Category: WW2 Era (1939-45)

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B-17s, 130 Reenactors to Attend Memphis Belle Unveiling

The highly anticipated unveiling of the restored B-17F “Memphis Belle” at the USAF Museum on May 17th will reportedly be attended by two B-17s and over 130 WW2 reenactors.

B-17Gs “Yankee Lady” from the Yankee Air Museum in Belleville, Michigan and “Aluminum Overcast” from the EAA in Oshkosh, Wisconsin are scheduled to be on hand for the event. They will reportedly arrive around 9 am on May 16th and will be on static display on the 17th and 18th from 9 am to 4 pm, departing around 4:30 pm on the 18th.

More than 130 WW2 reenactors are also scheduled to take part in the event, representing period airmen, ground crew, infantrymen, nurses and more. Additional attractions will reportedly include historic vehicles, memorabilia and artifact displays, music from the era, guest speakers, book signings and films. Continue reading B-17s, 130 Reenactors to Attend Memphis Belle Unveiling

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BBMF Spitfire TE311 Debuts New Markings

Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Spitfire XVI TE311 has new markings after a visit to a Coningsby paint shop in February.

The machine, which most recently appeared in the all black “stealth” livery seen above, is now adorned with the markings of TD240 / SZ-G, flown by Captain Aleksander Gabszewicz of 131 Polish Wing.

TE311 was originally manufactured at Castle Bromwich in 1945 and served with with No. 1689 Ferry Pilot Training Flight and No. 2 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-operation following WW2. It was used for taxiing scenes in the 1967 film The Battle of Britain and also acted as a traveling display prior to being acquired and restored by BBMF, returning to the air in October 2012.

Click below to check out a time lapse video of the process as well as photos of the new livery.

Continue reading BBMF Spitfire TE311 Debuts New Markings

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First Look: AFV Club’s Upcoming 1/144 Folded Wing F4U Corsair Model Kit

Following the release of their highly customizable new tool 1/144 F4U Corsair model kit, AFV Club has announced the upcoming release of a folded wing version.

As of this writing, few details have been reported about the kit (AR14408), although several renderings have been released as well as test sprue and build images. Click below to see more.

Continue reading First Look: AFV Club’s Upcoming 1/144 Folded Wing F4U Corsair Model Kit

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Blackburn (Fairey) Swordfish C-GEVS Offered For Sale

Please Note: This is an archived post. The information presented here may not be current and the associated listing may no longer be active.

Blackburn (Fairey) Swordfish Mk II S/N HS554 (C-GEVS) has hit the market.

The aircraft was constructed by the Blackburn Aircraft Co. in 1942 and served with the Royal Navy and Royal Canadian Navy before being retired in 1946. In the past it was part of the Ernie Simmons collection in Tillsonburg, ON and is currently with Vintage Wings of Canada.

The airframe has reportedly amassed 148 hrs since restoration by Bob Spence in 1992, while the Bristol Pegasus Model 30 engine has acquired 23.5 hrs SMOH by Deltair in 2011. The engine is currently in need of a top overhaul and the aircraft is being sold as is with a price of US$650,000. Click here to check out the complete listing.

(Photo: Armchair Aviator’s via Wikimedia Commons)

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Yankee Air Museum Welcomes Lake Michigan Dauntless, New Display Underway

Yankee Air Museum at Willow Run Airport in Belleville, Michigan has welcomed a new addition to its collection in the form of a Dauntless dive bomber.

Few details have been released, although the aircraft was reportedly salvaged from Lake Michigan in the 1990s and will become the centerpiece of a new exhibit that will see it displayed in the condition in which it was found.

Access to the Dauntless is said to be closed off to the public while the new exhibit is under construction. It is currently expected to open in October 2018.

Click below to check out photos of the aircraft following its arrival.

Continue reading Yankee Air Museum Welcomes Lake Michigan Dauntless, New Display Underway

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First Look: Box Contents For Trumpeter’s Upcoming New Tool 1/48 Fairey Firefly

Trumpeter has released the first images showing box contents for their upcoming new tool Fairey Firefly Mk.1 model kit in 1/48 scale (05810).

Livery options will reportedly include FR.1 DK477 of 766 Sq FAA and FR.1 DK438 of 1771 Sq/HMS Implacable. Two additional marking options will also be provided representing Mk.1 machines.

A final release date has not yet been announced, although it is said to be “very soon.”

Click below to check out additional images.

Continue reading First Look: Box Contents For Trumpeter’s Upcoming New Tool 1/48 Fairey Firefly

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Only Battle of Britain Hurricane Finds New Home, Will Undergo Rebuild

After being based at Old Warden Aerodrome in Bedfordshire for several years, Hawker Hurricane R4118 has found a new home at Duxford, where it arrived earlier today.

Recently the machine was found to have cracked cylinder banks and a damaged propeller hub. In order to return it to the air, the damaged banks will be replaced with newly overhauled units and a new hub will be manufactured. Additional work will reportedly see repairs made to the radiator, oil cooler and coolant header tank and the installation of newly recovered flying surfaces.

In light of these developments, the decision was made to move the aircraft to Duxford where experts at The Aircraft Restoration Company will carry out the rebuild. It is expected that R4118 will return to flight this summer and be placed on public display in one of the hangars at its new home. Continue reading Only Battle of Britain Hurricane Finds New Home, Will Undergo Rebuild

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“The People’s Mosquito” Awards Contract to Build, Test DH Mosquito RL249

An effort by Leicestershire-based charity The People’s Mosquito, Ltd. (TPM) to return a de Havilland Mosquito to UK skies has taken a major step forward with the announcement of a contract with East Sussex-based Retrotec, Ltd. to construct and test the machine.

The deal will provide Retrotec’s restoration experts with full access to TPM’s massive collection of Mossie engineering drawings and allow the aircraft to be to constructed in the UK. TPM Managing Director John Lilley states: Continue reading “The People’s Mosquito” Awards Contract to Build, Test DH Mosquito RL249

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Spitfire Mk V, Hispano Buchon Offered For Sale

Please Note: This is an archived post. The information presented here may not be current and the associated listing may no longer be active.

Westland Spitfire MK V EE602 (G-IBSY) and Hispano HA-1112-M1L Buchon (ME109 C4K) G-AWHH have hit the market.

The Spitfire was constructed by Westland in 1942 and served with 66, 129 and 453 Squadrons. It completed over 100 missions in WW2 and even escorted the famous B-17F “Memphis Belle.” The machine was painstakingly restored and finished in 129 Squadron markings. The airframe, propeller and Merlin engine have reportedly amassed only 30 hours since restoration and the aircraft is said to be supplied with a full CAA Permit to fly on its British civil registration.

The Merlin-powered Buchon, a licence-built Me 109G, was constructed in Tablada Seville in 1958 and served with the Spanish Air Force until 1965. In 1968, it participated in the filming of The Battle of Britain before being stored in Texas. It was shipped to Air Leasing in 2017 for restoration and will reportedly be completed by June. It will wear the colors of “White 9” flown by Uffz Edmund Roβmann of Luftwaffe III./JG 52 and, like the Spitfire, will reportedly come with a full CAA Permit to fly on its British civil registration.

Prices for each machine are said to be available on application. The full listing for the Spitfire is available here. The Buchon listing can be found here.

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Flyzone Announces Upcoming C-47, DC-3 RC Models

RC model manufacturer Flyzone has announced the upcoming release of C-47 and DC-3 micro RC model airplanes.

The models are said to offer smooth, stable flight characteristics and impressive micro scale looks. The C-47 variant is depicted in the colors of 42-100882 “Drag ’em Oot,” which participated in D-Day and now operates with Aero Legends of Kent, England. Meanwhile, the model representing the commercial DC-3 configuration is adorned with the colors of C/N 2268 (NC28391) of Eastern Air Lines.

Each model spans 23″ and will be available in RTF (Ready to Fly) versions complete with a Tactic 4-channel SLT radio system with built-in battery charger, 1S LiPo flight battery and 5 AA batteries.

Click below to check out promo videos for the upcoming releases.

Continue reading Flyzone Announces Upcoming C-47, DC-3 RC Models