Thinking of Oshkosh, and Mustangs...
Last year, both of the restored combat-vet P-51D's "Sierra Sue II" and "The Brat III" were in attendance. At one point, both were even flying at the same time during the show (on taxiing-out, only separated by one Mustang). I was wondering then, if perhaps anyone realized at the time how significant that could have been made, having both of those aircraft together, and flying no-less, at one place (furthermore, if both could have been flown in formation together for some air-to-air photography - even perhaps a magazine article on the subject). The reason being is that both aircraft served in the same Fighter Group, the 370th, at the exact same time, based/operating from the same forward airfields in the final few weeks of WWII ("Sierra Sue" was in the 402nd Sqd., and "The Bratt" was in the 401st), and both are painted to appear as they looked then. Both aircraft would have likely been flying together in the May 7, 1945 "V E DAY" formation flyover performed by the 370th FG (just ahead of the true VE-Day), over the Advanced Landing Ground Y-99 near Gütersloh, Germany. Following the end of WWII, both aircraft went to the Swedish AF together as well, but were then separated after that - "Sierra Sue" going to the Nicaraguan AF and "The Bratt" going to the Dominican AF, and then following vastly separated civilian paths. Both aircraft served together in the final weeks of WWII, and are real survivors, not data-plate rebuilds, with both still containing the majority of their original metal (or at least I know "SSII" does). Perhaps if both aircraft come together at Oshkosh again this year, something can be arranged to make more of it - a real "reunion". (Furthermore, the P-38J currently under restoration for the Flying Heritage Collection (formerly with the CAF), has also been discovered to be a 370th FG combat vet, and the plan is to paint it in its original markings when completed). And if the P-47 "Dottie Mae" was completed in-time, and debuted at Oshkosh (with every year I hope), there'd be another original 9th AF combat vet in attendance besides.
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. Not sure if I will be flying or driving up with my group this time around.
...yeah, I wanted to see what it would look like for myself, even if only simulated.
Last year was my first year to attend and the sheer amount of planes, forums, exhibitions, demonstrations, and stuff to see was overwhelming. I spent the better part of 5 days just wandering around in "awe". This year since I know more of what to expect I'm going to review the schedule and try to attend more forums and see different presentations. Different planes come and go throughout the week so always take the opportunity to view a plane because it may leave. It seems like last year that most of the warbirds were there all week.