit Leader Bill Shepard walked away from the accident unhurt.

The restaured aircraft made its first flight in 2001 and was used to honour the memory of the Tuskegee airmen. In May 2004, it crashed in Minnesota, pilot Don Hinz dying from his wounds a few days later. It was rebuilt in only five years and flew again in July 2009.

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]]> https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/02/04/p-51c-mustang-tuskegee-airmen-damaged-in-wheels-up-landing/feed/ 2 P-39 Airacobra “Miss Connie” returns to the skies https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2015/03/14/p-39-airacobra-miss-connie-returns-to-the-skies/ https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2015/03/14/p-39-airacobra-miss-connie-returns-to-the-skies/#respond Sat, 14 Mar 2015 11:43:04 +0000 http://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/?p=2473

Continue reading]]> "Miss Connie" in 2004 (Photo Christopher Ebdon (CC BY-NC-SA))

“Miss Connie” in 2004 (Photo Christopher Ebdon (CC BY-NC-SA))

The CAF Central Texas Wing announced yesterday on its Facebook page that its P-39 Airacobra “Miss Connie” flew again, after a lengthy and major maintenance effort. The fighter is to be cleaned and repainted before resuming its airshow displays.

“Miss Connie” is a Bell P-39Q Airacobra (serial number 42-19597)  which served in the USAAF during World War II. Only three P-39 are still airworthy today.

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