The fascination had to start somewhere ...

[Speedy]

The top picture of Gary Levitz's P-38 "Double Trouble" is from 1977.....that was the year Ralph and Gary had started stripping the grey 'shark mouth' paint off of it, but only had the leading edges of the wings done by the time they took it to Reno and Harlingen. At the bottom of the post is the same airplane in it's bare metal scheme with the red 38 on the tail. That was '78-80, but I see Mike Smith's P-63 "What Price Speed" in the background, so that looks to be Airsho '79.

[Chris Brame]

I found this one recently and was saving it for just such a thread:



It was in (of all places) the 1967 Mercedes, Texas High School yearbook.

[Chris Brame]

And I pulled these images from an old VHS tape; WGN-TV news story about the CAF arriving for the Rockford, IL airshow in 1981:

[O.P.]

Great pictures! I like the idea of a bunch of friends getting together and flying! I used to do that a lot and got to do it again last weekend for the first time in years.

Non B17 knowledgeable here. Are those B17's real "F"s? Looks like it. Never really looked before but I thought F's were rare. If I remember right, most of the planes I see now are G's.

One more for the road, Why is the Tail gear down?

[maradamx3]

Another favorite ...

No intent to thread hijack, just a quick question....

Isn't this plane being resurrected? Last I saw, it was in pieces in San Marcos many, many years ago. Was it traded or purchased?
Thanks!

[Dan K]

Another favorite ...

No intent to thread hijack, just a quick question....

Isn't this plane being resurrected? Last I saw, it was in pieces in San Marcos many, many years ago. Was it traded or purchased?
Thanks!

Quick answer:

http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry ... ertxt=38LL

[Mark Allen M]

Looks like at one point Devil Dog had some flat paint applied. Nice!





and later on a glossy finish ... Still nice!

[Mark Allen M]

Yep! those rebs' could sure (and still do) put on a show. Made the hours and hours long drive to Midland well worth it in the 90's.

[AG pilot]

That photo of the F-82........oh my! What a beautiful shot.

[Dan K]

Wow...

Just wow...

[Ryan Harris]

Another favorite ...

No intent to thread hijack, just a quick question....

Isn't this plane being resurrected? Last I saw, it was in pieces in San Marcos many, many years ago. Was it traded or purchased?
Thanks!

Quick answer:

http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry ... ertxt=38LL

That quick answer is deceiving. The original Scatterbrain Kid crashed in Lafayette, LA in 1974. Here is the narrative: http://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviat ... 2992&key=0

The CAF then found a second airframe, used the same N number and called it Scatterbrain Kid II. It was restored with the second seat from the then Champlin P-38M (now at Museum of Flight) and a photo nose. This is the airplane that had engine issues at Breckenridge in 1994 and crashed in the scrub brush. It is now at Westpac being restored for Flying Heritage Collection. It looked like this under the CAF: http://p38assn.org/images/surviving/scatterbrain.jpg

[Mark Allen M]

... and like this in the dark

[Mark Allen M]

That poor P/F-82 ...


CAF P-82 flying over Harlingen Tx. in the late 70's


CAF P-82 in the 80's at Midland? (1987?)










Photo credits: unknown

[Randy Wilson]

So who did you's state this gent is again?

Mark, he is Brig. General Regis F. A. Urschler, USAF (Ret.), better know as Reg to friends. He retired from the USAF in 1985 and for many years was the primary sponsor and pilot of the CAF P-51D "Gunfighter". There is a pretty good bio at the link below. Hope that helps. Randy

http://www.gml2007.com/legends/urschler.shtml

[Thomas_Mac]

"The Defender" has some great footage of the Confederate Air Force back in the day as well. The link below is skipped ahead to one of their segments. For anyone who hasn't seen this film I would highly recommend it!
https://youtu.be/ZvbQMqd0kEY?t=1369