Sharing Warbird News and Veterans Stories Since 2013
Here are some Warbirds flown by Irishmen in World War II. Thank you for your sacrifice and for protecting our freedom.
2nd Lt. Gerald Devine, 350th FS 353rd FG, P-51D Mustang 44-14673 LH-I “Mad Irishman”
Lockheed P-38J 42-67842 “Irish Lassie”
1st Lt. Gilbert O’Brien, 357th FG, P-51B “Shanty Irish”
The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) owns a Republic P-47N Thunderbolt painted as “Lil’ Meaties Meat Chopper”. The original “Meat Chopper” served with the 464th FS/507th FG based on Ie Shima in 1945. In 2002 , the CAF’s P-47 was involved in an accident. The aircraft caught on fire during a maintenance test flight and made and emergency landing at Albuquerque International Airport in New Mexico where it had taken off from not long before. (See NTSB report) The aircraft was substantially damaged and subsequently placed in storage for many years.
This year as a part of the CAF’s 12 Planes of Christmas Campaign, they announced that 
they were holding a fundraising campaign for this P-47. The CAF’s goal is to conduct further structural surveys of this Thunderbolt to determine what it will need for its return to flight. “…Tremendous work has been completed in restoring the aircraft to flying condition, with the fuselage repaired, a new canopy and windshield fitted, the control surfaces rebuilt and painted, and a replacement wing located and purchased.”
Donate to help this Meat Chopper get back in the air and honor those who fought for our freedom!
Photo Credit: Commemorative Air Force (CAF)
North American TF-51D Mustang “Toulouse Nuts”
The Collings Foundation’s TF-51D Mustang has been undergoing an extensive rebuild back to original condition. This TF-51D is about a month away from its first flight. It is slated to join the Collings Foundation’s Wings of Freedom Tour for 2016 and will be available for flight training.
Curtiss P-40B Warhawk
This P-40 was formerly owned by Stephen Grey’s Fighter Collection based in Duxford, UK, before arriving to the Collings Foundation. This P-40B is one of the few surviving aircraft of the Pearl Harbor Attack. This P-40B underwent repairs and was repainted following a landing gear failure in November 2014. The Foundation’s P-40’s repairs were completed and it was successfully test flown by Steve Hinton and is ready to go for the 2016 airshow season.
Grumman F6F Hellcat
The Collings Foundation’s Hellcat is an F6F-3 model, Bu. 41476. This Hellcat served with the U.S. Navy in WWII. Formerly owned by the USMC Museum in Quantico, VA and displayed at the Evergreen Aviation Museum. Since being acquired by the Collings Foundation, this F6F has been undergoing a full restoration back to airworthy condition at American Aero Services in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Seen here this Hellcat is being prepped for paint. Full History
Photo Credit: Jim Harley
Check out our friends over at Amateur Airplanes, they build some really detailed scale models.
B-24J Liberator “Witchcraft” model Photo Credit: Amateur Airplanes
F-86D Sabre Dog model Photo Credit: Amateur Airplanes
The Warbird Watcher 
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