WW2 Aircraft CURRENTLY FLYING with combat records

[Ed Likes]

1. The P-51 owned by FHC
2. P-38 White 33 about ready to fly which is why Im including it.
3. Yankee Air Museum's B-25 Yankee Warrior 7 combat missions
Im sure there are not a lot of them out there. Am I wrong in stating that any World War 2 aircraft that is currently flying or about to fly with a proven combat record is a little higher on the pecking order? Once again let's have some fun with this one also. I learn something as well.

[Tim Savage]

1. The P-51 owned by FHC
2. P-38 White 33 about ready to fly which is why Im including it.
3. Yankee Air Museum's B-25 Yankee Warrior 7 combat missions
Im sure there are not a lot of them out there. Am I wrong in stating that any World War 2 aircraft that is currently flying or about to fly with a proven combat record is a little higher on the pecking order? Once again let's have some fun with this one also. I learn something as well.

Brad Deckerts TBM
Texas Flying Legends TBM
Most of the Spitfires....
Rod Lewis' F6F ( at least the center section.)
John Fallis P-40
Cavanaugh P-51
Fagen P-51

Those are the ones just off the top of my head...

[JFS61]

Though not technically a WW2 aircraft, the Meier Motors F4U-5NL saw combat action in Korea with VMF-513:

[JohnTerrell]

Ed, the P-38F "White 33" has already flown, but everything about it this year has been kept very quiet/secretive.

Adding to what has already been stated above:

P-51D "Sierra Sue II"
P-51D "Miss Helen"
P-51K "Fragile but Agile"
P-51D "Queen of Hearts"
Rod Lewis' P-39 "Brooklyn Bum"
Planes of Fame's F4U-1A Corsair (original Pacific Theatre combat assignment/Fighter Squadron just recently discovered)
Planes of Fame's SBD
Planes of Fame's Zero
FHC's Fw-190A
FHC's Bf-109E
FHC's P-38J (370th FG - currently under restoration to fly)
Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar's Bf-109E (former Ed Russell collection - currently awaiting overhauled engine/prop to be fitted)
P-47 "Dottie Mae" (currently under restoration to fly)
Various P-40's, including "Little Jeane", 42-104986, Chris Prevost P-40N, Judy Pay's P-40F, TFL's P-40K, Fagen's P-40K, FHC's P-40C
Erickson Aircraft Collection's TBM Avenger (currently under restoration at Pacific Fighters)
Some of the Hawker Hurricanes flying today, such as R4118, P3351, and KZ321 (off the top of my head)
And as Tim said, tons of Spitfires flying today are tied to WWII combat records (both in and outside of England)

[Speedy]

Isn't the CAF's B-25 Maid in the Shade a combat vet with the 319th BG in Italy? I thought it had a dozen combat missions or so.

[DH82EH]

The centre section of combat veteran KB895 still flies as part of the Canadian warplane heritage Lancaster.
It was used in a post war repair of FM213. FM213 is wearing the markings of KB895 for this season. Looks amazing BTW.

Photo by Eric Dumigan


I also believe that the B-17 that was known (until fairly recently) as "Chuckie" was a radar equipped path finder.

Neat thread.

Andy

[bomberfan]

Isn't the CAF's B-25 Maid in the Shade a combat vet with the 319th BG in Italy? I thought it had a dozen combat missions or so.

She had 15 missions credited.

P-51 Twilight Tear
Both of the Fagens P-40s are believed to be combat veterans
B-24 Witchcraft saw combat with the RAF

The B-17 formerly known as Chuckie was believed to have seen combat, but that was debunked. The damage to the belly which they thought was combat related turned out to be from a stateside landing accident.

[Chris Brame]

B-25J 44-28925 How 'Boot That?:
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/b25regis ... 28925.html

[A26 Special K]

Douglas A-26B 44-34198 flew in WW2 out of England in 1945. She was later modified as a K model and became 64-17679. She is the last flying Counter Invader. JR

[JimH]

Let's see...

Dan Martin's old Ridge Runner was supposedly in the 9th AF at some point
The Brat from Cavanaugh
Betty Jane is a ghost of a 359th FG Mustang
Berlin Express is also a ghost of an 8th AF Mustang
Impatient Virgin
Blondie/Sparky is Doc Watson's P-51
Skyraider All American
P-51D Mary Mine is supposedly nearing completion 361st FG...this one I believe was mostly original sans one belly landing
the ghost of Marinell flies in England
Millie G is supposed to be the original but I think it's on a pole down south
Tony B's Petie 2nd is listed as a 12th AF vet

I'm sure there is more.

[Jack Cook]

Various P-40's, including "Little Jeane", 42-104986, Chris Prevost P-40N, Judy Pay's P-40F, TFL's P-40K, Fagen's P-40K, FHC's P-40C

Judy's P-40F was lost in a crash before the 44th FS went into combat on Guadalcanal. I like how Jim Harley puts it and it too is a ghost of the original.

[Sabremech]

The WHF P-51D 44-72086 flew as part of Project Speedy in WW11, unarmed in hostile territory.

[UC61K]

UC-61K USAAF # 43-14964 / British Argus III # HB690 that flew with the RAF assigned to the Air Transport Authority '44-45
It should be airborne within the next month here is the Chicago area.

Jim C.
Midwest Aeronautique LLC

[Dan K]

If someone has the time and desire to check, do any of the flyable Corsairs have Soccer War experience?

Cavanaugh's Caribou flies with quite a bit of patched flak damage. Does that count?

If it's flying yet, Tri-State's P-40M NZ3119 flew patrols with the RNZAF. Apparently Geoff Fisken even had some WWII flight time in it, so does that qualify it as a "celebrity plane" as well?

[CoastieJohn]

Is it possible any of the B-29's flew in Korea?