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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)

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.

Sources :

• AVWeb | P-51 Mustang Pilot Killed In Louisiana Accident
• Commemorative Air Force | Remembering Dan Fordice Warbird Pilot and Patriot
• Warbirds Wiki | P-51D (Charlotte’s Chariot II) 44-74977
• Vicksburg Post | Dan Fordice killed in plane crash in Tallulah

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A VF-103 F-14B Tomcat firing an AIM-54 Phoenix missile. (Photo Robert Sullivan (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0))

According to an article published by Stefano D’Urso on The Aviationist website, an F-14D Tomcat could return to the skies in the United States under the “Maverick Act.” The proposal aims to allow the restoration to flying condition of one example of the legendary U.S. Navy carrier-based fighter, retired from active service since 2006.

The proposal has already been approved by the Senate and must now be approved by the House of Representatives. If passed, it would authorize the transfer of three F-14 Tomcats to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission, with one of the aircraft potentially being restored to flying condition.

The Tomcat in question would be a former museum aircraft, whose restoration would involve extensive technical and administrative work. The return to flight of a Tomcat would represent a major event in the warbird world, as no example is currently airworthy outside Iran, the last operational user of the type.

Designed by Grumman in the 1970s, the F-14 Tomcat became famous for its variable-geometry wings, powerful AWG-9 radar, and AIM-54 Phoenix missile capable of engaging targets at very long range. The aircraft also remains closely associated with popular culture thanks to the movie Top Gun and its iconic role in American naval aviation during the Cold War.

Source: U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission | The Aviationist (in English)

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The North American TF-51D 44-72483 in its new livery ar Airmotive Specialties ( Photo Airmotive Specialties Inc )

The Airmotive Specialties Inc. workshop, located in Salinas, California, unveiled this week the first photos of the P-51D Mustang “Hel-eter” in its new colors. This marks an important milestone in the restoration of this aircraft, whose return to airworthy condition has been underway for several years and is expected to lead to a new first flight within the next few weeks.

The aircraft, which has been converted to the two-seat TF-51D configuration, now sports a livery inspired by P-51D 44-72577 on the Pacific theater. Bearing the code 527 painted on the fuselage, it is expected to receive the “Hel-eter” nose art on its engine cowling.

This Mustang, serial number 44-72483, has a rich history: delivered to the USAAF on January 23, 1945, it was assigned to the 354th Fighter Group of the 9th Air Force, where it carried the tactical code AJ-R. After the war, it was transferred to the Flygvapnet, the Swedish Air Force, as Fv 26087, before joining the Fuerza Aérea de Nicaragua (Nicaraguan Air Force), where it flew under the code GN85.

Brought back to the United States in December 1963, it was long mistaken for another aircraft destroyed during the conflict. It was only in 1966, thanks to the efforts of David Forrest, that its true identity was officially re-established with the FAA.

The P-51D 44-72557 Mustang Hel-Eter (Profile © Gaëtan Marie / Bravo Bravo Aviation)

The aircraft then began a new civilian life, changing hands several times before being acquired in November 1975 by Dan Martin, a seasoned pilot and well-known figure at the Reno Air Races. Registered as N151DM, the Mustang was restored and flew for more than three decades under the name “Ridge Runner III” (P-51 Mustang Survivors – P-51D-20NA 44-72843), in tribute to Major Pierce W. McKennon, ace and leader of the 4th Fighter Group. Dan Martin flew the Mustang in many editions of the Reno Air Races.

After 37 years of ownership, Dan Martin sold the aircraft in June 2011 to Pat Harker, based in Minneapolis. Harker launched a complete restoration, entrusted to Airmotive Specialties, with the goal of converting the aircraft to TF-51D standard while restoring an appearance faithful to its original military service.

Today, thanks to the meticulous work of the Salinas team and the passion of its new owner, the Mustang “Hel-eter” is preparing to take to the skies again, nearly 80 years after it was first built.

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“Randy” Cunningham (right) and William P. Driscoll (left) in the cockpit of a McDonnell F-4J Phantom II of Fighter Squadron 96 (VF-96), May 1972. (Photo San Diego Air & Space Museum archives)

Randy “Duke” Cunningham, former U.S. Navy fighter pilot and Vietnam War ace, passed away on August 27, 2025, at the age of 83. He was one of the most recognized American aviators of the conflict, credited with five aerial victories that made him the first U.S. Navy ace of the Vietnam War.

Born on December 8, 1941, in Los Angeles, California, Cunningham entered naval aviation in the 1960s and was eventually assigned to fighter squadron VF-96 “Fighting Falcons” aboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation. Flying the McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II with his radar intercept officer (RIO), Lieutenant (jg) William P. “Irish” Driscoll, Cunningham quickly proved his skill in combat.

Cunningham and Driscoll scored their first victory on January 19, 1972, when they shot down a North Vietnamese MiG-21 over Laos. This was followed by a second victory against a MiG-17 on May 8, 1972.

On May 10, 1972, one of the most dramatic aerial combats of the war took place. In the course of two missions that day, Cunningham and Driscoll downed three enemy fighters — a MiG-17 in the morning, and later two more MiG-17s during a fierce dogfight over Hanoi.

Cunningham and Driscoll flew this F-4J Phantom II of VF-96, radio callsign “Showtime 100” to score three aerial victories. (Photo US Navy)

These actions brought Cunningham’s total to five confirmed victories, making him and Driscoll the first U.S. Navy aces of the Vietnam War and the only naval aces of that conflict. They were forced to eject later that day after their Phantom was struck by a surface-to-air missile during the return from the second mission. Rescued at sea, both men survived.

For his valor, Cunningham was awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Purple Heart. Following his combat tour, he became a Top Gun instructor, passing on his experience to a new generation of navy fighter pilots. His wartime record, and particularly his May 1972 missions, made him one of the most publicized American pilots of the era.

After his retirement from the navy, Cunningham was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1990, representing California’s 50th district. His political career ended in 2005 when he resigned after pleading guilty to corruption charges, for which he served more than seven years in prison.

Despite the controversies that marked his later life, Cunningham will be remembered within aviation history circles as a skilled combat pilot and one of the few American jet aces.

Our thoughts and prayers go to the family and friends of Randy “Duke” Cunningham.

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The Fieseler Fi 156 Storch of the US Air Force Museum (Photo USAF Museum)

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, located in Dayton, Ohio, has recently reinstalled in its World War II Gallery an iconic aircraft of German aviation: the Fieseler Fi 156C-2 Storch.

Removed from display in 2017, the aircraft underwent a complete restoration between 2024 and 2025, carried out by the museum’s technical teams. This meticulous work, spread over eighteen months, has given the aircraft a new lease on life.

Built in 1940 in Germany, this Storch is one of the few surviving examples of the famous liaison and reconnaissance aircraft used by the Luftwaffe. Known for its extremely short takeoff and landing capabilities, the Fi 156 was able to operate on rough terrain and in difficult conditions.

Exported to Sweden in 1943, it entered service with the Flygvapnet under the designation S 14B. The Storch was retired from service in 1948. After being withdrawn from active duty, it remained in Europe before returning to Germany in the 1960s. It was briefly flown by Erich Hartmann, the famous Luftwaffe ace, before being acquired in 1973 by two American veterans, Lt. Col. Perry A. Schreffler and Maj. Robert C. Van Ausdell, both former World War II pilots and TWA employees. The aircraft then flew with the civilian registration N156SV.

In 1974, the two men donated the aircraft to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, where it was displayed for several decades. At that time, it sported a livery inspired by that of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s personal Storch, used in North Africa. This paint scheme, although popular with visitors, did not correspond to the aircraft’s actual history.

The restoration begun in 2024 has corrected this inconsistency. The museum’s teams completely disassembled the aircraft, removing the wings, the original fabric, and inspecting every structural element. The mechanical components were overhauled, the landing gear restored, and a new paint scheme applied.

Storch Aircraft Move Aug 2025 Highlights NMUSAF

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Don McPherson in the cockpit of an F6F Hellcat. (Photo US Navy)

A chapter in aviation history was closed on August 14, 2025, when Donald Melvin McPherson passed away at the age of 103. Don McPherson, the last living American ace of World War II, leaves behind not just a legacy of aerial valor but also one of faith, humility, and heartfelt community dedication.

Born on May 25, 1922, in Adams, Nebraska, Donald “Don” McPherson joined the U.S. Navy in early 1943 through the V‑5 Aviation Cadet Program. He earned his wings by August 12, 1944, embarking soon after on a tour of duty aboard the USS Essex as part of Fighter Squadron VF‑83, piloting the famed Grumman F6F Hellcat.

By April 6, 1945, amid the chaos of the Battle of Okinawa, McPherson downed two Aichi D3A “Val” dive bombers. A month later, on May 4, he shot down three Yokosuka K5Y “Willow” floatplanes, thus acquiring the coveted title of ace.

He was decorated with three Distinguished Flying Crosses and four Air Medals, and later received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2015.

Despite his wartime achievements, McPherson’s greatest wish was to be remembered not for his medals but as a man of faith. His daughter, Beth Delabar, emphasized that faith, family, and community marked the true pillars of his life.

After the war, back in Adams, Nebraska, he devoted himself to the local community. McPherson served as a rural mail carrier, farmer, Scoutmaster, youth baseball and softball coach, and leader in the United Methodist Church, the American Legion, and the VFW. In honor of his and his wife’s commitment, the town named its ballfield McPherson Field after them.

At the time of his death, on August 14, 2025, McPherson was recognized by both the American Fighter Aces Association and the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum as the final surviving American ace of World War II.

His funeral on August 19 featured full military honors and a flyover, held shortly after a tribute at the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum’s “Victory at Sea” event.

We would like to express our condolences and deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Don McPherson.

Sources :

• America’s last living ace pilot from World War II dies at age 103 | ABC News

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SB2C-5 Helldiver aircraft, BuNo 83393 (Photo Fagen Fighters WWII Museum Facebook page)

The Fagen Fighters WWII Museum in Granite Falls, Minnesota, announced the successful test flight of their restored SB2C-5 Helldiver on July 22, 2024, marking its first flight since 1945.

The Helldiver, built in early 1945 and originally stationed at Naval Air Field Newport, Rhode Island, and NAS Dahlgren, Virginia, crashed during a test flight on July 24, 1945, killing the pilot, LTJG Mark Gilbert. The backseater, RM3 Edward Pierce, survived with a broken leg. The crash’s cause remains unclear, but it is believed the torpedo it carried for testing came loose.

The wreckage, recovered years later, was partially used by the National Air and Space Museum before Fagen Fighters WWII Museum acquired it and embarked on a 17-year restoration project. The first engine runs were completed on October 7, 2023.

On July 22, 2024, pilot Ed Vesely flew the restored Helldiver. The aircraft was then showcased at the EAA AirVenture Air Show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Read the full story on The Aviationist and view more images of the restored Helldiver on the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum Facebook page.

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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.

Paul Ehlenpilot and owner of the Curtiss P-40E (Photo via WOTN Facebook page)

Little information is available about this tragic event but the police announced that Paul Ehlen, the museum’s founder, was at the controls and did not survive the crash.

An investigation conducted jointly by the FAA and the NTSB has been launched to determine the causes of the accident.

The P-40E Warhawk was restored by Ron Fagen and his museum, the Fagen Fighter Museum, a few years ago and was acquired by the Wings of the North museum in July of last year.

The team at World Warbird News extend their deepest condolences to the family of Paul Ehlen, his friends, and all the members of the Wings of the North Air Museum.

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Lockheed VC-121A Constellation 8613 “Bataan” (N422NA) in 2016. (Photo Alan Wilson (CC BY-SA 2.0))

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 several decades. Originally delivered to the USAF in January 1949 as C-121A 48-613, it played a crucial role in the Berlin Airlift by flying the Westover AFB-Rhein-Main route. In 1950, it underwent conversion to a VC-121A and became the first aircraft of its kind to be equipped with the APS-10 weather radar.

From September 1950 to April 1951, it served as the personal aircraft of General MacArthur, Supreme Commander Allied Powers during the Korean War, and receoved the name “Bataan”. It was also General Ridgeway’s personal aircraft from 1952 to 1953. It was later transferred to HQ, Pacific Air Command as a VIP transport until late 1965, when it was declared surplus by the USAF and flown to Davis-Monthan AFB for storage in January 1966.

In June 1966, NASA acquired the aircraft for use by the Goddard Space Center, stripping its VIP interior and installing instrumentation for the Apollo space program. Its registration was changed to N422NA in June 1969.

Following its retirement from NASA in late 1969, the aircraft found a new home at the US Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker on March 10, 1970. However, it was later declared surplus by the Army and sold to the Planes of Fame Museum on May 7, 1993.  The aircraft was made airworthy at Fort Rucker before being ferried to various locations, including Dothan, AL, Addison, TX, Avra Valley, AZ, and Chino, CA.

Eventually, it settled at The Planes of Fame Museum Annex in Valle, AZ, where it was displayed as “Bataan” with its interior restored to its original condition during General MacArthur’s tenure. In April 2015, the aircraft was sold to Lewis Air Legends of San Antonio, Texas, with plans to restore its airworthiness and include it in the US airshow circuit.