Steve Rush submitted this photo and note: “The Commemorative Air Force left its B-17 ‘Sentimental Journey’ on the ramp at Arlington Municipal Airport (KAWO) in Washington, one Saturday, and I just couldn’t pass up the photo opportunity of a lifetime to get my RV-8 in the same photo.”
Commemorative Air Force
World War II pilot surprised with visit from P-51
Officials with the Commemorative Air Force Airbase Georgia flew its P-51 Mustang fighter to Florida recently to help surprise a World War II veteran and former P-51 pilot who was celebrating his 100th birthday.
Video: Warbirds and Wheels
Smitty Smith of FunPlacesToFly.com just uploaded a video to YouTube shot at the Commemorative Air Force Warbirds and Wheels aviation event in Lancaster, Texas. The video, which features warbirds, experimentals, and other general aviation airplanes, does not include music, so you can hear all the wonderful engine sounds as the planes takeoff, land, and taxi.
Bittersweet end for the last B-17s in the Air Force
Radio-controlled B-17s were first used to bomb Germany, but after World War II, the Air Force found several other uses for the drones, known as QB-17, including taking radioactive samples, water ditching tests, and testing antiaircraft missiles.
Air Power History Tour visits Air Force museum for July 4th
The public is invited to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, to see three World War II-era aircraft flown by the Commemorative Air Force: The B-29 Superfortress “FiFi,” B-24 Liberator “Diamond Lil,” and a T-6 Texan, the legendary trainer of World War II.
Picture of the Day: Bomber readiness
Cheryl Goodwin submitted this photo and note: “A beautiful May morning at the Commemorative Air Force Museum in Mesa, Arizona, as the Bomber Squadron prepares to leave on their summer tour. The Stearman takes center stage as the B-25 “Maid in the Shade” taxies out to depart and the B-17 “Sentimental Journey” sits in the background. Due to the AD currently issued on the B-17s, she didn’t depart this day. However, we were able to have an educational static tour of her.”
World’s oldest Liberator is the CAF’s crown jewel
The Commemorative Air Force’s B-24 Diamond Lil has been flying more than 80 years. More than a half-century of that time has been under CAF stewardship. Lil has never looked better.
Volunteers paint CAF Airbase Georgia Corsair
Recently featured in the movie “Devotion,” the FG-1D Corsair was carefully stripped to bare metal and repainted to return it to like-new condition, according to CAF officials.
New wing of Commemorative Air Force takes off
While new, the New England Wing of the CAF has achieved a lot in its short life, according to officials, including meeting all the requirements to have an aircraft assigned to the wing — a Fairchild PT-23 Primary Trainer.