Planes of fame: Warbird Pictures

Planes of fame: Warbird Pictures

The Mighty Eighth Lands at Chino

By Jake Peterson (Repost from the net)

Jake Peterson reports: “2014 Planes of Fame Airshow” presented by the Planes of Fame Air Museum of Chino, CA is just one of the greatest airshow in the world. 

Over the past several years the Planes of Fame Airshow has been recognized as one of the best Warbird Airshows in the country. It’s no surprise as the airshow is based out of Chino Airport, home of the Planes of Fame Air Museum which houses some of the rarest and most interesting aircraft left in the world. Each year the Airshow is centered on a theme and this year it was a salute to the mighty Eighth Air Force.

The Eighth Air Force was based out of several bases throughout England and served to break the manufacturing and supply lines of the German war effort. The overall goal was not only to gain air superiority over European skies but also to clear the way for Operation Overlord. The Eighth began in January of 1942 and lasted until the German surrender of 1945. In 1944 the VIII Bomber command, along with Fighter and Supply command, was designated the Eighth Air Force which remains in service to this day. By 1944 the Eighth Air Force had grown to an estimated 350,000 Americans, over 2,000 four engine bombers and 1,000 fighters. The Eighth’s aircraft roster consisted of B-17 Flying Fortress’s, B-24 Liberators, C-47/C-53 Skytroopers, P-51 Mustangs and P-47 Thunderbolts. It was one of the greatest achievements of manufacturing capabilities of the wartime effort.

Over fifty four warbirds showed up for this year’s event; eleven of those planes were P-51 Mustangs, five P-47 Thunderbolts, three B-25 Mitchell bombers and two B-17 Flying Fortresses. It wouldn’t be a salute to the Eighth Air Force without B-17 bombers and two showed up; surprisingly enough both were G model Flying Fortresses, Sentimental Journey of the Commemorative Air Force Arizona Airbase and Fuddy Duddy of Lyon Air Museum. Each day both planes would take to the sky during the reenactment of the European theater. Along with the bombers were the fighters both friendly and foe. The Planes of Fame Focke Wulf 190 was the enemy of the day as it did its passes for the crowd of spectators. The Focke Wulf had its hands full chasing done the B-17s as the Mustangs, Thunderbolts, a lone Spitfire and even a P-63 KingCobra were trying to get him.

One of the highlights of the show was the gathering of P-47 Thunderbolts. These planes are very rare with less than a dozen flying today and many more in static displays. We were fortunate to have five examples at this year’s airshow, one being a static display as it was part of Yanks Air Museum. The other four performed a missing man salute together and then proceeded with individual passes over the field.  The only two P-47 Razorbacks were part of the demonstration, the museums P-47G model 42-25254 and the privately owned P-47G Snafu in the colors of the 84th Fighter Squadron P-47D 42-74742. The other two are privately owned bubble canopy models, one is a P-47D Hun Hunter XVI owned by Neal Melton and the other is a P-47D model owned by Alan Wojcaik. The planes flew overhead showing off their invasion stripes as if they were going into combat.



Despite only being a two day airshow it truly was nonstop action as planes from all different eras and fields were flying overhead. Corsairs, TBM Avengers, an SBD and even a Zero were some of the aircraft part of the Pacific Theater recreation. While the F-86 Sabre, Mig15, Mustangs, a Skyraider and a Yak-3 were flown during the Korean demonstration. It was nonstop action in the media pit as our cameras were swinging left to right with every plane as it went by.





Among the performers was the Bremont Horsemen Aerobatic Team which is a sight to see in its own. Three Mustangs take to the sky in a formation routine that is like no other. They flew so close together through their loops that it’s almost unbelievable. Then later on they switch over to their F-86’s for a three ship formation with the Korean era fighter, doing the same routine with a great risk factor. It is truly a testament to their skill what these pilots can do.

F22 Raptor in formation with the grand ol' ladies

One of the familiar faces to return to the airshow scene this year is the F-22 Raptor. After the sequester it was unknown when and how often military displays would be seen, but now it appears that they are back in full swing with appearances all over the country and for that one weekend, two F-22’s were at Chino. Both days had a great display of what that plane is capable of and to finish off each display the F-22 joined up with a P-38 Lightning, P-51 Mustang and a P-47 Thunderbolt for one of the best heritage flights I have ever seen.



Over seventy years ago a bunch of our leaders, some army brass and some English men got together and came up with a plan to end the war in Europe. They selected companies to build planes, areas where bases could be built and men that could fight. These ideas made the Eighth Air Force and it is those men and the hundreds of thousands of others that did fight that we celebrate today.



More pictures from Jake Peterson. Click HERE to visit Jake Peterson’s website.
Photographs all copyright Jake Peterson, just a fan repost. No infringement intended

2500 Page views- thanks to my readers

A thank you to everyone who has been reading my blog. Started a few months ago, and this week clocked the 2500 views mark. Thanks to all those other aircraft nuts out there!

SAAF Sabres: Canadair CL-13B and North American F86F

SAAF Sabres: Canadair CL-13B and North American F86F

The SAAF Operated North American F86 E/Fs and Canadian Built CL13-Bs:

North American Sabres:

The SAAF's use of the Sabre started during the Korean War when 2 Squadron had their Mustangs replaced by North American F86F-30 Sabres. This was due to the high regard and respect that the SAAF pilots had achieved with their tenacity in the ground attack role with Mustangs.

The first machines, on loan from he USAF, were delivered in January 1953, and the last returned to the USAF in October 1953.

These early Sabres, although F models, which in theory would of been fitted with the newly-developed "6-3" wing were in fact mostly all fitted with the older slatted non 6-3 wing. There is photographic evidence though that at least one of the attrition replacement aircraft was fitted with a "hard 6-3 wing".

At the cessation of the Korean hostilities 2 Squadron returned all their remaining Sabre's to the USAF. Aircraft losses amounted to four out of 22 Sabres.
Serial numbers  were in the 601 to 622 range.

Canadair Sabres


The SAAF Museum's Sabre is a Canadair CL-13B Sabre Mk 6, one of a batch of 34 acquired by
the SAAF. The specific aircraft in question, serial 367, was delivered to the SAAF on 11 October 1956. The construction number is 1476 and it was allocated the temporary RCAF serial of 23686.

Initially serving with 2 Squadron, it transferred to 1 Squadron in 1964 when they were replaced by Mirage IIICZ's. In 1976, 1 Squadron re-equipped with the Mirage F1AZ and 361 was transferred to the Advanced Flying School at AFB Pietersburg. Sabre 367 undertook its last flight on 3 March 1978 before
being retired from service.

Sabre 376 was placed in storage until 1996 when, under the inspiration of Col Rod Penhall, OC of AFB Bloemspruit and an ex-Sabre pilot at 1 Squadron, the decision was made to resurrect the Sabre for the SAAF Museum. The aircraft was transported by road from the SAAF Museum to AFB Bloemspruit on
15 January 1997. The team worked for slightly more than three years to restore the aircraft to full flying condition.

Three of the major problems facing the restoration team were the unavailability of pyrotechnic cartridges for the ejection seat, an unserviceable centre wing fuel tank and the requirement to manufacture a new
trunion for the engine. By March 2000, the restoration had been completed.
Since the aircraft had been in storage for an excessive period, the test flying programme conducted by the Test Flight and Development Centre was treated as a new aircraft being readied for its first flight. All electrical looming and connections, hydraulic and fuel pipes, and flight and engine control systems, were inspected by independent authorities, and safety and technical review boards were convened.

After numerous engine ground runs, compass swings and engine relights, approval was granted  to advance to the high speed taxi test. In this specific case, the aircraft was accelerated to 100 knots and the aircraft lifted-off approximately 2ft above the runway for about 4 seconds during which time the test pilot evaluated the aerodynamic responses.

The 'first flight' of the restored Sabre, still in its natural metal finish, was conducted on 30 March 2000 at 17h15B and lasted for 30 minutes during which no snags were reported.

Despite appearing in numerous airshows during 2000, Sabre 367 was only repainted in full 2 Squadron colours during October 2000.

SAAF Sabre Canadair CL-13 Mark 6 #367

SAAF Flying Cheetahs (Part 2): F 86 Sabre

SAAF Flying Cheetahs (Part 2): F 86 Sabre in Korea

When the P51D was retired in Korea, the SAAF upgraded to the North American F86 Sabre:

2 Squadron was South Africa's contribution to the United Nations war effort during the Korean War from November 1950 to December 1953. 2 Squadron was attached to USAF 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing for the duration of the war.[4] Initially flying the P-51 Mustang, the squadron re-equipped with the F-86 Sabre in February 1953. During the war the squadron flew a total of 12 067 sorties, most being dangerous ground attack missions. 74 of the 94 Mustangs and 4 out of the 22 Sabres were lost, along with 34 pilots.

For their actions, the squadron received the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation and United States Presidential Unit Citation, along with numerous other awards and decorations.

In addition, the Commanding Officer of the USAF's 18th FBW, to which the squadron was assigned, issued a directive at the end of the war that:

In memory of our gallant South African comrades, it is hereby established, as a new policy that at all Retreat Ceremonies held by this Wing, the playing of our National Anthem shall be preceded by playing the introductory bars of the South African National Anthem, 'Die Stem van Suid-Afrika'. All personnel of this Wing will render the same honours to this Anthem as our own.