WELCOME
It is my pleasure to welcome you to another spectacular year for Warbirds in Review! On the cover is a preview of the beautiful aircraft that will be featured in the following pages and throughout the week of Warbirds in Review. The photo was taken by Uwe Glaser in Atlanta, Georgia when four P51s painted in the 357th Fighter Group colors, as flown by Col. C.E. “Bud” Anderson, were there to support the Atlanta Warbird Weekend. Wes Stowers leads the flight of Mustangs with me flying Jim Hagedorn’s “Old Crow”, Ray Fowler flying Jack Roush’s “Gentleman Jim”, and Robert Dickson, Jr. rounding out the four ship in “Swamp Fox”. In these pages you will learn details of our great line up of Veterans and Aircraft. Warbird Alley will be filled with exciting displays recognizing several anniversaries, starting the week with the T-34s and T-28s as part of the 70th Anniversary celebration planned by those owners and pilots. Finishing off the week will be a ramp full of C-47’s that made the trip to Normandy in 2019 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Normandy invasion known as “D Day”. You will not want to miss these presentations. Hard to believe that what began with a simple idea, with a boom box and roll around stairs, to offer a time when people could come to hear an owner talk about their aircraft has become a truly world class program. With David Hartman as the writer and moderator, the award winning production crew of Sleeping Dog Productions, the support of Jim Hagedorn, Scotts Miracle Gro Company, Warbird members Ron and Diane Fagen, Fagen Fighters World War II Museum, numerous other donors and the total support of aircraft owners, pilot and ground crew members, we have grown to a level exceeding all expectations. The Live Streaming of Warbirds in Review in 2018 was viewed in 120 countries. For me personally it is overwhelming to know that we have entertained and shared our history with the world. With the Jumbotron, bleachers, sound systems, worldwide Live Streaming and the participation of so many terrific Warbird members, the evolution is amazing. Could we present this in a much simpler format and at much less expense; Yes, but for now we are afforded the opportunity to be the best that we can be. Your contributions help us pursue the goal to preserve and recognize history and record for future® generations, presenting programs that you will enjoy. I hope you will enjoy this year’s lineup. Thank you to the volunteers who make this happen. Line crew, VIP escorts, Living History, Theresa Eaman, production assistants, photographers, sound, owners, pilots, moderators. Thanks to the EAA Warbirds of America staff and Warbird Directors who have offered their unwavering support of this vision. A special thanks to “the wind beneath my wings”.
Connie Bowlin President, EAA Warbirds of America22 Monday 10:00 de Havilland Mosquito FB VI Lewis Air Legends
Bradley WentzelNicknamed the Timber Terror, the Loping Lumberyard, the Wooden Wonder: the de Havilland Mosquito, entered the war relatively late, a year to the day after the Battle of Britain ended, but it debuted with technology and aerodynamics far more advanced than the Spitfire’s. To preserve scarce metal reserves and for speed of production, the plane was made from pieces of wood, pressed and glued together in moulds. Exactly 7,781 were eventually built, the last one on November 15, 1950. Certainly no airplane flew as many different kinds of missions and performed them as well as the Mosquito, one of the world’s first successful multirole combat aircraft.Mosquitos were built in 33 different variants during WWII. Seven were introduced after the war, at a time when everything else with a propeller was being shunted off to reserve and training units. Herman Goering, Germany’s wartime aviation minister, said the aircraft turned him “green and yellow with envy”.
This de Havilland Mosquito was originally constructed at Hatfield in 1945 and used for RAF training before moving on to New Zealand in 1948, where it was overhauled and delivered to 75 Squadron as NZ2384. In the early 1950s, the aircraft was acquired by new owners before being transferred to the United States. In 1970, it was abandoned and began a period of decline. It wasn’t saved until 2014, when it was acquired by Rod Lewis. Work on the airframe was completed by New Zealand-based Avspecs, Ltd, while the Rolls Royce Merlin engines were restored in America.The project cost $10 million and took 5 years to complete. Lewis Air Legends de Havilland Mosquito PZ474, is one of only four airworthy examples of the type in the world. On January 13th, 2019, the de Havilland Mosquito made its first post-restoration flight at Ardmore Airfield in Auckland, New Zealand. Revving up its powerful Merlin engines, Steve Hinton and Warren Denholm gave everyone the moment they were waiting for as they lifted into the air. Landing about 20 minutes later, they couldn’t resist taking it up for a second spin later in the afternoon.
Rod Lewis is the son of an Air Force pilot, and was an amateur airplane mechanic long before he was an oilman. From his first plane, an old hand-cranked Aeronca Chief purchased in 1981, his collection would grow over 30 years to include 24 aircraft, most of them the classic WWII warbirds that fly as the Lewis Air Legends. He may fly a Cessna Sovereign on business trips, but the old fighters and bombers are his favorites, like Glacier Girl, a P-38 Lightning rescued after 50 years from 268 feet of Greenland ice, the only survivor of the Lost Squadron. For 100 years our brave military pilots have had a common mission... To preserve our freedom at all costs on the vast and daunting battlefield of the sky. The Lewis Air Legends mission: to preserve their memory while honoring their bravery and sacrifice. To bring the Jared Moossy thrill of their incredible flying machines – and those they fought against – to as many people as possible in a truly international display of historic airpower. Especially to young people. Our pioneer aviators and heroes inspired Rod Lewis in his boyhood passion for flight, patriotism and love of American history. So it is for future generations that Lewis Air Legends will be a living, flying tribute to those who dreamed, built, supported and flew our brilliant birds of war.
22 Monday 1:00 Fairey Firefly WB518 and Fairey Firefly Mk. VI
Captain Eddie Kurdziel and the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
Supplied by Capt. Eddie Kurdziel
The Firefly was born from a requirement made by the British Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm seeking an all-modern, two-seat reconnaissance-minded navy fighter to succeed its aging line of Fairey Fulmars. In June of 1940 the Royal Navy placed an order for 200 of Fairey Aviation’s newly proposed two-seater before the aircraft had even physically materialized.The new monoplane, with folding wings for carrier storage sits its crew of two in tandem, though in separate, cockpits. The pilot up front near the leading edge while the radio operator/observer is located some distance aft. With a variety of prototypes completed production began in March 1943, although it was July 1944 before the type became operational. Its first assignment was on the aircraft carrier HMS Indefatigable off the coast of enemy-held Norway. It was involved with a series of missions against the German ship Tirpitz and eventually was used in all theaters of operation during the Second World War. The Fairey Firefly harassed Japanese aircraft and ground installations throughout the East Indies, and in July 1945 became the first British aircraft to overfly Tokyo. From 1941 until 1955, some 1,702 aircraft were built. It saw service as a long range escort and strike aircraft during the WWII and as a strike aircraft during the Korean War.Fairey Firefly WB518, was built in 1950 and originally delivered to the Royal Australian Navy. It entered service with 817 Squadron (it later served with 816 Squadron) and saw action during the Korean War when it flew from the deck of HMAS Sydney. Its service career over, the aircraft was retired and displayed on a pole in the town of Griffith, New South Wales as a war memorial.The Museum’s Firefly, Fairey Firefly Mk. VI was built in 1951 and first served with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, at Ford, UK. Later, it was transferred to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in 1953. It was retired from the RAN in 1960 and ended up in a museum in New South Wales, Australia. The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum purchased it from them in 1979. Although a Mk.VI, it has been restored in the colours and markings of a RCN No. 825 Squadron Firefly Mk. V operating from HMCS Magnificent in 1949-50.Capt. Eddie Kurdziel is a retired United States Navy and commercial airliner pilot with thousands of hours logged. His journey with Fairey Firefly WB518 began in 1974. After reading a Flying Magazine article featuring the Canadian Firefly, he says he remembered being entranced with the aircraft, but never had an opportunity to see it in person let alone see it fly. A chain of unusual events followed in his life that all lead to the purchase and restoration of WB518. During Thanksgiving, November of 1993 he was perusing every pilot’s favorite wish book Trade-a-plane when he spotted an ad for a 60% restored Firefly! He purchased it for $200,000 and spent $60,000 having it shipped to the United States. The captain’s initial plan was to sell rides on the plane, “The Firefly had a crew of two, so I guess the passenger would get the navigator/weapons officer spot”. Of course, that required making the 60% restored Firefly 100% flyable. That took eight years and 45,000 man hours.
Kurdziel’s Firefly, was a Grand Champion at the EAA AirVenture 2002, won both the Rolls-Royce Aviation Heritage Trophy and the National Aviation Hall of Fame People’s Choice Award. It has been especially rewarding for Captain Eddie to see how much pleasure the Firefly has brought to others, especially those that have never seen one before.Steve McIntosh has been the Chief Engineer at Technisonic Industries Ltd., an avionics maunufacturer for the last 29 years. He joined Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in 1991 as a non-pilot. He learned to fly at the Hamilton Flying Club in 1993 and in 1996 started flying the museum’s de Havilland Chipmunk. Steve now fly’s most of the small trainers as well as the Harvard, Stearman, Beech 18, Norseman, DC3, C47 and Firefly. He also has time in Technisonic’s Citation 501 and a P51 Mustang. He has an Airline Transport Pilot License and also holds a FAST card.
Eric Dumigan
Andy Dobson is a retired RCAF pilot and currently a Captain for Air Canada flying the 787. He has flown several types of aircraft such as the CF-101 Voodoo, Grumman Tracker and various helicopters.
Andy joined Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in 1999. He currently fly’s the Lancaster, DC3, C47, B25, Beech 18, Firefly and many of the museum’s trainers. He has an Airline Transport Pilot License and is a FAST instructor.
Eric DumiganFounder/Chairman Warbirds in Review President, EAA Warbirds of America Connie BowlinGraphic Designer Chad Hill Django StudiosAdvertising Director Ann-Marie LoosResearch & Project Coordinator Kyle Guyette Sleeping Dog ProductionsPrinting Steinert Printing Co., Inc. Oshkosh, WICover Photo by Uwe Glaser s tudios
Django Studios is an automotive aftermarket and aviation-centric graphic design studio producing award winning work for companies like Raybestos, Stewart Warner, Federal Mogul, Snap-On Tools, Peak Antifreeze, Hasbro, Smithfield Foods, Richard Petty Motorsports, Commemorative Air Force, and EAA, including the design of this program. Passion fuels our creativity. djangostudios.comAero Media Group (AMG) is a visual communications company focused on aviation film and photography specializing in capturing aircraft in their natural element…in the air. aeromediagroup.comSleeping Dog TV The principles of Sleeping Dog Productions have very likely produced more aviation television than anyone in the media business. They have collaborated to produce 6 aviationbased cable television series, consisting of 175 shows that total 100 hours of running time. The team has received over 40 national and international awards for creative excellence, most recent a Silver Telly Award for “Robin Olds: ALL AMERICAN.”To that end, FLYING, the world’s most widely read aviation magazine, in partnership with Sleeping Dog Media Properties has launched FLYINGtv.com. FLYINGtv consists of 700-plus high-definition videos, including original series, live events, historic and warbird footage. FLYINGtv.com is an online aviation TV network providing exclusive entertainment and educational content to aviators and the aviationinterested on a subscription basis. Our experiences showcase experts and entertainers; from NASA Astronaut, Robert “Hoot” Gibson to Academy Award nominee, Gary Sinise to Harrison Ford, stunning visuals and unrivaled storytelling. Whether you want to fly with airshow performer Sean D. Tucker or travel back in time with WWII Combat Ace C.E. “Bud” Anderson and German Luftwaffe Ace Gunther Rall, FLYINGtv adds new binge-worthy films and series each month, empowering you to dive deep into your favorite subjects and explore new territory sure to entertain, enlighten and inspire. Satisfy your thirst for aviation entertainment anytime and anywhere with FLYINGtv.com access available worldwide on your television, laptop or mobile device. sleepingdogtv.comVintage Aviation Publications is a company founded by a group of passionate Warbirds enthusiasts who love the history and technology Aviation Museums preserve for the public. It is our intention to play a role in safeguarding the heritage of these beautiful machines by providing increased awareness and education through the use of internet based digital media. Vintage Aviation Publications is the publisher of Warbird Digest and warbirdsnews.comPaul Bowen is an award winning, commercial photographer, and has been shooting aerial photography since 1972. He is credited with over 700 magazine covers and countless campaigns and is well known in the aviation world for his photographs of wing tip vortices. airtoair.net
