|
P-51…F4U Corsair…MK 5 Spitfire…F-16…B-25…Hellcat…P-38…Helldiver…these
and other legendary military aircraft will be featured during twice-daily
Warbirds in Review presentations at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Here’s your
chance to see some of history’s greatest aircraft up close, with real insider
perspectives from their owners and pilots. Presentations, one at 10 a.m. and
the other at 1 p.m. every day, take place just south of the Warbirds Café near
the EAA Ford Tri-Motor and Warbirds of America areas.
“When I start putting the pieces of the puzzle
together that becomes the "Warbirds in Review" schedule, I'm never
quite sure how they will fit, or how the finished picture will look,” said
Connie Bowlin, who has organized the program since its 2002 debut. “I think
we have a really nice picture this year. From the beginning with Paul, all the
great airplanes, the Doolittle Raiders, Vietnam, World War II Aces, Tuskegee
Airmen, Bud Anderson, Jack Roush, Bob Hoover...we'll even talk about space and
modern day military.
“I think we have something for everyone this
year.”
Here’s the scheduled line-up, along with some
observations from Bowlin.
Monday, July 28
 |
|
P-51 "Paul 1" |
10
a.m. - Paul Poberezny, “Paul I” P-51 (EAA)
What better way to open this years’ “Warbirds in Review” than with the
founder of EAA. Paul Poberezny will be featured with the EAA’s P-51 “Paul I”
which he flew in air shows for many years. Hear about his military service of
30 years in the United States Air Force, which included active duty during
World War II and the Korean War, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
This is your opportunity to meet the man whose love of country and his EAA “family”
is unparalleled.
 |
|
F4U Corsair |
1
p.m. - Dave Folk & Jim Read, F4U Corsair
One of the favorite “Warbird” aircraft
Jim Read will be joined by the new owners, Dave Folk, Danny Schiffer, and Al
Schiffer. Don’t miss this exciting presentation as they relate the dream of
owning and flying the airplane with nicknames like Bent-Wing Bird and Whistling
Death.
Tuesday, July 29
 |
|
Caribou |
10
a.m. - Ron Alexander, Caribou (Cavanaugh Flight Museum)
The tribute to Vietnam is Warbirds’ chance to say, “welcome home” to the
people who served in Vietnam. Ron Alexander is best known in the aviation
community for his contribution to homebuilders through educational workshops,
and articles. Others know Ron through his association with Poly-Fiber and other
companies offering supplies to aircraft owners. He is also a highly decorated
Vietnam veteran who flew the Caribou. The Cavanaugh Flight Museum will bring
its Caribou to celebrate the 50th year anniversary of the type’s first
flight. This airplane was used in Vietnam by both the Army and the Air
Force as an intra-theater tactical transport from 1961 to 1973-longer than
nearly any other combat aircraft type.
1 p.m. - Hal Weekley, BT-13, N3N, PT-17
(Aircraft from the “Warbirds” Training command display - various owners)
EAA member and former volunteer pilot
for EAA
B-17 Aluminum Overcast Col. Harold “Hal”
Weekley (USAAF, Ret.) will recount his experiences as a young man flying on
dangerous bombing missions over Germany. In 2001, Weekley, was one of the last
B-17 aircraft commanders from World War II still flying. He made his last B-17
flight at AirVenture that year, a week after his 80th birthday. Aluminum
Overcast is painted in the same scheme as Weekley’s 601st Bomb Squadron,
398th Bomber Group. To fly a bomber, one has to go through a lot of “trainers”
and what better person than Hal to speak about those aircraft. Autograph
session to follow with Hal’s Book, Last of the Combat B-17 Drivers.
Wednesday, July 30
 |
|
P-51B "Old Crow” |
10 a.m. – Col. C.E. “Bud” Anderson, P-51B
"Old Crow” (Jack Roush, Jim Hagedorn) - Meet
WWII Trip Ace Col. C.E. “Bud” Anderson. It is a tribute to Bud that there
are now three P-51’s carrying his paint scheme as he flew with the 357th
Fighter Group, becoming a 16 ¼ Victory Ace. Bud will be joined by his long
time friend, and owner of Old Crow, Jack Roush. Autograph session to
follow with Bud’s Book To Fly & Fight.
1 p.m. - Bob Hoover, Mk 5 Spitfire (Rod Lewis)
In Aviation circles, this man needs no introduction. This year Bob will be
featured with the newly restored Spitfire owned by Rod Lewis. Bob will talk
about his WWII experiences flying the great British fighter plane. Autograph
session to follow with Bob’s book, Forever Flying.
Thursday, July 31
 |
|
P-38 Glacier Girl |
10 a.m. - Steve Hinton, Rod Lewis, Bob Cardin,
P-38 Glacier Girl (Rod Lewis)
Glacier Girl, the meticulously restored P-38 that was dug out from under nearly
300 feet of ice in Greenland, leads off Thursday’s program with Steve Hinton,
Rod Lewis, and Bob Cardin.
1 p.m. - Skip Slyfield, Nanchang CJ-6A, and
Yak-52
Tribute to their 50th Anniversary
EAA Warbirds of America members who own these aircraft will have a significant
number of aircraft attending EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2008 in celebration of the
type’s 50th anniversary this year.
Here’s an opportunity to learn about the aircraft manufactured by other
countries and their missions.
Friday, August 1
 |
|
Doolittle Raiders, B-25 |
10 a.m. – Dick Cole & Ed Horton, Doolittle
Raiders, B-25 (Lone Star Flight Museum)
On April 18, 1942, 16 crews led by
then-Lt. Col. "Jimmy" Doolittle flew B-25 Mitchell bombers off the
aircraft carrier USS Hornet in the first strike against the Japanese
home islands. Lt Col Richard E. Cole was Col. Doolittle’s co-pilot on
the legendary Doolittle Tokyo Raid. MSgt Edwin Horton Jr. volunteered,
and was on crew 10 as an engineer/gunner. Hear the story of survival from two
of the actual Doolittle Raiders, featured with the B-25 carrying the paint
scheme of Special Delivery. Autograph session to follow.
1 p.m. - Joe Engle, Astronaut, shuttle
commander, P-40 pilot in civilian life
If a pilot loves to fly, he’ll fly
anything. Joe Engle is just that pilot. Flying the P-40 for fun, he will also
talk about “hand-flying the shuttle” from Mach two to touchdown. In a
special extra, Joe will introduce Fitz Fulton, the “project Pilot”
flying the 747 during “piggy back” shuttle test flights while Joe flew the
shuttle. We look forward to hearing them discuss whether Fitz dropped Joe, or
if Joe dropped Fitz!
Saturday, August 2
10 a.m. - John Leahr and Herb Heilbrun, B-17,
P-51
Hear the story of a friendship that
almost wasn’t. John Leahr and Herb Heilbrun grew up in the same neighborhood
and were in the same third grade class together. They were classmates—not
friends—because Herb was white and John was black. Herb became an Army Air
Forces B-17 bomber pilot. John flew P-51 fighters. Both came safely home but it
took Herb and John another fifty years to meet again and discover that their
lives had run almost side by side through war and peace. Old friends at last,
Herb and John will entertain you with their story. Autograph session to follow
featuring their book, Black & White Airmen.
1 p.m. - Ray Fowler, John Currenti, Alabama Air
National Guard, F-16 (Alabama ANG)
A “Warbird” doesn’t have to be old to be a part of the EAA Warbirds of
America. This presentation is an opportunity to recognize and thank those who
serve our country today. We thank the Guard for their support of AirVenture
2008 with the appearance of the “red-tail” F-16,
honoring the famed Tuskegee Airmen. Their heritage lives on in the Alabama Air
National Guard, the home state of their WWII training base, Tuskegee.
Sunday, August 3
 |
|
Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero |
 |
|
Grumman F6F Hellcat |
 |
|
Curtiss SB2C
Helldiver |
10 a.m. - Commemorative Air Force, Mitsubishi
A6M3 Zero, Grumman F6F Hellcat, and Curtiss SB2C Helldiver (CAF)
See the aircraft and meet their sponsors
who keep ’em flying.
1 p.m. - Jerry Fleming, F-117
This will be an unusual presentation -
one you will enjoy. Stop by and hear the stories from Jerry, who flew the F-117
Stealth Fighter in the Gulf War.
|
