About CAF History

[metalman]

Ahhh the CAF looking forward to a stink working with you guys!

[Steve Nelson]

I've always wondered what the deal was with that weird bulbous nose cap on AM927. When I was a kid we assumed it was a radome of some sort, but I think it was just an effort to make more space in the nose compartment..doesn't look very aerodynamic.

SN

[Jerry O'Neill]

The CAF's LB-30/B-24 bulbous nose was, I believe, a cargo door that hinged open. That's why it looked so weird.
Jerry

[Steve Nelson]

Standard C-87s had hinged nose caps as well, but they followed the contour of the nose. I assume the one on AM927 was some sort of non-standard mod. I'm not sure when she acquired it..earlier photos show her with a standard 'solid' nose..I asume it was the same as a C-87.

SN

[Flying Pencil]

Original source and photographer unknown for the above photos.

What happened to this Mosquito?

Thanks for posting these images, Mark!

[Flying Pencil]

Where is that topic on new CAF base?
Looked a bit, cant find.

[Sasquatch]

Where is that topic on new CAF base?
Looked a bit, cant find.

Try this one:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=49620

--Tom

[Matt Gunsch]

Original source and photographer unknown for the above photos.

What happened to this Mosquito?

Thanks for posting these images, Mark!

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/mossiere ... rs709.html

[Lynn Allen]

Man, if only I could be that good!

Hang in there son, you'll make corporal someday... (John Wayne quote)

[JFS61]

Original source and photographer unknown for the above photos.

What happened to this Mosquito?

Thanks for posting these images, Mark!

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/mossiere ... rs709.html

Is it true that the NMUSAF permanently chopped up this bird's internal framework (along with other irreversible mods) to convert this from a B. Mk 35 to a USAAC PR. Mk. XVI model? I seem to remember there being quite a bit of angst about it in the warbird community at the time, but that was about the time I got out of the scene and never heard anything further.

[ME108 Taifun]

I was a mere 14 when Dad became a member of the CAF. And for the past 36 years my family have been members of the CAF and have travelled to Airsho each year. (This will be year 27 for me.)

I've seen good changes and bad ones. And while I agree with the concept of running the outfit in a business/professional sense, it has sure lost a lot of the "fun" aspects of the CAF. CAF uniforms have turned into a "look of uniformity" (present day khakis and blue shirts as opposed to the old grey "dress" uniforms). No longer is there the "Rebel Ball" and the days of Ernie Ford leading our "swearing in" ceremonies are over. I think back of my first CAF airsho and the wonder of a ramp full of P51s, the P82 and Lefty and the P38 and it doesn't even compare to today's airshow. No longer are there ramp parties after the show is over and going to the O'Club is a disappointment.

Without doubt our purpose of to preserve, protect and fly the airplanes. The educational value of what the CAF does is invaluable. But there was a value in all of this "fun stuff" too. I feel like the CAF has lost all that. There was something to be said to watch (Uncle) Howard Pardue and Carl Payne bid "big bucks" on a trinket during the Survivor's Party Auction in the O'Club. I fondly remember the days 5 full days of sold out airshows and the fun of everyone in the Valley down in Harlingen.

Today's CAF has lost all that. And it's a shame. No longer do we have the Cullpepper's Angels selling "survivor ribbons" like they once were. We are lucky to get minimal aircraft and gone are the days when every CAF member worked at it to make it to airshow.

Some of the "old ways" were good.

Last edited by ME108 Taifun on Wed Jun 12, 2013 2:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Lynn Allen]

I was a mere 14 when Dad became a member of the CAF. And for the past 36 years my family have been members of the CAF and have travelled to Airsho each year. (This will be year 27 for me.)

I've seen good changes and bad ones. And while I agree with the concept of running the outfit in a business/professional sense, it has sure lost a lot of the "fun" aspects of the CAF. CAF uniforms have turned into a "look of uniformformity" (present day khakis and blue shirts as opposed to the old grey "dress" uniforms). No longer is there the "Rebel Ball" and the days of Ernie Ford leading our "swearing in" ceremonies are over. I think back of my first CAF airsho and the wonder of a ramp full of P51s, the P82 and Lefty and the P38 and it doesn't even compare to today's airshow. No longer are there ramp parties after the show is over and going to the O'Club is a disappointment.

Without doubt our purpose of to preserve, protect and fly the airplanes. The educational value of what the CAF does is invaluable. But there was a value in all of this "fun stuff" too. I feel like the CAF has lost all that. There was something to be said to watch (Uncle) Howard Pardue and Carl Payne bid "big bucks" on a trinket during the Survivor's Party Auction in the O'Club. I fondly remember the days 5 full days of sold out airshows and the fun of everyone in the Valley down in Harlingen.

Today's CAF has lost all that. And it's a shame. No longer do we have the Cullpepper's Angels selling "survivor ribbons" like they once were. We are lucky to get minimal aircraft and gone are the days when every CAF member worked at it to make it to airshow.



Some of the "old ways" were good.

Or the parties across the border, when it was semi safe then...

[T Ricketts]

I was a mere 14 when Dad became a member of the CAF. And for the past 36 years my family have been members of the CAF and have travelled to Airsho each year. (This will be year 27 for me.)

I've seen good changes and bad ones. And while I agree with the concept of running the outfit in a business/professional sense, it has sure lost a lot of the "fun" aspects of the CAF. CAF uniforms have turned into a "look of uniformformity" (present day khakis and blue shirts as opposed to the old grey "dress" uniforms). No longer is there the "Rebel Ball" and the days of Ernie Ford leading our "swearing in" ceremonies are over. I think back of my first CAF airsho and the wonder of a ramp full of P51s, the P82 and Lefty and the P38 and it doesn't even compare to today's airshow. No longer are there ramp parties after the show is over and going to the O'Club is a disappointment.

Without doubt our purpose of to preserve, protect and fly the airplanes. The educational value of what the CAF does is invaluable. But there was a value in all of this "fun stuff" too. I feel like the CAF has lost all that. There was something to be said to watch (Uncle) Howard Pardue and Carl Payne bid "big bucks" on a trinket during the Survivor's Party Auction in the O'Club. I fondly remember the days 5 full days of sold out airshows and the fun of everyone in the Valley down in Harlingen.

Today's CAF has lost all that. And it's a shame. No longer do we have the Cullpepper's Angels selling "survivor ribbons" like they once were. We are lucky to get minimal aircraft and gone are the days when every CAF member worked at it to make it to airshow.



Some of the "old ways" were good.

Or the parties across the border, when it was semi safe then...

I have a lot of memories in what you posted. May first Airsho was 1972. Those were good times. The O'Club was a very interesting experience for an early teen back then not to mention the 'across the border' experiences. I will never forget watching some Navy pilots teaching the Warbird pilots how to land on an Aircraft Carrier......Lots of beer......two folding tables.....and bed sheets. Make sure your feet are pointed down to catch the wire (rolled up sheet) as you run and jump - point feet down, then slide down the beer soaked table hoping to 'catch the wire' before heading off the other end of the table. There was also another variation once things got back to the hotel that involved running down the hall....into the room and jumping over the beds. If you caught the 'wire' you landed on the bed....if not, you hit the wall on the other side.

[maxum96]

The O'Club was a very interesting experience for an early teen back then not to mention the 'across the border' experiences. I will never forget watching some Navy pilots teaching the Warbird pilots how to land on an Aircraft Carrier......Lots of beer......two folding tables.....and bed sheets. Make sure your feet are pointed down to catch the wire (rolled up sheet) as you run and jump - point feet down, then slide down the beer soaked table hoping to 'catch the wire' before heading off the other end of the table. There was also another variation once things got back to the hotel that involved running down the hall....into the room and jumping over the beds. If you caught the 'wire' you landed on the bed....if not, you hit the wall on the other side.

Hopefully there was a good LSO there for those "carrier" landings.