Warbird Information Exchange

Wow, never thought stuff like this would be stirred up!

I wish there were more groups out there performing acts like the Tora Tora team. If anything I'd like to see the Tora act being used as the measuring stick.

Think of the possibilities!

Battle of Britain?
Battle of Stalingrad?
Battle of Coral Sea?
Battle of Midway?

The possibility is out there. The money is out there. And the planes to make these reenactment groups are out there. It just takes someone in the right position to do it.

Mudge, Tora tries to make it as real possible.

Do you know how hard it is to lug the Battleship Texas around to every airshow site ? They finally gave up and do the best they can.

I do know for a fact that the Battleship people really don't like it when they see a low level Kate doing a torpedo run on it. It really looks good though as she is of the New York class and looks so much like her Pearl Harbor sisters. (Which, as the last survivor of the period, is why she does so much stand in work )

As for T-6s dressed up to look like Zeros,... well I have seen many of the shows where the CAF A6M-2 did participate and you really have to look close to tell which one it was when it comes by, or look up because it was usually up high doing shallow turn orbits.

Yes, the CAF does try to make it as real as possible... yet for the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association meets in December 1982 at San Marcos and in May 1991 at Fredericksburg, the CAF made major changes in their program...to match the actual attack, rather than what the bang-bang, shoot 'em up audience expected.

Ah, the May 1991 affair... I cued each plane for its operation, then -standing next to the announcer- I briefed him on what to say about what to happen.

Oh, the FLIGHT JOURNAL July issue "Ghosts of Pearl Harbor" details what Ken Taylor and George Welch really did...! Check this out at: http://groups.msn.com/japanesemodelaircraft/technintelpearlharbor.msnw?Page=7
Cheers,
David Aiken

Just imagine that P-40 along with the FHC's P-40 in Pearl Harbor markings?


What an addition to the Tora act.

Hey David Aiken, I thought I was the Air Boss at the '91 Fredericksburg re-enactment. Are you around this part of the country? To bad we can't have air shows at Fredricksburg anymore as it is a beautiful setting.

Aloha Ober...,
The connection between the Nimitz Museum's Curator Bruce Smith (at that time) and the announcer...was me...however, Bruce spoke by radio with someone who actually 'triggered' each plane...could that be you? It was unique, none the less!
Cheers,
David
PS: since 1973, the GULF COAST WING knows me by a nickname... I supply markings for them when they come up for repaint.

Any pics from this show?