Warbirds in Review Roster Nearly Complete
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh’s increasingly popular Warbirds in Review enters its fourth year in 2006, providing daily, in-depth presentations featuring some the world’s most significant military aircraft and the people who flew them. (Or in some cases, pilots who continue to fly them.)
Chairperson Connie Bowlin confirms the following lineup of aviators and aircraft scheduled to appear during the July 24-30 gathering at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Presentations--two per day--take place just south of the Warbirds Café near the EAA Ford Tri-Motor.
Here’s the roster, with comments from the Chairperson:
Monday: 10 a.m. - The week starts off with a 1937 Lockheed 12A. This is the only aircraft ever featured that is not a “true” Warbird. The history and ownership of this airplane are so unique that the story is too good to pass up. This Lockheed 12A was owned by TWA as an executive transport and research airplane. Ruth Richter Holden, daughter of Paul Richter, one of TWA’s founders, currently owns it. This will highlight the contributions that the airlines made to the military in all wars…and feature a beautiful airplane.
Monday: 1 p.m. – A salute to our Vietnam veterans featuring two significant aircraft of that era. The OV-1 Mohawk and the L-19 Bird Dog…maybe not the most glamorous of aircraft, but they fulfilled critical missions.
Tuesday: 10 a.m. - We are pleased to have the Women’s Air Service Pilots (WASP) join us again this year. They will tell us about their experiences of training and flying ALL the World War II military aircraft. This year Dave Holmes and his T-6, Fly Girl that is painted in a WASP paint scheme will join them.
Tuesday: 1 p.m. Bob Hoover, arguably the greatest air show pilot ever, will make his presentation along side a Spitfire that is owned by Rudy Frasca. Bob flew the Spitfire in WWII, was shot down and became a POW. It’s easy to pick an airplane to feature with Bob as he has flown just about all of them.
Wednesday 10 a.m. - Always a crowd favorite, Col. C.E. “Bud” Anderson, WWII Triple Ace and Jack Roush, NASCAR team owner, will be on hand with the P-51 Old Crow, along with the current owner, Jim Hagedorn.
Wednesday: 1 p.m. – He’s better known as the Voyager pilot, but Dick Rutan was an Air Force pilot first, flying the F-100 in Vietnam. Dick will entertain us with his stories, along with a P-80 on display.
Thursday 10 a.m. Steve Hinton brings the Chino P-38, which is done up in the 475th Fighter Group paint scheme. Col P.J. Dahl, president of the 475th Association, may also be able to join Steve. Don’t miss this one.
Thursday: 1 p.m. - O.D. Clemmer flew the Douglas B-26 Invader in the Korean War and will tell of his experiences flying night missions and being attacked by a Yak- 9. The black B-26 Invader, owned by David Huffman, will be part of this presentation.
Friday: 10 a.m. - David Lee “Tex” Hill is a Flying Tiger, retired general and one of the greatest storytellers ever. We are delighted to have Tex joining us this year. As a testimony to Tex’s popularity, we have three P-40 owners who have offered to display their airplanes with Tex: Ron Fagen’s newly restored P-40 with the Aleutian Island paint scheme; and Jerry Yagen’s and Rudy Frasca’s airplanes are both painted in Flying Tiger schemes. We’ll have one, or all of them on display.
Friday: 1 p.m. - The B-25 “Panchito” will be featured in the Disabled American Veterans display during EAA AirVenture 2006. Meet members of the DAV and learn about the outstanding services they provide. They have invited Colonel C.I. Williams, USAF ret., the commanding officer of a Tuskegee Airmen B-25 outfit, to join them for this presentation.
Saturday 10 a.m. - Always a crowd favorite, don’t miss this interesting presentation as Jim Read describes his beautiful F4U Corsair. He will share the stage with fellow Corsair pilot, Dale Snodgrass.
Saturday: 1 p.m. - Every year, we wonder how can we top the previous year’s line up with rare and interesting aircraft. We are very pleased that that Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is bringing their Lancaster bomber to Oshkosh and have agreed to share it with Warbirds in Review. As a special treat, they have invited combat veterans to join them. (Due to the size of the airplane and logistics, this final Warbirds in Review presentation will be held on AeroShell Square rather than the Warbird area.)
Sunday: 10 a.m. - Paul Tibbets, famed pilot of the Enola Gay, was originally planned for this time slot with the B-29 Fifi from the Commemorative Air Force. As things turned out, neither Paul nor Fifi are able to attend AirVenture this year. We will substitute with an exciting presentation, to be announced.
Sunday: 1 p.m. - What better way to end a great week than to do it with the EAA’s B-17 Aluminum Overcast. EAA's Paul and Tom Poberezny will join us along with along with many of the EAA crewmembers and volunteers who “Keep 'Em Flyin’.”
Many thanks to all the aircraft owners, veterans, and volunteers who make Warbirds in Review happen. Schedule is subject to change – look for the definitive schedule in the daily EAA AirVenture Today newspaper.
