Hitler's Third Reich and World War II in the News is a daily edited review of WWII news, providing thought-provoking collection of hand-picked WW2 information.

WW2 category: Warbirds: Vintage aircrafts  -- See latest WWII news here. See also 'Military Scale Models', 'Uniforms', 'Kamikaze Pilots', 'Spitfire', 'Ju-87'.

Fully restored Hawker Hurricane warplane may fetch $3.3 million at auction     bloomberg.com :: 2009-08-25
The first airworthy Hawker Hurricane warplane for sale in 20 years may fetch up to USD3.3 million at a sale in Australia. The fully restored vintage 300mph fighter - the backbone of the Royal Air Force during the Battle of Britain - will be auctioned off by Bonhams & Goodman on Sept. 27 in Melbourne. The 1940 Second World War aircraft had been recovered in 1991 from the Murmansk in Russia, where it had been shot down in 1943. The wreck of the single-seat fighter was purchased by warbird enthusiast Tim Wallis in 1992 and took 8 years to restore to the colors of No. 73 Squadron. Just 11 Hurricanes are in airworthy condition worldwide.    

Commemorative Air Force restores old warbirds and offers tours     - :: 2009-06-01
Article no longer available from the original source.
Louis Figliuolo served his country behind a 40mm pom-pom gun in an anti-aircraft battalion during World War II. After the war ended he used the GI Bill to get an education in overhaul of avionics. The 86-year-old veteran is still using his skills as part of the Florida Commemorative Air Force Wing, a group of vets and aircraft buffs who repair and preserve WW2 planes. "There are a lot of aviation museums around, but they have static airplanes. Ours are flying airplanes and meet FAA standards," explains Jim Bannerman. To raise funds the nonprofit group organises plane rides and tours - 71 similar groups have restored 100 planes to flying condition so far.    

PT-19 training aircraft settles at WASP museum in Sweetwater     reporternews.com :: 2009-05-08
Homecoming came early at the National WASP World War II Museum in Sweetwater as the first aviation exhibit - a PT19 training aircraft - officially arrived. Recently, the aircraft, used to train pilots in 1943-1944, was placed in its new home in the hangar that houses the museum. The museum honors Women Airforce Service Pilots who trained at Sweetwater's Avenger Field to fly military aircraft during the war when male pilots were overseas. The PT-19 will be one of the main exhibits for the 2009 homecoming event at the museum May 23.    

Restored WW2 plane Miles Whitney Straight G-AERV only one of four     nwipp-newspapers.com :: 2009-03-12
A plane that crash landed after setting off from St Angelo Aerodrome 40 years ago has been restored and is the only one of its kind in the world that is still flight-worthy. The 2-seater Miles Whitney Straight G-AERV (which rotted in a barn for decades) could now become one of the star attractions at airshows. In the 1970s, aeroplane restorer Ron Souch learned of the G-AERV. He runs Aero Antiques, a company dealing in the restoration of aeroplanes from the 1920s and 1930s era. Now he has just completed a 7-year project, involving 10,000 hours of work on the 130hp Miles Whitney Straight which has restored the plane to its former glory.    

Private group restoring a World War II TBM Avenger torpedo-bomber in DeLand     beacononlinenews.com :: 2009-02-06
Slowly but persistently, a group of aviation enthusiasts are continuing their efforts to put a WWII TBM Avenger torpedo-bomber airplane into flying condition. "It's a long-term project," said Col. Dick Russell, former commander of the Commemorative Air Force's Florida Wing. The restoration of the Avenger (10,000 were built, 50 survive) is the Florida Wing's third aircraft project since the group set up its headquarters on the DeLand Municipal Airport in 1996. The CAF rebuilt two other military planes, both L-17 Navions, used to transport officers and dignitaries in combat theaters in the Second World War.    

Vought Aircraft Retirees Club restores a WWII-vintage F4U Corsair fighter plane     freerepublic.com :: 2009-01-24
After 4 years of labor, artisans of the Vought Aircraft Retirees Club have restored an icon of U.S. aviation history, a World War II-vintage F4U Corsair fighter plane. Working with pieces and parts from wrecked and scrapped planes and making many others from drawings, they have spent thousands of hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars re-creating a version of the gull-winged plane that Japanese called "Whistling Death." Rebuilding the Corsair, one of two great fighter planes (the other was the Grumman F6F Hellcat) that enabled Navy and Marine pilots to rule the skies in the Pacific theater, "has been a real work of love for the last 4 years," said Hank Merbler.    

Record crowds at Wings Over Wairarapa air show     stuff.co.nz :: 2009-01-19
A nonstop spectacle of air power drew record crowds in for a weekend of aerial action at Wings Over Wairarapa. 45,000 people visited over the two days - the biggest crowd the New Zealand Sport and Vintage Aviation Society has drawn to the event. Aircraft from the 1920s to the present were in the air, including two World War Two fighters. For Battle of Britain pilot Wing Commander Alan Gawith air shows are more than just parading old aircraft: "After the war we didn't have time to talk about what we did and even our children were reluctant to ask us questions about it, feeling they might upset us."    

Spitfires and Hurricanes take to the skies to prepare for the RAF's 90th anniversary [pics]     dailymail.co.uk :: 2008-09-14
Side by side, in perfect formation, these two old warbirds soar above the white cliffs and fields of the south coast just like they did all those years ago. These photograph shows a Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane performing a striking aerial ballet in the East Sussex skies over Beachy Head. Back in the summer of 1940, this was a battleground. That's why these scenes are much more than a pretty picture: They represent this nation's darkest and finest hour. As the yearly commemorations of the Battle of Britain approach, there can be no more eloquent reminder of the heroic feats of 'the Few'.    

Visit two Paine Field aviation museums for historic and futuristic views of the industry     heraldnet.com :: 2008-08-31
Paine Field is home to two unique aviation museums, one focused on the past and the other on the future (Future of Flight Center and Boeing Tour facility). For WWII history buffs, there is Paul Allen's Flying Heritage Collection, containing restored aircraft such as the P-51, P-40, Supermarine Mk.Vc Spitfire, Fiesler Storch Fi 156-C2 Storch, Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 Emil, Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-13 Dora, Messerschmitt Me 163B Komet, Fiesler Fi 103/V-1 "Buzz Bomb", Japanese Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero-Sen, Nakajima Ki-43-1c Hayabusa (Oscar) and Russian Polikarpov PO-2. It's one of the world's rarest collections of flight-ready World War II warbirds.    

Restored World War II P-38L Lightning fighter morphs into Flying Bull     nwsource.com :: 2008-08-25
For 3 years the P-38L Lightning has been sitting in a hangar, slowly being restored bolt by bolt. One of 6 still flying, the WW2-era fighter will trade its West Texas airfield for the sleek Hangar 7 in Salzburg, Austria. It will be the centerpiece of the Flying Bulls team funded by Dietrich Mateschitz, co-founder of the Red Bull energy drink, to promote the beverage. He has collected a fleet of 34 aircraft, including a Douglas DC-6B and a B-25J Mitchell bomber. To get the plane to Austria will require a 7,500-mile journey. "I can't have any head wind. I only have 4½ hours of fuel and the leg to Greenland takes 3½ hours," said pilot Siegfried "Sigi" Angerer.    

Restoring Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Chester Nimitz's flying headquarters     signonsandiego.com :: 2008-07-28
Ed Ellis steps across the National Naval Aviation Museum into the aircraft that was Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Chester Nimitz's flying headquarters. "If this plane could talk," said the retired Navy captain, longing to hear the conversations that took place aboard the vintage PB2Y Coronado. The Coronado (the first American plane to land in Tokyo after the war) is the latest restoration project by the museum's mostly volunteer staff, which often draw on their own military experience to make the restorations authentic. WWII veteran Les Schnyder has logged 18,000 hours as a volunteer. His niche: restoring the blimp-like air ships that escorted convoys.    

Spitfires and Messerschmitts will be dogfighting again at the Festival of History     timesonline.co.uk :: 2008-07-18
They never even saw us coming. The lumbering Harvard trainer - with US markings - was a sitting duck, droning north. We closed on her fast from dead astern, the Messerschmitt ME-108's engine note a thrilling roar. "When you have her in range you may fire at will," I yelled into my headset. My pilot pressed the fire control button and ahead of us tracer bullets blazed through the sky. Almost. What really happened was that he disobeyed my order, allowing the Harvard to escape and leaving us with nothing more than a "Gott Straf England" insignia on our fuselage. There were several reasons for this: 1) we had no guns. 2) we weren't at war.    

Vintage warplane dealer enjoys surging prices - Growing interest in WWII aircrafts     latimes.com :: 2008-06-24
Collecting World War II aircraft has boomed as nostalgic baby boomers seek to own a piece of their parents' WWII experience. For collectors it's a market driven by scarcity. For example, Lockheed built 10,000 P-38s at its Burbank factory. Most of those that survived the fighting were scrapped. Today only 4 are airworthy, and a handful of others are being restored to flying condition. That supply-and-demand equation is behind the run-up in prices: Just a few years ago a F4U Corsair was worth less than $2 million, compared to $4 million today. Overall the price of collectible-condition WWII aircraft has been increasing 20% a year.    

The Planes of Fame Air Show in Chino, CA - Photos of vintage warbirds     Bernard Zee :: 2008-06-21
The Planes of Fame Air Show in Chino, CA was a great chance to get my fill of World War II vintage warbirds. Many different types of fighters and bombers were flying for the show including: P-51s, P-40s, P-38s, F4Us, Zeros, Val, Spitfire, Hellcat, Wildcat, Firefly, Bearcat, Fury, B-25s, and a B-17. As a bonus, there was a World War II ground reenactment (complete with battle tanks and halftracks) which provided the icing on the cake.    

Paul Allen opens "Flying Heritage Collection" to public - See photos     nwsource :: 2008-06-05
10 years in the making, Paul Allen's collection of vintage fighter aircraft will open to the public. His "Flying Heritage Collection" of 15 planes, mostly dating from the 1930s and 1940s, is remarkable both because of its rarity - several are the only models of their kind remaining - and its condition - almost all of them can be flown. The collection's home in a hangar off Paine Field in Everett is set up so that the planes can be driven onto a runway. Two planes will make flights every other weekend during the summer. Currently a Mitsubishi A6M3-22 Zero-Sen, used as a kamikaze weapon, is in the last stages of being restored to flying condition.    

Restoration of a WW2 Hurricane fighter - Warbird scene is a popular hobby     hs :: 2008-02-27
A World War II Hawker Hurricane is looking forward to taking wing once more in the colours of the Finnish Air Force. All it takes is the work of 6 mechanics over 2 years and 1.5 million. There are no airworthy Hurricanes left in Finland, and you have to ask: why would an Englishman want to spent such a large amount of money on behalf of Finnish aviation history? It's a labour of love. "As a kid I used to put together scale model aeroplanes. I started flying 15 years ago," says Philip Lawton. In England the restoration of old military aircraft is a popular hobby, during the summer there can be 3 flying shows per weekend.    

Vintage Havilland Mosquito bomber could be shipped out of Canada     cbc :: 2008-01-25
One of only 5 World War II de Havilland Mosquito bombers left in Canada is in danger of being sold to a British buyer, aviation buff Richard de Boer warns. Hundreds of Alberta servicemen in the Royal Canadian Air Force flew the twin-engine aircraft, and one even rammed into the Calgary airport control tower during a victory tour in May 1945. This Mosquito has sat in storage since being acquired in the 1960s. Calgary's Aero Space Museum is looking after the warplane and one of its members said that there is a deal in progress to sell it, for $1.5 million. De Boer thinks the museum wants to use some of the proceeds to restore a Hawker Hurricane, also in storage.    

Vintage WWII aircraft refinishing company Midwest Texans grows     aero-news :: 2007-11-21
Aircraft company Midwest Texans that restores vintage World War II airplanes plans to double its size at the Huntington Municipal Airport in Texas. While some aircraft fetch lower prices, World War II collector planes often start at $300,000... so the eclectic business is bringing individuals with disposable income to the city. Aircraft "from that nostalgic era of WWII bring a lot of dads and a lot of sons out to the airport, and it generates interest in aviation," says Tim Savage, who founded Historic Aeroplane Works and Midwest Texans to pursue his hobby of vintage aircraft restoration.    

Extra security over Lockheed-P38 Lightning fighter plane     bbc :: 2007-11-17
Marine conservationists are considering hiring security teams to protect the wreckage of rare American fighter plane Lockheed-P38 Lightning found on a Gwynedd beach. It is the last remaining example of the aircraft in Europe. Barry Davies said there were concerns for the wreck's safety after intense interest. A restoration team in the US has dubbed the plane "The Maid of Harlech" and hope to retrieve it. Members of The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (Tighar) visited the site to carry out a full survey. They say the plane is arguably the oldest surviving aircraft of this type - and the only P-38 Lightning in its original condition.    

Shifting sands reveal World War II P-38 Lightning fighter plane     dailymail :: 2007-11-15
For 65 years, a World War II fighter had lain hidden under the surface of a beach where it crash-landed. But now the P-38 Lightning has re-emerged after freak weather conditions caused the sands to shift, exposing its rusting frame. The U.S. aircraft was discovered on the North Wales coast, but the location is being kept secret in case it is targeted by looters. Its remains were spotted in July, but it was thought to be an unmanned drone. However, an aviation enthusiast recognised it from a photo and contacted a group of U.S. aircraft historians. The P-38 Lightning has been id'd: It was built in 1941 and flown by Second Lieutenant Robert F. "Fred" Elliott.    

French enthusiasts battle to save American World War II plane     washingtonpost :: 2007-11-12
A smashed-up veteran of World War II battles, including the D-Day landings, could finally find salvation if Bosnian authorities at long last sign the release papers. The veteran in question is a rare Douglas C-47 plane with a remarkable life story, that risks rotting away in Bosnia unless a group of French enthusiasts can rescue it. "This plane is like a hero for me. She has had an astonishing history and deserves respect. She must not be left to die," said Beatrice Guillaume, who runs a D-Day museum in Merville, Normandy. Ironically the Douglas C-47 will need the help of German troops to be loaded onto the waiting trucks.    

Major air show coming to Rickenbacker International: P-51 Mustangs     thisweeknews :: 2007-09-25
The world-leader in P-51 Mustang operations, Stallion 51 Corp. will be hosting an aviation celebration Sept. 27-30 at Rickenbacker International Airport. "The Final Roundup" will be the last event to feature the legendary pilots of the P-51 Mustang, and the Gathering of Mustangs and Legends is expected to draw 200,000 people. The Gathering of Mustangs and Legends will provide the opportunity to share the history of the P-51 aircraft and honor the heroes of World War 2. "The 1999 Gathering of Mustangs and Legends was termed as one of the great aviation events of the 20th Century."     [Warbirds: Vintage aircrafts]

Pilot dies in World War II Hurricane crash at show     dailymail.co.uk :: 2007-09-16
World War II fighter plane crashed at an airshow, killing the pilot and narrowly missing a main road. Crowds watched as the WWII-era Hurricane veered off course before hurtling into the ground in a fireball during a re-enactment of the Battle of Britain at the Shoreham Air Show in Sussex. The plane, one of only a dozen Hurricanes still in working order, crashed into a field a mile from the airfield where 20,000 spectators had gathered. The 65-year-old Hurricane had been 'scrambled', along with Spitfires, to respond to a mock attack on the airfield by 3 Messerschmitts. World War II vintage aircraft crashes have claimed at least 8 lives over the past 17 years.    

Legendary World War II Avro-Lancaster PA474 'dive-bombs' couple     bedfordtoday.co.uk :: 2007-09-14
The noise of the Avro-Lancaster PA474 shocked Jim Gill and his wife, who were driving ponies in Pepperstock, when the plane dipped low in the sky. But Mr Gill was far from impressed, as his wife's pony reared up at the noise, injuring her. When the plane returned just seconds later, the Gills were unprepared for such a display. Luton Airport told that the rare Lancaster aircraft had been on radar and was heading to a Battle Of Britain airshow in Duxford. The plane is one of only 2 Lancasters still airworthy out of 7,377 that were built. "Normally it's a fantastic and rare thing to see and I'd probably love to see it, but not in those circumstances."    

Avro Lancaster Mark X preserved at Toronto Aerospace Museum     cjnews :: 2007-09-06
An Avro Lancaster Mark X bomber plane built to fly during World War 2 is being preserved by a team at the Toronto Aerospace Museum. "We're saving a piece of Canadian history which is representative of an era when people did unbelievable things," volunteer Paul Spiar said of the Lancaster, known by its FM104 serial number. Of the 7,366 Lancasters built during the war, 430 were built in Canada on the site of what is now Pearson International Airport. 4,000 were lost during the war, and today 20 remain worldwide, only 2 of which still fly. The FM104 at the museum was built in late 1944 and flown to England in January 1945. It never saw action during WWII.    

Hundreds attend burial for man known for restorations of WWII fighters     bismarcktribune :: 2007-08-03
Gerald Beck, known around the world for his restorations of World War II military fighters, was buried in a modified propeller crate. Hundreds gathered for the funeral of Beck, who was killed in a collision of two P-51 Mustangs at an experimental air show in Oshkosh, Wis. Beck was one of the people responsible for forming the Fargo Air Museum. His vintage plane restoration business, called Tri-State Aviation, grew out of a crop-spraying operation. 4 vintage military aircraft flew over the museum. One plane broke away from the V-shaped formation and headed west into the sunset.    

Mechanical woes end dream of finishing Glacier Girl's mission     cbc :: 2007-07-01
Mechanical problems have forced the crew of a vintage World War Two bomber to scrub plans to cross the Atlantic Ocean. The restored P-38 Lightning - called Glacier Girl because it spent 50 years buried in ice in Greenland after a 1942 crash landing - will not be able to complete a flight across the ocean to attend an air show in England. Although Glacier Girl was able to lift off, the pilot returned the plane to the airport because of continuing technical problems. "The dream everyone had for Glacier Girl has ended," Deb Mitchell wrote to aviation enthusiasts. The crew had hoped to complete the original mission known as Operation Bolero.    

WWII P38 Lightning aircraft buried under 300ft of ice finally due in UK     bbc :: 2007-06-24
An American fighter P38 Lightning will be arriving in Britain from the US - 65 years after taking off. In July 1942 six P38 fighter planes and two B17 bombers were forced to land in Greenland after encountering bad weather while en route to the UK. The planes became buried under 300ft of ice until 15 years ago the remains of one, renamed Glacier Girl, were dug up. The plane is expected to land within the next few days to prepare for the Imperial War Museum annual Flying Legends weekend on 7-8 July. "These aircraft made up one small part of Operation Bolero, the historically important build-up of allied aircraft in Britain ..."    

Spitfire hero Martin Sargeant sacrificed himself to save airshow crowds     dailymail.co.uk :: 2007-06-15
In 2001 pilot Martin Sargeant's sacrifice saved hundreds of lives when he veered his WWII Spitfire away from crowds at an airshow in a field in Rouen. The father of 3 made a last-minute diversion when he realised the landing strip was full of people. Realising they would never disperse in time, he tried to swerve the plane towards another runway, but it was too late. Roger Hatch apologised for the 6-year delay in holding the hearing due to lack of cooperation from the French authorities. 11 Spitfires and a Hurricane had taken part in the Rouen display, the first to bring together such a collection of World War II planes in France since the war.    

Metal detector search for Mosquito bomber reaps results at Kenora Airport     kenoradailyminerandnews :: 2007-06-05
Article no longer available from the original source.
Relics from the golden age of aviation may appear to be little more than junk to most but for a group of airplane buffs the quest for an old warbird buried at Kenora Airport is like digging for treasure. Kenora Aero-Modellers Club members have expanded their search for a World War II Mosquito bomber with some encouraging results. The group unearthed what appears to be a section of landing gear from the aircraft. "We hit pay dirt 25-30 feet from where we found the undercarriage," related club member Ron Baker, who credited the assistance of a city worker skilled in the use of a metal detector for the find.    

WWII-era biplane crashes near Medal of Honor event; 2 aboard dead     iht :: 2007-05-25
A small World War II-era biplane crashed into a sand bar in Charleston Harbor, killing both people aboard. The plane went down 150 meters from shore not far from Patriots Point, where a gala was being held to honor recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor. The biplane was made in 1942 and has an open cockpit with 2 seats. The Coast Guard did not know whether the plane had anything to do with the event, which comes just days before the Medal of Honor Museum aboard the USS Yorktown on Charleston Harbor is set to open. The museum is a tribute to the 3,444 recipients of the US' highest military honor.    

Frank Kittle helps restore PBY Catalina; Saved by One in WWII     amtonline :: 2007-03-27
Frank Kittle feels an attachment to the WWII-vintage Navy PBY Catalina amphibious plane he is helping to restore at the American Airpower Museum. He not only flew on PBYs during the war but was rescued by one after he was shot down over the Atlantic in 1943 and drifted for 72 hours in a raft. The museum acquired the search and antisubmarine aircraft from an upstate aviation museum. The goal of American Airpower is to use the PBY as more than a static exhibit; it will be restored for ongoing flight as part of a living history program. Visitors would be able to pay to take a flight and search for a mock-up of a German U-boat.    

Battle of Britain Messerschmitt lost in a cloud of Indian mystery     timesonline :: 2007-03-03
Only the swastika on the tail remained to identify the pile of rusting metal as one of the most sought after relics of World War II. The discovery of a Luftwaffe Messerschmitt that fought in the Battle of Britain was considered one of the most remarkable finds in aviation history. But within months the aircraft had disappeared. Now The Times has learnt that the aircraft is being restored in East Sussex. The Messerschmitt Bf 109E-1 was undamaged when Xavier Ray was forced to land in Lower Hardres on Nov 2, 1940. "He stated that his aircraft, works number 4034, had given trouble yesterday..."    

Rare piece of Russian flight history - 1939 Polikarpov Chaika     times-age :: 2007-01-10
A rare piece of Russian flight history - The 1939 Polikarpov Chaika - completed a journey from Wanaka to Wairarapa. The almost 70-year-old plane once flew at 279mph during its fighter days although yesterday the four-wheel-drive towing the machine was fixed at only 60km/h, giving onlookers more than enough time to catch a glimpse of the rare aircraft. "She was shot down in battle in 1939 in Murmask and wasn't recovered until 1992 and then she was taken to Siberia in 1995 to be restored." The fighter plane is part of the Wanaka Alpine Fighter Collection and is flown annually at the Wanaka Air show.    

A Swastika-bearing Ju 52 lands in Crossville     crossville-chronicle :: 2006-12-13
Article no longer available from the original source.
A Swastika-bearing Ju 52 set down at Crossville's Memorial Airport recently and turned back the clock on world history. "This is the kind of plane Hitler flew in at times." Known as the transport workhorse of the German Air Force Luftwaffe during World War II, the plane is no longer piloted by the Germans, but by Col. Bob Bos, wing commander of the Great Lakes Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. "Alte Tante Ju" meaning "old aunt junkers," was the nickname given the plane by members of the Luftwaffe who served with her kind during World War 2.    

The only remaining flying WWII Lancaster bomber in Europe     bbc :: 2006-10-03
The only remaining flying WW2 Lancaster bomber in Europe has landed in Coventry for the start of a six-month refit. The plane is being stripped and rebuilt by specialist firm Air Atlantique. The PA474 model is part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. More than 7,000 Lancaster bombers were built during the 1940s and played a major part during World War II. The only other flying Lancaster is in Canada.    

C-47 - aircraft that droped paratroopers into Normandy on D-Day     cox :: 2006-09-01
A C-47 aircraft that played a pivotal role in World War II landed at Lakefront Airport and will be moved to the World War II Museum. "Like the Higgins boat, the Sherman tank and the jeep, the C-47 was so important to the success of the war effort that the National World War II Museum would not be complete without it." This C-47, 096, carried Pathfinder paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne into Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944, dropped a Pathfinder paratrooper team of the 101st Airborne in Operation Market Garden; flew in a resupply mission to the 101st Airborne during the Battle of the Bulge; and took part in Operation Varsity - the Rhine Jump - in 1945.    

Rare Douglas A-20 Havoc aircraft gets new life     timesonline :: 2006-08-22
Article no longer available from the original source.
The Douglas A-20 Havoc, or H model, plane was a rare warbird even in its own time, as only 412 of the combat bombers were made. Today only one is known to remain in the US, and it's being restored at the Air Heritage Museum in Chippewa Township. Plane collector David Tallichet bought the bomber in 1980 after seeing it rusting away in Nicaragua.    

Allen adds three World War II aircrafts to his collection     seattletimes :: 2006-07-01
Paul Allen has added three World War II-era planes to his collection of antique aircraft and will display them this summer. Two planes, the Republic P-47D Thunderbolt and the Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3, have been restored to original condition and went on display at Allen's Flying Heritage Collection. A third plane, the Hawker Hurricane Mk. XIIB will go on display later this summer. The Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3, with its powerful engine and small airframe, was flown by Luftwaffe. Allied forces flew the Hawker Hurricane Mk. XIIB from the beginning of the war in 1939 through the end of the Pacific conflict in 1945.    

WW2 hangar into workshop-museum to restore vintage aircraft     ocregister :: 2006-06-18
Great Park planners want to convert an old World War II hangar into a workshop and museum to restore and showcase vintage aircraft. Ken Smith's initial plan had about 50 old military aircraft stationed on preserved sections. But as planners learned more about the costs of maintaining such a dispersed collection, plans for converting an old hangar into an active workshop and centerpiece for vintage aircraft began to emerge. Planners also discovered that desirable and rare older aircraft typically need to be kept inside.    

Vintage P51 Mustang fighter loses cockpit cover in midflight     yahoo :: 2006-05-19
The glass cockpit cover of a vintage World War Two U.S. fighter P51 Mustang came off in midflight over Germany and destroyed a carry-out stand. No one was hurt when pieces of the glass covering of the single-propeller plane crashed into the roof of a house and demolished the takeaway stand. The debris missed hitting a woman by about one meter. But the British pilot of the plane carried on another 250 miles to his destination at Berlin's Schoenefeld airport without reporting the loss of the cockpit's glass cover. Aircraft was found parked correctly at the Air Show in Berlin but there was no trace of the pilot. The pilot is wanted for questioning.    

Nazi warplane built in garage     greenocktelegraph :: 2006-04-14
An art teacher has built a German warplane - complete with Nazi flying colours - in his garage. It took Jim Hardie 13 years of painstaking work to rebuild the plane, designed in the 1930s by Nazi aircraft expert Willie Messerschmitt. In 1993, in a field near Prestwick Airport he found the remains of the old plane and decided to set about restoring it to full working order. The aircraft, a Nord 1101, has all the main features of its more famous sister plane - the Messerschmitt Bf 108. Jim spent the next 13 years scouring Europe for the right bits and pieces to get it working.    

Otmar Gotterbarm traces fallen bombers     thespec :: 2006-03-26
He was only 2 1/2 at the time, the day the giant American bomber crashed in his village in the Schwaben Mountains of southwest Germany. "Years later I went to the crash site and I found some metal shards and bullets and things. Then suddenly I felt the urge to find more about the people -- who they were, where they came from and what had happened to them." Eventually his research produced a popular book called When the Enemies Fell from the Sky (Als die Feinde vom Himmel fielen), that was published only in German.    

Billionaire buys a rare Hawker Hurricane     eadt :: 2006-03-18
One of the world's richest men has bought a new toy for one and a half million pounds - an historic warplane rebuilt in Suffolk which has just flown for the first time in 60 years. American billionaire Paul Allen has just added a rare Hawker Hurricane to his extraordinary private collection of fighter aircraft. One of the key themes of Mr Allen's collection is the Battle of Britain - both the RAF and the Luftwaffe - and the Hurricane, though often overshadowed by the Spitfire, was responsible for shooting down more than 60% of all 'kills'.    

Saving aviation history - captured Axis warplanes     phillyburbs :: 2006-03-14
David Ascher and other members of the Allied forces once feared the enemy aircraft that flew over Europe and the South Pacific during WWII. But he turned out to be their salvation when he came to the Willow Grove Naval Air Station as maintenance chief 60 years ago. He and other sailors helped save at least a half-dozen captured Axis warplanes, as well as a few American models, from the scrapheap. In 1947, he learned that 25 Axis planes were waiting to be scrapped, after they had been evaluated and tested. So, he and a colleague went there and picked out several: including a Japanese 'Zero' fighter and an early-model German jet.    

See also:
'Military Scale Models'
'Uniforms'
'Kamikaze Pilots'
'Spitfire'
'Ju-87'.

Although the articles linked from Adolf Hitler's Third Reich 1933-1945 and World War II in the News are reviewed and specially selected, they do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, who is not responsible for the content of any external sites. This service is © Joni Nuutinen 2005-2010. All rights reserved.