Warbird Information Exchange

Ed Mahoney is the first name that comes to my mind in terms of saving warbirds, or at least starting a movement.

Zack

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Curator - EAA Aviation Museum, Oshkosh, WI
"Let No Story Go Untold!"
http://www.timelessvoices.org

I have to agree with Zack on Ed Maloney, and of course the Confederate Air Force.

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Roger Cain
www.sfahistory.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Stearman/


We must limit politicians to two terms:
one in office and one in jail.

Rob--

I agree. (Well, except that the name's "Maloney"!) In terms of types "rescued", numbers/scope of collection, and especially early date--"getting while the getting was good"--Mr Maloney stands out. And, of course, where possible his aircraft were restored to fly, including, incredibly, the ex-NASM Ki84 Hayate. Very few others were doing that sort of thing so early and on such a scale. Actually this is borne out by the Maloney collection's original name..."The Air Museum"...so chosen because, well, there just weren't any other museums around the western States at the time with an aviation focus.

Others active as early would have been Earl Reinert and Walter Soplata in the States, and a bit later, Peter Thomas in the UK.

The real "granddaddy" of the Warbird movement, but for his death in the crash of a Fairey Battle in 1940, might well have been England's Richard Shuttleworth. He had already amassed a remarkable collection of flyable pioneer-era and WWI machines in the interwar period; there is every chance his collection would have included WWII subjects as well had he survived the war. And with his thoughtful views on preservation, some of the stuff he'd have rescued...well, it gets depressing thinking about it! As things actually turned out in the sad old real world, Mr Maloney gets my vote. But we owe all these individuals a vote of thanks.

S.

I agree with all of you but here is my opinion...

I would have to say Lloyd Nolen, who in 1951 purcahsed a P-40 Warhawk, four years later he and four of his friends purchased a P-51 Mustang for some $2,500. This group would eventually become known as the Commemorative Air Force. It was theirs and the CAF's goal today to try and preserve at least one example of every aircraft from WWII. Such as the B-29 and SB2C. I believe that the CAF is the fourth largest air force in the world with some 140 aircraft consisting of Fighters, Bombers, and Transports, as well as Trainers and at least 100 are in flying condition.

I also would have to say (I'm going out on a limb here) Bob Collings. Yes, I know that Collings aircraft interest just became recent within the last 20 some years, but the warbird movement wasn't really rolling at that point. His aircraft/ organization is a large part of today's warbird movement. Some of the aircraft in his collection are the rarest, as you all know the B-24J and soon the A-36 Apache which is one of only a few to exist.

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"Keep 'em Flying!"

kermit weeks, tom reilly, robert mikesh, walt boyne, micheal o'leary, steve hinton,..... my top 6, however, their are others over that amount.

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

Bob Bean, he saved alot of Corsairs, Paul Mantz for the Catch-22 B-25s,

In my mind, without question it is Ed Maloney. Not only is he responsible for saving a huge number of airframes for this own collection, a large number of others eventually went on to other major collections, such as the CAF. The aforementioned SB2C, being a great example. He also allowed a whole host of volunteers to be involved with the airplanes. Many of these volunteers would form the basis of the modern warbird movement. They include such men as Steve Hinton, John Muszala, Bill Muszala, John Lane, Al Redick, etc. So many of the current movers and shakers of the warbird movement can trace part of their history back to the Maloney collection.

My hat is off to Ed Maloney for having the foresight to save these amazing aircraft!

I would have to say Lloyd Nolen and the C.A.F. would be the best all around choice because the C.A.F. has always strived to collect a wide variety of aircraft. There were quite a few notable early collectors but they tended to collect and fly one or maybe two types. Besides if the C.A.F. had not displayed there aircraft at airshows early on, generating interest in warbirds a lot of todays collectors and present day museums may not have emerged on the scene. I don't if it's just me but I think there was a period of time during the 50's and the 60's that you had to search long and hard to find a good airshow or even one at all. To my mind the C.A.F. rekindled the airshow interest and all of a sudden there were airshows pretty much everywhere once again.
Tom

I agree with Tom...Lloyd Nolan, CAF.

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Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly!!

http://www.390th.org/
www.LSFM.org

Trae

Lloyd Nolan, Lefty Gardner and all there buddies kept it going. Frank Tallman, Paul Mantz for saving some early types, the WWII Movieland Collection, and the B-25s.

All of the fire bomber operators for the B-17s ( even if that wasn't their original intent).

Mark Hurd Aerial Photo for the P-38s.

Cole Palen for the early stuff at Rhinebeck.

Non fliers would be hands down PAUL GARBER !

I'm surprised no one has mentioned David T. Yes, I know what you are going to say but he did save many airframes even if not much has been done to a lot of them. He got planes when they were cheap. He pretty much saved all of the B-26s.

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When all is said and done more is said than done.

I would like to go back to the years after World War I, when many military aircraft were sold to the civilians, and many a Curtiss Jenny barnstormed its way across the country, and brought the inspiration for flying and aviation to people like Maloney, Soplata, Mantz, and so many others.

And then, countless service men returned from WWII and many sought to purchase a C-47, a C-46, and Stearmans and so on.

One of the greatest assets early on, was the hard work by William Larkins, whose pictures have inspired almost everyone without exception.

Just my humble opinion.

Saludos,

Tulio

David Tallichet He saved Hundreds of warbirds (some rare) that have since been bought by others, restored and now fly at shows all around the country.

As far as impact on the warbird movement itself. I would have to say definitely Ed Maloney, David Tallichet & Lloyd Nolen. In my opinion they were the catalyst for the warbird movement. Most of the other names mentioned came after these three started the ball rolling or in the case of Tallman & Mantz, didn't have anything to do with the warbird movement per se, they were just using the warbirds as an asset for their business.

Mac