EAA Warbirds in Review Expands Yet Again at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
Warbirds in Review became part of the EAA AirVenture scene in 2003, bringing a close-up look at some of the most storied military aircraft to ever darken the skies. An instant classic, the program immediately expanded from one to two daily presentations, and this year the program has grown again; a total of 19 presentations are scheduled as Warbirds in Review enters its fifth year at Oshkosh.
Chairperson Connie Bowlin has arranged another stellar line-up of aircraft and aviators, with two presentations (10 a.m. and 1 p.m.) set for opening and closing days, July 23 and July 29, then three per day Tuesday through Saturday (10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 1 p.m.). Warbirds in Review sessions will be held in two locations; just south of the Warbirds Café near the EAA Ford Tri-Motor base of operations, and on AeroShell Square. Returning, as program moderators will be Dan Bowlin and Sam Bass.
Monday, July 23
10 a.m. - Vietnam combat veteran pilots John Roxbury, Jack McCormick and Huey helicopter Gunner Wayne Boggs open the schedule with Roxbury’s OH-6 Loach. “We hope to have a UH-1 Huey as well, but that has yet to be confirmed,” Bowlin said.
1 p.m. – Texas’ Cavanaugh Museum brings its D-Day-schemed C-47 to Oshkosh. “Frank Moynahan and Jim Gorman both were combat C-47 pilots in the Pacific,” Bowlin said. Interestingly, EAA’s C-47 located at the end of Pioneer Airport is done up in the same scheme as the plane Frank flew in World War II.
Tuesday, July 24
10 a.m. - The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) sponsor this visit of a unique B-25. “The Lonestar Flight Museum recently painted their airplane in the Doolittle Raiders paint scheme,” Bowlin said. “They (DAV) will be taking part in the presentation and we hope to have a Doolittle Raider veteran as well.”
11:30 a.m. - Jim Read’s F4U5 Corsair and Vintage Wings of Canada’s F4U4 will appear side-by side in the Warbirds presentation site. (Doug Mathews flies the Vintage Wings airplane.) “The Corsair is such a unique airplane, a favorite for many people,” Bowlin said. “We’re happy to be able to present these planes together.”
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The B-25, Special Delivery
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1 p.m. - Warbirds in Review will honor Beechcraft’s 75th anniversary with a special program. “Beech is well known for its general aviation contributions, but they’ve done a lot for military aircraft as well,” Bowlin said. Rick Siegfried will moderate this presentation, which will feature the Staggerwing, T-34, C-45, and the New T-6.
Wednesday, July 25
10 a.m. - See WWII Triple Ace Col. C.E. “Bud” Anderson, and Jack Roush, NASCAR team owner and warbird enthusiast who plans to have his P-51B ready for display. Back-up airplane is the P-51D Old Crow. “Any time you have an opportunity to hear Bud Anderson or Jack Roush speak it will be something special, especially when they are together,” Bowlin said.
11:30 a.m. (AeroShell Square) – A panel of Women Air Service Pilots (WASP) is scheduled to appear with an airplane to be announced. “As in years past, we’re happy to pay tribute to the WASPs,” Bowlin commented. “These women flew everything from the B-29 all the way down to the BT-13. I don’t know the airplane yet, so we have an opportunity to pick one when they get here.”
1 p.m. – Gunther Rall, the Luftwaffe pilot who is the third leading ace of all time, is scheduled to appear. “I called him to say, ‘You need to come to Oshkosh and visit with all of us,’ and he accepted the invitation.” Bowlin said. The featured plane is the last North American T-6 built (which Rall actually flew in 1956 when with the “new” Luftwaffe). In 1971 Rall became the commander of the entire Luftwaffe and was later chosen as Germany’s representative to NATO.
Thursday, July 26
10 a.m. - When it was time for Ron Fagen to paint his newly restored P-38, he decided to use the scheme of WWII combat pilot Norb Ruff’s Ruff Stuff. Bowlin noted, “Ron ended up painting it like Norb’s airplane saying, ‘I think Ruff Stuff will fly again!’” Along with Fagen and Ruff, Roy Easterwood, who flew P-38s in the Pacific, will be introduced at this presentation.
11:30 a.m. (AeroShell Square) - Former U.S. Sen. George McGovern, who flew B-24s in World War II, will be a very special guest with the Commemorative Air Force’s Ol’ 927. “Gary Austin was the ring leader on the restoration of the airplane and will be flying in for the day to appear at the presentation,” Bowlin added.
1 p.m. - WWII Ace Bob “Shorty” Rankin was flying with the storied 56th Fighter Group when Gunther Rall was shot down, and he’ll appear with Butch Schroeder’s restored P-47 Thunderbolt. “Shorty and Gunther are good friends now and he’s really excited to appear this year,” Bowlin said. “We plan to introduce Gunther during Shorty’s presentation.”
Friday, July 27
10 a.m. - David Lee “Tex” Hill appears with Jerry Yagen’s P-40 in Tex’s Flying Tiger paint scheme. “What can you say about Tex Hill, except that he was everybody’s hero - Bud Anderson, Chuck Yeager and all those guys said ‘boy, he was our hero when we got in the war.’”
11:30 a.m. (AeroShell Square) - Theodore “Dutch” Van Kirk, most well known for his role as navigator on the Enola Gay, also flew with the 97th Bomb Group, which was the first operational B-17 unit in England. Dutch will appear with the Yankee Air Museum’s B-17G Yankee Lady.
1 p.m. - In a special departure from the military aspect of WIR, Astronaut and Shuttle Commander Joe Engle will appear with a T-38. “We are going to have either an Air Force T-38 or a NASA T-38,” Bowlin said. Joe also flew the CAF’s P-40 for several years.
Saturday, July 28
10 a.m. - Glacier Girl, the meticulously restored P-38 that was dug out from under nearly 300 feet of ice in Greenland, leads off Saturday’s program with Steve Hinton, Rod Lewis, and Bob Cardin. Before AirVenture, Lewis plans to recreate and complete the ill-fated 1942 mission, “Operation Bolero,” that resulted in the ditching of several airplanes in Greenland. “We were out at Rod’s ranch the day he accepted the keys for the P-38,” Bowlin recalls. “I asked, ‘Can you bring it back to Oshkosh this year?’ and he replied, ‘Yeah, as long as we can get back from Europe in time.’” The Glacier Girl presentation is being held near the end of convention to allow for some wiggle room in case there are unforeseen delays.
11:30 a.m. (AeroShell Square) - Col. Gail Halvorsen, C-54 pilot during the Berlin Air Lift of 1948-49, became known as the Candy Bomber when he started a special program dropping candy to German children during the Berlin airlift of 1948-49. Col. Halvorsen and the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation’s C-54E Skymaster, Spirit of Freedom, is featured during this Warbird in Review presentation. The airplane will also be on display throughout the week on AeroShell Square.
1 p.m. - The legendary Bob Hoover appears along with a Lockheed P-80 (F-80), the first operational jet fighter used by the United States Army Air Forces. “I asked Bob what kind of airplane do you want to talk about this year, and he said, “Well, how about the P-80 or something?’” Bowlin explained. “With Bob, it’s like, pick an airplane, he can do any of them.” The featured airplane is EAA’s Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star.
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The P-38, Glacier Girl
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C-54E Skymaster, Spirit of Freedom
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Sunday, July 29
10 a.m. - The Commemorative Air Force brings the world’s only flying Curtiss-Wright SB2C Helldiver. “This is obviously a very rare airplane,” Bowlin said. “CAF may or may not bring a veteran pilot, but the airplane speaks for itself.”
11:30 a.m. (AeroShell Square) - The Lone Star Museum brings its Hawker Hurricane, one of six airworthy in the world. “It’s not a large airplane, but we decided to do this program at AeroShell Square because we’re concerned a little bit about towing it. It’s an unusual airplane.”
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.
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CAF's Curtiss-Wright SB2C Helldiver
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