Commemorative Air Force – World Warbird News https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com The latest in warbirds and historical aviation Sat, 20 Jun 2026 13:52:49 +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 Dan Fordice killed in the crash of P-51D Mustang “Charlotte’s Chariot II” https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2026/05/16/dan-fordice-killed-in-the-crash-of-p-51d-mustang-charlottes-chariot-ii/ https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2026/05/16/dan-fordice-killed-in-the-crash-of-p-51d-mustang-charlottes-chariot-ii/#respond Sat, 16 May 2026 08:48:33 +0000 https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/?p=4429

Continue reading]]> P-51D Mustang Charlotte's Chariot II N251CS (Photo Alan Wilson (CC BY-SA 2.0))

The P-51D Mustang “Charlotte’s Chariot II”, registered N251CS (Photo Alan Wilson (CC BY-SA 2.0))

The warbird community is mourning the loss of Dan Fordice, who was killed on May 12, 2026, in the crash of his North American P-51D Mustang “Charlotte’s Chariot II” near Tallulah-Vicksburg Regional Airport, Louisiana. Fordice was a respected warbird pilot and philantropist. The circumstances of the crash are currently under investigation by the NTSB.

A veteran of both the U.S. Army and the Mississippi Army National Guard, Dan Fordice was well known within the historic aviation world for his passion for preserving the memory of the Second World War through flying aircraft and educational projects. He served on the General Staff of the Commemorative Air Force and founded the Southern Heritage Air Foundation, dedicated to preserving veterans’ stories and aviation history.

Fordice’s Mustang, “Charlotte’s Chariot II”, was a North American P-51D-30-NA Mustang carrying serial number 44-74977.  After leaving USAF service, it was registered N5448V by Wayne Clevenger in 1957. It was owned by several owners until 2009, when it was purchased by Fordice and re-registered N251CS and repainted as “Charlotte’s Chariot II”, a Mustang flown during World War II by Lieutenant Cary Salter, a pilot of the 354th Fighter Group.

Lieutenant Cary Salter, a pilot of the 354th Fighter Group with his P-51 Mustang (FT-π), serial number 44-63747) nicknamed "Charlotte's Chariot II". (Photo USAAF via Cary Salter)

Lieutenant Cary Salter, a pilot of the 354th Fighter Group with his P-51 Mustang (FT-π), serial number 44-63747) nicknamed “Charlotte’s Chariot II”. (Photo USAAF via Cary Salter)

Friends and fellow pilots remembered Fordice as a passionate advocate for veterans and historic aviation. In a statement released after the accident, the Commemorative Air Force described him as “a passionate warbird pilot” who believed historic aircraft were “powerful tools for education, remembrance, and honoring freedom.”

The loss of both Dan Fordice and “Charlotte’s Chariot II” is a tragic reminder of the risks involved in operating vintage aircraft, even in the hands of experienced pilots. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go to Dan Fordice’s family, friends, and the many members of the warbird community who knew and flew alongside him.

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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

 

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

 

 

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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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P-51C Mustang “Tuskegee Airmen” is Back in the Air
P-51C Mustang “Tuskegee Airmen” is Back in the Air
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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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