THUNDER OVER MICHIGAN 2014

[TOM WALSH]

YES!

Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

So many existing flying warbird aircraft come to mind for the 2014 theme: P-38, P-40, P-47, P-51, P-63, B-17, B-24, B-25, B-29, A-26, C-45, C-46, C-47, C-54, C-60, PT-17, T-6 to name some. Would be nice to see at least one example of each of these at the show - but I know that Michael and Kevin will do a great job with the theme and I am sure we will see many of these and undoubtedly some "non-theme" vintage warbirds also.

[TOM WALSH]

Encompasses a wide range of aircraft types and should include every theatre of operation the USAAC and USAAF fought in from 1941 to 1945.

Well done Mikey and Kevin.

Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

[TOM WALSH]

P-39 Airacobra's were there at the beginning. Also, Spitfires equipped several Air Corps Squadrons for the better part of two years.

Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

[Mark Allen M]

Why not have a shark teeth and invasion stripe theme this year?
You guys could give out awards for straightest lines, cleanest teeth, meanest growl etc. etc.

[kalamazookid]

I'd love to see the CAF Airacobra back at Thunder. I remember it performing at one of their first shows- 2003, I think. Awesome to see! Lots of interesting possibilities with this show. I'd especially be interested in P-39, P-40, P-47s and C-46. It's been awhile since Thunder had a P-40 and the Thunderbolts always put on a good show. I saw the C-46 a lot the last two years when I lived in NC and it's really grown on me.

[TOM WALSH]

In the did you know department - In 1943, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) operated seventeen Supermarine Spitfire Squadrons.

These flew a total of 28,981 missions, utilizing several Spitfire variants in both the European and Mediterranean Theatre of Operation (ETO and MTO).

Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

[TOM WALSH]

The 17 Spitfire Squadrons were:

334th, 335th and 336th Fighter Squadrons (FS) - 4th Fighter Group (FG).

2nd, 4th and 5th FS - 52nd FG.

307th, 308th and 309th FS - 31st FG.

13th, 14th, 22nd and 27th Photo Squadrons (PS) - 7th Photo Group (PG).

12th, 107th, 109th and 153rd Reconnaissance Squadrons (RS) - 67TH Reconnaissance Group (RG).

Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

[TOM WALSH]

More than 100 unarmed de Havilland Mk. XVI Mosquito's were supplied by the Royal Air Force (RAF) to the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) in World War II. These served in the Photo-Reconnaissance (PR) role from February, 1944 to War's end with the 8th Air Forces' 25th Bombardmenr Group (BG), at Watton in Norfolk, England. Other roles used were; chaff dispensers, scouts for heavy bomber forces, some OSS missions and as weather observation flights.

One USAAF Night Fighter Squadron (NFS), the 416th in Italy, used the Mosquito Mk. XXX variant in the final stages of the War, obtaining one kill.

Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

[seabee1526]

Tom are you foreshadowing or commenting for discussion?

[TOM WALSH]

A little of both.

If the Mosquito is on the circuit next year, it should be considered for Thunder's 2014 line up as it did serve in the USAAF in WW II.

Just pointing out historical facts to the adults.

Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

[michael luther]

We are very excited to announce,

The theme aircraft for the 2014 THUNDER OVER MICHIGAN Air Show will be the T-6 Texan!

[Mark Allen M]

No love for SNJ's? .... For shame! For shame! ... Dad's rolling over in his grave right now I'm sure.

[valdez25]

Michael, I've lost your email. Greg Vallero

[kalamazookid]

This could be pretty cool with a mass formation flyover and maybe some different T-6 aerobatic groups. A solo demo and a formation team like CHAA or Aeroshell would be pretty neat. Hopefully there will be a good turnout of heavies and other warbirds too.