Tag: United States of America

Paul Ehlen killed in crash of his Curtiss P-40E Warhawk in Montana

The Curtiss P-40E AK753 at Oshkosh (Photo © Damien Defever)

It is with great sadness that we learn of the death of Paul Ehlen. He crashed yesterday afternoon in Curtiss P-40E Warhawk ‘AK753’, registered as N4420K and belonging to the Wings of the North Air Museum,  near Hamilton, Montana. Little information is available about this tragic event but the police announced that Paul Ehlen, the …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2023/06/28/paul-ehlen-killed-in-crash-of-his-curtiss-p-40e-warhawk-in-montana/

Watch footage of Lockheed VC-121A Constellation “Bataan” returning to flight

Gorgeous footage of the first flight of Lockheed VC-121A Constellation “Bataan”, which once served as the personal transport for General MacArthur,  has been uploaded by Skyes9 on YouTube : Push the sound up and enjoy !

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2023/06/26/watch-footage-of-lockheed-vc-121a-constellation-bataan-returning-to-flight/

Lewis Air Legend’s VC-121 “Baatan” flies again

Lewis Air Legend’s Lockheed VC-121A Constellation “Bataan”, which served as General MacArthur’s personal aircraft, flew again on 21 June 2023 after an eight-year restoration by Fighter Rebuilders in Chino, California. Footage of the first flight can be viewed on Lewis Air Legend’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/reel/3572688642970226 The Lockheed  VC-121A Constellation “Bataan” holds a rich history spanning …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2023/06/22/lewis-air-legends-vc-121-baatan-flies-again/

No more National Championship Air Races at Reno-Stead Airport after 2023

Sadly, this is not a bad joke or an April’s Fool. The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA), the organizer of the National Championship Air Races at Reno-Stead Airport, Nevada,  announced on 9 March that the Reno Air Races will no longer take place at the world-renowned Reno-Stead Airport after this year’s edition, from 13 to …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2023/03/10/no-more-national-championship-air-races-at-reno-stead-airport-after-2023/

Brigadier Charles McGee, one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen, passes away at 102

Charles Edward McGee, born on December 7, 1919, passed away in his sleep on Sunday the 16th of January 2022, aged 102. A member of the famous Tuskegee Airmen, he was deployed in  February 1944 with the 302nd Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group, which was then based in Italy. Flying the P-39 Airacobra, …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2022/01/18/brigadier-charles-mcgee-one-of-the-last-surviving-tuskegee-airmen-passes-away-at-102/

First engine runs for Messerschmitt Bf109G-6 WkNr 410077

The Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 Werk Nr. 410077, under restauration by Midwest Aero Restorations Ltd and belonging to Bruce Winter of San Antonio, Texas, has had its first engine run since 1943, in Danville, Illinois. Midwest Aero Ltd has posted this video of the engine runs on its YouTube channel.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2021/11/17/first-engine-runs-for-messerschmitt-bf109g-6-wknr-410077/

Brigadier General Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager †

Brigadier General "Chuck" Yeager (Photo US Air Force)

World-famous test pilot Charles “Chuck” Yeager died on Monday the 7th of December at a hospital in Los Angeles. He was 97 years old. A World War II P-51 Mustang ace  and test pilot, Yeager made international headlines when he became the first man to break the sound barrier on 14 October 1947, flying a …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/12/08/brigadier-general-charles-e-chuck-yeager-%e2%80%a0/

Three wounded in B-25 “Old Glory” crash in California

The B-25 Mitchell “Old Glory” was seriously damaged when it struck an irrigation ditch during an off-airport landing attempt near Stockton, California. The three crewmembers on board were injured and two were taken to the hospital but fortunately their injuries are not life-threatening. “Old Glory” is North American B-25J Mitchell built in 1944 (serial number …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/09/20/three-wounded-in-b-25-old-glory-crash-in-california/

Jerzy Główczewski, last surviving Polish fighter pilot of World War II, has passed away

Jerzy Główczewski, who is reported to have been the last surviving Polish fighter pilot of World War II, passed away in New York on 13 April 2020 aged 97. Główczewski was born in Warsaw, Poland, in 1922 and fled the country after the 1939 German and Soviet invasions. After pilot training, he was assigned to …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/04/20/jerzy-glowczewski-last-surviving-polish-fighter-pilot-of-world-war-ii-has-passed-away/

Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation C-54 Skymaster damaged by tornado in South Carolina

The Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation Douglas C-54 Skymaster was severely damaged by a tornado at the Walterboro airport, South Carolina.  The aircraft seems to have been blown into a hangar, resulting in major damage. Please read the full official statement from the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation below:

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/04/14/berlin-airlift-historical-foundation-c-54-skymaster-damaged-by-tornado-in-south-carolina/

Two killed and one injured in Stinson Reliant crash in California

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. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/01/26/two-killed-and-one-injured-in-stinson-reliant-crash-in-california/

Valiant Air Command’s TBM-3E Avenger returns to flight

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.

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/01/15/valiant-air-commands-tbm-3e-avenger-returns-to-flight/

Pilot killed in OV-1 Mohawk crash in Florida

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 …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2019/11/02/pilot-killed-in-ov-1-mohawk-crash-in-florida/

Seven killed in B-17 “Nine O Nine” crash

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 …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2019/10/03/seven-killed-in-b-17-nine-o-nine-crash/

Several casualties in Collings Foundation B-17 Flying Fortress crash

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. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2019/10/02/several-casualties-in-collings-foundation-b-17-flying-fortress-crash/