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May-June 2018
- Multi-Mission Mustang
- Sunken Treasures
- Naked Fanny
- Gunship 049
- The Adventures of Captain Connie
This lethally armed combat veteran Huey underwent a mammoth restoration effort in order to bring the story of the “gunships” alive. At one point Gunship 049 was deemed to be beyond saving; but stretching its resources to the max, American Huey 369 based in Peru, Indiana, was fully dedicated to the cause. The end result is a fitting tribute to those who flew and maintained them in Vietnam.
The North American Mustang was called on to perform a myriad of roles during its service career. One of the earliest tasks required of this jack-of-all-trades was to be configured as a dive bomber. With minimal modifications, the type performed well in that role, as it did in so many others. One of only two airworthy survivors of the type is Baby Carmen operated by the Collings Foundation.
While the Skyraider is perhaps best known for the roles it played during the conflicts in Korea and Vietnam, it also served in many lesser known conflicts that took place in remote regions of the world. Tasked with fighting rebel forces in central Africa, this battle-hardened survivor has an interesting story to tell.
Last seen as they slipped beneath the waves during the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942, some of the aircraft of the USS Lexington’s Air Group have been located near the wreckage of the carrier they once flew from. An expedition funded by Paul Allen has revealed images of these aircraft in amazing condition, resting two miles below the ocean’s surface.
Warbird owner and pilot, movie pilot, collector, adventurer, world traveler, and international ambassador are just a few of the many titles that have been worn by this Texas-sized icon of the warbird movement over the years. Warbird Digest is humbled to bring you the story behind this legend of aviation.