CAF Airsho Photos From The Past

[Lynn Allen]

Would that be R.E. McClure flying that C207?

I bet Spud wasn't happy about that trip

Lynn

[PeterA]

Some of my old CAF 8mm converted by Dave Cheeseman.

Scroll down six items to Vintage Airshows #2

http://www.warbirds-online.org/index.php?s=caf

PeterA

[Lynn Allen]

Ahh, Bob Hoover taxing out in Red Nose at the start of the video

Get stuff there, thanks for sharing it...

Lynn

[PeterA]

Ahh, Bob Hoover taxing out in Red Nose at the start of the video

Get stuff there, thanks for sharing it...

Lynn

Lynn,

1972, that was my first trip to the US and the first time I had seen a P-51, let alone one flying.

Bob Hoover had borrowed the CAF P-51, at short notice, as his 'Yellow' had problems. I was with Don Plumb and Jerry Billings on the flight line. They groaned in shock as Hoover stalled and dropped out of the top of a loop. Somehow he managed to recover it by masterful airmanship.

I spoke to him a couple of years later about the incident and he said it was close and put it down to the difference between the two Mustangs, which he should have checked out prior, but pressures etc.

PeterA

[bluehawk15]

Some general comments on the above...

First, thanks for the stroll down memory lane! Sure made me homesick for Harlingen. That was a great place for an airshow, until they extended 13/31 and took away about 55% of the ramp. I've got some of my old slides scanned and I'll try to get around to posting them someday. My dial-up at home takes too long though, so I'll have to get it done from somewhere else. They were shot on an old Kodak X-15 instamatic, so some shots looked like fleas, sadly including one taken from sitting on a runway light, looking at a very tiny Fifi flying down range from the "Puff of smoke heard 'round the world".

That was a nice shot of Sandy Sansing in the P-39.

I'm surprised that nobody commented on the three-bladed props on the B-26.

The A-20 crashed when Grumpy had a heart attack. I was talking with one of the fighter escorts (I can't remember which) told me he heard something, due to his radio being so close (I assume, since we only heard Rebel Control talking at the time). He said he heard Max say "I've got to get back to the..." and it cut off. As he heard that, he said the A-20 started banking, as if to try to start back to the field, but continued to turn, making a couple of 360's before impacting the ground. I flew over the site later, and the only thing I can remember that looked like a plane was the vertical.

As far as the PBY, what I heard was the nose wheel doors imploded when they contacted the water, which made it like hitting a wall at flying speed. The description of the damage is as I heard it, other than the wing pylon twisting in two. The plane was out on a photo mission, with a photographer in a T-6 chase plane. He was wanting a picture of the prop wake in the water, like it was landing, so he asked if they could fly lower. Not having a lot of time in the plane, and no water experience, they misjudged how close they were to the water.

"Thank, for the memories..."

[Second Air Force]

Mike,

I didn't much care for those three blade props on the '26, but I wasn't complaining because it was something special to see her in the sky. The flight crews did some spirited flying during the weekend and made it an even cooler experience. Of all the acts that weekend, the B-26, A-20, and P-82 performances still seem fresh in my mind after 24 years.

Scott

[bluehawk15]

Thankfully the three blade props were only intended to be used just to get her flying, until the four bladed ones were ready. I was glad to hear that when I asked way back then. One of the big highlights of the Harlingen show every year was checking on the progress that had been made over the past year.

[Ztex]

Since Carolyn was mentioned...

1982

[Cripes A Mighty]

Cryin shame we didnt save more examples of this beautiful aircraft.

[Robbie Stuart]

Not very good but, one more of Carolyn. 1983 I think.



Robbie

[Ztex]

A few more of the B-26

1982


Airsho 1983
Those three blade props look funny...

[Second Air Force]

Excellent "in-progress" shots, Zane.

I have another tech question: What was the source of the main gear tires and brakes in that last photo?

Scott

[Ztex]

Found a few more!

P-51's at CAF Airshows...

[Second Air Force]

I certainly wish the B-23 looked as nice today as it did in '83.

Neat stuff!
Scott

[Robbie Stuart]

I certainly wish the B-23 looked as nice today as it did in '83.

Neat stuff!
Scott

Someone say B-23?


Long ago & far away.
Robbie