Warbird Information Exchange

The latest GAN Flyer has a few pics of a T-34 painted in WWII Luftwaffe scheme. I remember back in the late '70s when I went to Harlingen for the annual Airsho', there was a pair of T-34s painted in WWII Luftwaffe schems and IIRC, they flew in just about any part of the Airsho' that required Germans. When they would taxi in, the guys in the cockpit would wear Darth Vader masks. I always thought that was kinda cool. Anyway, anyone here remember them andif so, know who they were and why they chose to paint them that way (not an 'that isn't accuarate' thread, they did so 'cause they wanted to, I'm sure, and that's fine by me). Seeing the GAN pic got me to wondering is all. Thanks.

Is this the T-34 in the latest GAN Flyer? Beech T-34A Mentor (CCF34-119) 53-4150 N34EM. Photo taken at Copperstate EAA Fly-In 2010. I don't know if this is one of the T-34s you saw in the 70s at Harlingen but it is painted Luftwaffe (Authentic or not)

That is indeed the same T-34 that is in the GAN article Bill. Thanks for the great pic.

Steve

As Steven said, yes, it's the one in the Flyer. I'm almost positive that the ones I remember had no tip tanks, not that they couldn't be modded since.

Ed Messicks had a T-34 painted in Luftwaffe colors. I don't know if it is the one in the pictures or not but I'd bet it was one you saw at Harlingen.

In the book Yesterday's Wings there is a photo of the CAF's CA-2111 flying in formation with the Luftwaffe T-34...most likely Messick's...from 1977 or 1978.

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Ed Messick and Larry Irvine started the idea of the "Mattel Messerschmitts" and they were done at Earle Parks' shop in Amarillo. Ed used to head up a 4 ship of T-34's for the CAF Harlingen Airshow. The first time I saw or flew with them was in the 1970 show and they were talking about finding some way to jazz up the act. Just plain T-34's with formation changes didn't seem to get much attention flying down the line. So they came up with the Luftwaffe idea so they could fill in where a German looking something was needed. It was a rough equivalent of making a T-6 into a Zero, only doing it with paint rather than modifications. When Earle started putting bigger Continental's in, the 50 gallon total fuel on board made them a little short legged. The stock engine (225 hp) could be flown at 10 gal/hour. The 285 and 300 hp ran closer to 14-16 gal/hr. So Earle first put tip tanks on and later experimented with larger drop tanks under the wings. The last I saw one of the Mattel's was in the hangar at Earle's shop when we had his Memorial Service back in May of '09. I can check with Floyd and see if it is still there, but I don't much think it is. So that is most of the story. Anybody else got something to add? JR PS ck the N number... 34EM this was Ed's airplane.