July 22-29, 2023 - AirVenture 2023
Warbirds
|
| "Doc", only one of two flying B-29 Superfortresses left cruises over Wittman Field. |
| |
 |
|
|
I went to a Warbirds in Review featuring a newly restored P-47D Thunderbolt. It was recovered in New Guinea. They were able to determine which squadron the plane belonged to: the 460th. The paint scheme represents that of a pilot in that squadron: Willilam "Bill" Dunham, second leading P-47 ace in the Pacific with 16 victories.
|
| |
 |
|
| Seated left to right are the moderator, the owner, Dunham's two daughters, a historian and then the pilot. Dunham survived the war and went on to become a Brigadier General in the U.S. Air Force. He named his P-47 "Bonnie" after his wife. |
| |
 |
|
|
The workmanship was impeccable.
|
| |
 |
|
| The business end of the P-47: four of the eight total 50-cal machine guns. |
| |
 |
|
|
The Jug was powered by the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp radial engine, the same engine that powered the F6F Hellcat and F4U Corsair.
The Jug did fly but I did not see it. However, I did watch the Jug fly on this excellent video: Link.
|
| |
 |
|
| The outfit that restored the P-47 also restored this razorback P-51: "Thunderbird". |
| |
 |
|
|
Beautiful.
|
| |
 |
|
| As always at AirVenture, there were quite a few P-51 Mustangs on hand. |
| |
 |
|
|
"Gunfighter"
|
| |
 |
|
| "Twilight Tear" |
| |
 |
|
| Over $10 million dollars worth of airplanes sitting on the grass. |
| |
 |
|
| The venerable P-40 Warhawk with brightly painted front-end. |
| |
 |
|
| Another P-40 in British markings, North African theater. |
| |
 |
|
|
Soviet Yak-3.
|
| |
 |
|
| Some sort of Corsair reunion was taking place so there were quite a few Corsairs on hand. |
| |
 |
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
| |
 |
|
| |
| |
 |
|
| |
| |
 |
|
|
There's that R-2800 engine again.
|
| |
 |
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|