Warbird Information Exchange

I'm sure many historic fighters were destroyed in accidents or even shot down, but anyone know where some of these "historic" fighters went?

And what fighters would you think were some of the most historic of the war that would have been nice to have preserved?

Mark[/quote]

If we are thinking of ace flown combat aircraft the Flying Heritage Mustang "Eupqpa Epops" is a genuine ace flown combat veteran albeit restored but probably one of the most accurate flying restorations extant. One of Robin Olds "Scats" survives but as a dual control TP-51 with, I think, a very modern panel etc. so not very accurate.

As for historic fighter aircraft that should have been preserved; any P-40 flown by a Flying Tiger ace, James H. Howard's P-51B that he used in his medal of honor combat, Butch O'Hares F4F, George Welch's P-40 from Pearl Harbor, either of the P-38's that downed Yamamoto, the very first Mustang to fly over Berlin, ditto Tokyo, a P-61 flown by one the few night fighter aces, any Thunderbolt flown by an ace named Johnson. Joe McConnell's "Beautious Butch" and two or three other ace flown Sabres.

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"I can't understand it, I cut it twice and it's still too short!" Robert F. Dupre' 1923-2010 Go With God.

Hey Baldrick. I took that exact photo at the 1988 Show. I live around 15 minutes drive from Ricmond airbase. Even though Im so close I chose to ride my bicycle as I knew there would be traffic bedlam (and there was).
Was that the same year the Bomber (I think it was a Ventura or Hudson)crash landed at the sewerage farm?

I remember it sat there for ages besides the road till they could dismantle it. I dont think it has flown again.

The week prior to the show I remember the RAAF Avon Sabre practising over my house. It seemed like he was using my house as a turn point. After doing two circuits he flew past my house one last time and did a low pass victory roll. Im not sure if he saw me waiving from the ground but it felt like it.

Of the 80000 people through the gate I won the lucky door prize of a free flying lesson at Schofields aerodrome (long gone).
I was only 22 with a real low paying job so I had the lesson and went home. It was fun. Dave

How about any one of the aircraft flown in combat by any of the several dozen German pilots with more than 100 kills. As far as I know, not one of these planes has survived.

There are, however 2 or 3 aircraft flown by one or another of "The Few" of the Battle of Britain, and I would hold any of those are being oneof the most historic surviving fighters of WWII.

I think the Russian's have a plane flown in combat by their top ace Ivan Kozhedub. Kozhedub had more than 300 combat missions and 62 kills (including a Me.262 and, by some accounts, a couple of P-51s). He would have a strong case for being the most famous Allied ace of the war. [and maybe the most famous ace on any side -- it could well be that more Russian kids know Kozhedub's name than all the kids of all others nations who know any WWII pilots name combined].

Kevin
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Kevin McCartney

The IWM's Spitfire Mk.I at Lambeth is an original, unrestored, Battle of Britain veteran (in it's later war colours).

The AWM's Spitfire V was chosen because it had been flown by 'Bluey' Truscott.

The AWM has the Zero mentioned above (great pic!) above a P-40 'Polly' it is believed it met in combat - that's pretty special. And wile we are on that, the AWM also has a very historic and rare Albatros D.Va shot down and captured by Australians; Wirraway 103 that shot down the Wirraway's only combat kill, a 'Zero' (actually a Ki43).

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

Robbie Robrts, I believe the RAAF re-applied original markings found on the aeroplane and it is the one you mentioned.

Bootlegger I beat the traffic by flying to the airshow from YSSY in a Rebel Air DC3. It was a very short flight but worth every penny.
Simmo