Warbird Information Exchange

I think that's what it was called. A mass exodus of warbirds to the east coast to commemorate the end of WWII.
My dad, uncle and I drove 4hrs. to Olathe, Kansas to see it. They were both vets. We were disappointed because bad weather scattered the planes.
Anyone here participate? How did it turn out? Comments?
Thank you.....................John Bell

I was 5 years old and I flew from Coast to Coast on Freedom Flight America in the back of my father's AT-6G. It was the experience of a lifetime. I believe we ended up with over a hundred warbirds flying over the statue of liberty in NYC. Us youngsters need to plan for 2045!

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Taylor Stevenson

I was part Freedom Flight from Aurora, ILL to the end at Maguire AFB, NJ. I was with Carl Schmieder who lead Freedon Flight 39. Our flight consisted of Carl and myself, from Phx, Az, Rick Hoskings and Bob Mitchell,from Sedona, Az, Mike and Nona O'Hearn, and Tom and Collean Miller from Riverside, CA.
Carl and I were unable to do the entire flight due to Carl being T-6 lead at Oshkosh. For the Oshkosh show that year there was the largest formation of WWII planes over show center at the same time, than had been seen since WWII. Planes were coming in from different heading and altitudes, with the T-28s and T-34s flying the highest to fill in for the high escorts.
I Still have my credentials from the trip. along with several patches, T-shirts and posters.

I have some photos I'll post later.

Me109Me109 wrote:



Taylor,

I think that airspace over the Statue of Liberty might have changed a little since then, and not for the better.

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Eric

"I spent most of my money on alcohol, women and skyraiders....and the rest of it I just wasted."

Nice Matt! Thanks for the once in a lifetime pics,anyone else?
................John

Ah...Freedom Flight, that brings back some memories! Let me introduce myself, I've been lurking for several years, but mainly just want to learn, and don't have much to contribute, but this article brought back lot's of good memories. My name is Tom Kelly, I'm 51, and have loved military aircraft of all ages but mostly WWII since I was about 4 years old. I lived on a farm in PA until I was 8 then moved to AZ in'64. I remember one day on the farm, the ground shook, and a loud roar kept getting louder, and louder, then about 8 or so C-119s came across the tree line on the deck! I knew right then there I was meant to fly......but so far that dream has not been realized. I got glasses at age 12 and realized that I couldn't be a military pilot. So when I was old enough, I joined the Marines instead, and was NCOIC of a 105mm Howitzer.

I restore military vehicles and have had my halftrack, and M37 at a few airshows including the CAF extravaganza at Litchfield park in I believe '92. But in '95 I had just restored my WWII USMC M2-4, International 4x4, I put a a big piece of plywood in the back painted yellow, with the altenating black/yellow striping all along the edges, with the words FOLLOW ME on it. The airport manager at Glendale Airport, liked it so much, that he asked if I'd mind driving him around, and leading all the aircraft to their parking spaces, and be the official "Follow Me" truck for the event. It was a blast, and a great learning experience. I probably helped park some of you guys.

About 3-4 years ago, I realized I'd never learn to fly without a plan. So I came up with a plan, first I needed more money, because not only do I need to fly, I want my own aircraft, and I wouldn't be happy owning a Cessna 172....I need a WARBIRD! I collect military weapons, uniforms, and vehicles, there's no way I'd settle for a "civilian" aircraft! Well, I know there ain't a chance in heck, that I can own a P-61, or P-38, (my favorites), so I settled on a PT-17 Stearman. I didn't think I'd like a open cockpit bi-plane, but a few years ago my wife, Lisa, and I, went up in a 1929 Travel-air at Palamor airport in Carlsbad, Ca, on our way to the Chino airshow. I was hooked....man, now that's flying!

Back to the plan, so I put in for, took the test, and was approved for a great paying job with the City of Phoenix Water Dept, WOO-HOO the plan is coming together. The day I was to sign my papers, I was so sick I had to be hospitalized, 4-days later I was diagnosed with cancer. Without going into all the gory details. I'm supposed to be dead, as a matter of fact this ordeal almost killed me 3 times, but I'm a Born Again Christian, and had lot's of folks praying for me, and so now here I am a year and a half later, completely healed (Praise the Lord!) my Dr still can't believe it. Anyhow this whole ordeal has set my time table back by about 3 years:-( I'm not discouraged, just that more determined! Hope I didn't bore you too bad with my lifes story (trust me this is the CONDENCED version!). The Freedom Flight topic just brought back a lot of memories. I sold the M2-4 you can just see the back of it in the movie "Code Talkers", I still have the big "follow me" sign, and the white and orange checkeed flag that I had to have mounted on the truck, and a bunch of pictures.

Any of you guys that need some help on your warbirds in AZ give me a heads up, I'm mechanically inclined, although not with aircraft, but I'm a quick learner, and ain't afraid of the dirty jobs. I'm currently off Fri-Sun, and I'm only a few miles from the Buckeye, AZ airport. Incidently I was out there yesterday, checking on "my" A-26, there is now a S-2 Tracker, and a Hawkins&Power A-26 out there along with two A-7 carcasses, I ASSume they are the ones that were at the Glendale Airport.

Stay safe out there - Tom

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AZ Flyboy

Those two pics over New York looked familiar, so I went over to my new neighbors hangar to have a look at his "I love me wall", and he has two exact same pictures! Terry Adams in his SNJ, was he in your flight?

We sent both our T-6s. The first groundlooped at Long Beach
#2 4269E made it all the way with Jeff driving. They flew with Morey's 2 6s and Jeff was there when the SNJ crashed during a emergency landing in VA (?). I remember Jeff saying he flew alot with Tad Ferin (?) and Stan Musik. Sorry but the pictures are all gone

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Don't touch my junk!!

TA was not in our flight, but he was on the flight. The flights were broken up into 4 ship groups as they felt anything larger would slow up the flight.

When you see TA or Sue, tell them Matt, Carl's crew chief in Phx says Hi



on the planes in Buckeye, it is not a S-2, it is a C-1A Trader.

I was lucky enough to catch the end of the Freedom Flight at McGuire in 1995. It was my second airshow. I have several pics (but they need to be scanned)...

The ramp at McGuire was just covered end to end with Warbirds

I'll see if I can get some of my pics scanned...

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Share your story: Rutgers Oral History Archive http://oralhistory.rutgers.edu/

I'll tell TA, but no more Sue.

the VA crash...
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001207X04164&key=1
Our J's ground loop/gear failure
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief2.asp?ev_id=20001207X04017&ntsbno=LAX95LA274&akey=1

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Don't touch my junk!!

I was on hand when the group flew into Wright-Patt. Pretty amazing sight especially since I was staged in the middle of the airfield by the aeroclub. As I recall there were tons of T-6s. A couple Mustangs and Mitchells. A few Avengers and the mother of it all was the huge MATS Connie.

I video taped the whole thing. Might have to upload it.

Shay
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Semper Fortis

Matt:

Thanks for the heads up on the C-1A Trader, Naval aircraft aren't my strong suit.

Tom

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AZ Flyboy