Warbird Information Exchange

Some pics my dad took at the Detroit Air Show in 1952.















according to Baugher, this C-123 is 52-1627, the "Chase C-123B-CN Provider, which was modified by Stroukoff as YC-134 with R-3350-89A engines and boundary layer control. Did not have the Pantobase landing gear."







Dave G

This is the same airshow where the F-89 Scorpion shed a wing during a high-speed pass. Dad said that it was a very hot day and there was a great deal of turbulence caused by all that rising air. The Scorpion was bouncing as he came by and then he pulled up and the wing departed. Dad said the wing fluttered and crashed into the parking lot, setting a bunch of cars on fire.

This is NOT his picture, but I found it online:



Dave G

Looks like it changed just a bit over the next few years! Here is is at Moffett Field, 1959






Dave G.

As I remember the story from Bob Love. He and the other test pilots at Northrop had to ferry all the F-89s back to the factory for a spar fix. The AF would not fly them.

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My dad arrived at his F-89 squadron from initial flight training right after this 1952 Detroit Air Show accident and all of the Scorpions were grounded or being ferried to Northrop to have the tails structurally beefed up. In the meantime, the pilots and radar observers had to fly F-94s or T-33s to stay current.

some refreshingly different stuff!!

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

Valkyrie Thank You

how cool !! this stuff is right up my alley Im an old fart ! and I remember
seeing the 1'st flight of the C-124

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R H White

JUST FLY' EM! boomerang

those are some great pics, thanks for sharing.
Anybody know where exactly the airshow was held?

according to my dad, it was at Wayne County Airport, now Detroit Metro.


Dave G.

Thanks, it would have been Wayne major field back then. I only live three miles or so from there. Fortunately, I'm not on the approach or departure path, or the noise would be awful.
My dad said there was an ang base there when he was a kid, and they flew F-84's out of there.