Warbird Information Exchange

Today, we celebrate the anniversary of VE-DAY. Lets list out aircraft that served in WW2 that still exist and/or fly.

I will start with the VAC's C-47 "Tico Belle" which flew troops during each of the airborne drops during WW2.

that covers every warbird that was built during WWII and still survives, just because it may not have seen combat, does not mean it did not serve.

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Matt Gunsch, A&P, IA, Warbird maint and restorations
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I wouldn't at all be surprised if there's a book or website somewhere that lists surviving WW2 warbirds that saw combat. Most that I know of today, don't fly anymore.
For example, of the B-17s I know of that are preserved intact (and not underwater somewhere), I think just four of them either saw combat or flew into combat zones? One was in the PTO and three were with the 8th AF. "Pink Lady" (which was in the 8th AF) flew in the Memphis Belle movie but doesn't fly anymore, I understand. The rest never got shot at, as far as I know.
Then you have the issue of what constitutes a combat zone? How about a transport which flew over the Hump? Few of those planes ever got shot at but I think we'd all agree that sure wasn't stateside flying (my late uncle got the DFC for those flights).

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Life member, 91st BG Memorial Association
Owner, 1944 Willys MB #366014
Former REMF (US Army, O3)

There is probably a good proportion of existing RAF aircraft of that era that qualify.

Particularly Spitfires, especially P7350, a Spitfire Mk.IIa which fought in the Battle of Britain and is still airworthy with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight today.

Great point.
Not only are there more C-47s flying, but I'd wager a higher percentage of those survivors saw combat or hazardous duty ( The hump) than most types. Our local museum has an airworthy Hump veteran C-47B.

And if we want to set definitions, then "survivors" need to be defined, would it include dataplate restorations? Many rivet counters here will take exception to their inclusion.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
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I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

There's truth in this.

Or to put it a different way, airplanes don't "serve." People serve. Machines are just built and used.

An airplane may have a more or less interesting history depending what it was used for. The line between what's interesting and what's not is personal and arbitrary. Some of us find almost everything interesting when it comes to airplanes.

August

August,



You always have a nice spin on the words. Well appreciated.

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Kevin McCartney

I can think of two, both in the colors they wore in anger. These not only exist but are still flying. P-51D Sierra Sue and P-47D Dottie Mae

Here's another...an airworthy P-51B with seven victories in its wartime markings.

https://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/s ... /42-106638

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

My airplane ‘serves’ me well.

How about the CAF's C-47, "That's all --- Brother". She was the lead ship for the D-Day invasion.

Cavanaugh Flight Museum's B-25 Mitchell, "How 'boot That", flew 44 combat missions. Not a flyer, but could be since she was restored to airworthy standards.

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Dean Hemphill, K5DH
Port Charlotte, Florida

They also have the P-51D mustang The Brat III.
"It was assigned to the 9th Air Force, 370th Fighter Group, 401st Fighter Squadron, and was flown by Lt. Hjalmar Johnsen. In June 1947 it was sold to the Swedish Air Force and served as Flygyapnet (FV) Serial No. 26115 based at F-4, Ostersund. Between 1952-53 it was sold to the Dominican Republic and served as Fuerza Aerea Dominica Serial No. 1918 until 1984 when it was retired from active service."

And, my mustang, which was assigned alongside The Brat III in all 3 Air Forces.

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Always looking for P-51D parts.

100% agree: there is too much emphasis on 'combat', the corollary of which seems to be an inference that if your relative didn't see 'combat' they didn't serve. Going further, there are those who think that if you weren't a flyer in the AAF you didn't serve. Or didn't serve if you flew transports or liaison types.

Any aircraft that was built 80 or more years ago has a story to tell; it's the same for human beings!

Where's Milton when you need him?

Slightly different question: Which surviving World War II aircraft had the most missions? It has to be Flak-Bait with 202 to 216, right? Runner up would be the Lancaster in the Royal Air Force Museum, R5868, with 137 to 139?

As far as most significant? A bit subjective of course, but my vote would go for the SBD-2 in the National Naval Aviation Museum, BuNo 2106, Midway Madness:

(Source: National Naval Aviation Museum)

Full, 171 page, history and documentation for the interested: Dauntless in Peace and War

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Tri-State Warbird Museum Collections Manager & Museum Attendant

Warbird Philosophy Webmaster

You mean the dataplate???

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