COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE

The 'Commemorative Air Force (CAF)', formerly known as the 'Confederate Air Force', is a Texas-based non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and showing historical aircraft at airshows primarily throughout the U.S. and Canada. The CAF also has extensive aircraft collection on static display in their American Airpower Heritage Museum^[1].

Contents

Objectives

Name

History

Aircraft

AIRSHO

Wings and squadrons

US wings and squadrons

International wings & squadrons

References

See also

Other large collections of flying historic aircraft

External links

Objectives

The main objectives of the CAF are:^[2]:

★ To acquire, restore, and preserve in flying condition a complete collection of combat aircraft which were flown by all military services of the United States, and selected aircraft of other nations, for the education and enjoyment of present and future generations of Americans,

★ To construct or obtain museum buildings for the permanent protection, maintenance, and display of these historic aircraft, period artifacts, and documents as a tribute to the thousands of men and women who built, serviced, and flew them and to build and organize the "Combat Airman Hall of Fame",

★ To perpetuate the spirit in which such combat aircraft were flown in the defense of our nation, in the memory and hearts of all Americans, and

★ To establish an organization having the dedication, enthusiasm, and Esprit de Corps necessary to operate, maintain, and preserve these aircraft as symbols of our American Military Aviation Heritage.

Name

The original name, Confederate Air Force, started as a simple joke. As the collection of "warbirds" at Rebel Field started to grow, someone painted the name on the side of one of the planes. The name stuck. In 2002 it changed its name to Commemorative Air Force after a vote of the membership. Many felt the name Confederate Air Force was confusing and did not accurately reflect the purpose of the organization. ^[3]

History

The origin^[4] of the Commemorative Air Force dates back to 1951, with the purchase of a surplus Curtiss-Wright P-40 Warhawk by Lloyd Nolen, a former World War II Army Air Forces flight instructor. In 1957, Nolen and four friends purchased a P-51 Mustang, each sharing in the $2,500 cost of the aircraft. With the purchase of the Mustang, known as Red Nose, the group was unofficially founded.
In 1958, the group made their second purchase ~ two Grumman F8F Bearcats for $805 each. Along with the P-51, this gave the pilots the two most advanced piston-engine fighters to see service with the U.S. Army Air Forces and the U.S. Navy.
In 1960, the CAF began seriously to search for other World War II aircraft, but it became quickly apparent that few remained in flying condition. The CAF Colonels were shocked to find that the aircraft which played such a major role in winning World War II were being rapidly and systematically destroyed. No one, not even the Air Force or Navy were attempting to preserve even one of each type of these historic aircraft for display for future generations.
On September 6, 1961, the CAF was chartered as a nonprofit Texas corporation in order to restore and preserve World War II-era combat aircraft. By the end of the year, there were nine aircraft in the CAF fleet.
In 1965, the first museum building consisting of 26,000 square feet was completed at old Rebel Field, Mercedes, Texas. The CAF created a new Rebel Field at Harlingen, Texas, when they moved there in 1968, occupying three large buildings. The CAF fleet continued to grow and included medium and heavy bombers such as the B-29, B-25, B-17 and B-24.
Today, the Commemorative Air Force is comprised of over 11,000 members, several hundred of whom serve as pilots and flight or maintenance crew members committed to preserving World War II American aviation heritage. The CAF is responsible for operating a fleet of more than 140 airplanes known as the Ghost Squadron. The year 1991 marked the beginning of a new era for the CAF with the opening of the new Midland, Texas, headquarters and museum facilities.
The CAF is an all-volunteer organization, made up of members from all walks of life. Membership is open to all men and women, age 18 or older. You need not be a veteran nor a pilot to join the CAF. Privately funded and totally self-supporting, the nonprofit, tax-exempt group is dedicated to preserving the military aviation heritage of World War II.

Aircraft

The CAF operates 145 aircraft based with over 70 regional groups, called wings, in 27 states. The entire collection of CAF aircraft is known as the CAF Ghost Squadron^[5]. Its aircraft range from the small Stinson L-5 and Ryan PT-22 to the giant Boeing B-29 Superfortress, the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and the Consolidated B-24A Liberator AM927. Many of the CAF aircraft are rare - the CAF operates the only flying examples of the historic B-29 Superfortress and Curtiss SB2C Helldiver. Others, such as the Consolidated B-24/LB-30 Liberator, Bell P-63 Kingcobra fighter, Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero and SBD Dauntless, are one of only two or three of that type left flying today. The CAF also operates Axis and exotic aircraft such as the Mig 17 Fresco C.
Of the over 140 history aircraft operated by the CAF; about 100 are in flying condition at any given time. Restoration and maintenance of these 50+ year old planes is always ongoing.

★ Aeronca L-3 Defender ("Grasshopper")

★ Beech AT-11 Kansan

★ Beech C-45 Expeditor (USN SNB and JRB)

★ Bell P-39 Airacobra

★ Bell P-63 Kingcobra

★ Boeing PT-17 Kaydet (USN N2S)

★ Boeing B-29 Superfortress

★ Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

★ Cessna UC-94 (C-165 Airmaster)

★ Cessna UC-78 Bobcat (RCAF Crane)

★ Chance Vought FG-1D (F4U) Corsair


★ Consolidated B-24 Liberator (British RLB-30)

★ Curtiss C-46 Commando

★ Curtiss SB2C Helldiver (USAAF A-25)

★ Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (Kittyhawk and Tomahawk)

★ DeHavilland DH-94 Moth Minor

★ DeHavilland DHC-1 Chipmunk

★ Douglas A-26 Invader

★ Douglas C-47 Skytrain (USN R4D, RAF Dakota)

★ Douglas SBD Dauntless (USAF A-24)

★ Douglas B-23 Dragon

★ ERCO YO-55 Ercoupe

★ Fairchild PT-19, PT-23 and PT-26 Cornell

★ Fairchild UC 61

★ Fiesler Fi-156 Storch

★ Fleet 16B Finch

★ Focke-Wulf Fw-44 Stieglitz

★ Grumman AF-2S Guardian

★ Grumman TBM (TBF) Avenger

★ Grumman FM-2 (F4F) Wildcat

★ Grumman F6F Hellcat

★ Grumman F8F Bearcat

★ Interstate L-6 Grasshopper

★ Japanese Zero fighter replica (North American Harvard conversion)

★ Japanese Val dive bomber replica (North American SNJ conversion)

★ Japanese Kate torpedo bomber replica (Vultee BT-13 Valiant conversion)

★ Junkers Ju-52 (Spanish-built CASA 352L) German bomber/transport

★ Lockheed C-60 Hudson (Model 18 Lodestar, A-28/29, C-56)

★ Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon

★ Lockheed T-33

★ Messerschmitt Me-108 Taifun German liaison/trainer

★ Messerschmitt Me-109 German fighter

★ Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17

★ Mitsubishi A6M2 Model 21 Zero Japanese carrier fighter

★ Navy (Naval Aircraft Factory) N3N Yellow Peril

★ North American P-51 Mustang

★ North American AT-6 Texan (USN SNJ, RAF Harvard, various models)

★ North American B-25 Mitchell

★ North American BT-14 (see also BT-9)

★ North American P-82 Twin Mustang

★ North American T-28 Trojan

★ PBY-6A Catalina

★ Piper L-4 Grasshopper (J-3 Cub)

★ Republic P-47 Thunderbolt

★ Ryan PT-22 Recruit

★ Ryan L-17 Navion

★ Sikorsky UH-19 helicopter

★ Stinson AT-19 Reliant (RNAF V-77)

★ Stinson S-108 (World War II Civil Air Patrol)

★ Stinson L-5 Sentinel (USN/Marines QY)

★ Stinson L-9B Grasshopper

★ Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshopper

★ Vultee BT-13 and BT-15 (USN SNV, "Vibrator")

AIRSHO

AIRSHO^[7] is a once-per-year event at Midland International Airport showcasing the CAF's aircraft. It is more than just an air show to the CAF. Because its aircraft tend to be spread out over large geographic distances and most Ghost Squadron aircraft rarely fly more than a few hours from their home base, AIRSHO is an opportunity to bring everyone back together again. Ghost Squadron aircraft usually attend AIRSHO every other year.

Wings and squadrons

The CAF has many wings and squadrons. Most are in the United States, but there are a few outside the country.

US wings and squadrons

★ Alaska

★
★ Anchorage — Alaska Wing

★ Arizona

★
★ Mesa — Arizona Wing

★ California

★
★ Camarillo — Southern California Wing

★
★ Modesto — Central California Valley Squadron

★
★ Oakland — Golden Gate Wing

★
★ Riverside — Inland Empire Wing

★
★ San Diego — Air Group One Wing

★
★ Upland — Third Pursuit Squadron

★ Colorado

★
★ Grand Junction — Rocky Mountain Wing

★
★ Metro Denver — Mile High Wing

★ Florida

★
★ Deland — Florida Wing

★ Georgia

★
★ Atlanta — Dixie Wing

★ Illinois

★
★ Chicago — Great Lakes Wing

★ Indiana

★
★ Indianapolis — Indiana Wing

★ Iowa

★
★ Davenport — Hawkeye Squadron

★ Kansas

★
★ Kansas City — Heart of America Wing

★
★ Wichita — Jayhawk Wing

★ Michigan

★
★ Grand Rapids — West Michigan Wing

★ Minnesota

★
★ Duluth — Lake Superior Squadron 101

★
★ South St. Paul — Minnesota Wing

★ Mississippi

★
★ Madison — Mississippi Wing

★ Missouri

★
★ Springfield — Ozark Mountain Squadron

★
★ St. Louis — Missouri Wing

★ Nebraska

★
★ Omaha — Great Plains Wing

★ Nevada

★
★ Las Vegas — Nevada Wing

★ New Mexico

★
★ Albuquerque — Lobo Wing

★
★ Hobbs — New Mexico Wing

★ North Carolina

★
★ Southern Pines — Carolinas Wing

★ Ohio

★
★ Cleveland — Cleveland Wing

★
★ Columbus — Ohio Valley Wing

★
★ Dayton — Wright Stuff Squadron

★ Oklahoma

★
★ Guymon — Cimmaron Strip Wing

★
★ Oklahoma City — Oklahoma Wing

★
★ Oklahoma City — Sierra Hotel A-26 Sponsor Group

★
★ Tulsa — Spirit of Tulsa Squadron

★ Pennsylvania

★
★ Philadephia — Delaware Valley Wing

★
★ Pittsburgh — Keystone Wing

★ Tennessee

★
★ Kingsport — Tennessee Volunteer Squadron

★
★ Memphis — Memphis Squadron

★ Texas

★
★ Abilene — Big Country Squadron

★
★ Amarillo — Dew Line Squadron

★
★ Brownsville — Rio Grande Valley Wing

★
★ Burnet — Highland Lakes Squadron

★
★ Conroe — Big Thicket Wing

★
★ Corpus Christi — Third Coast Squadron

★
★ Corsicana — Coyote Squadron

★
★ Dallas/Fort Worth — Dallas/Fort Worth Wing

★
★ Fredericksburg — Tex Hill Wing

★
★ Georgetown — Devil Dog Squadron

★
★ Graham — Cactus Squadron

★
★ Houston — Gulf Coast Wing

★
★ Houston — West Houston Squadron

★
★ Marshall — Lone Star Wing

★
★ Midland — AIRSHO Support Detachment

★
★ Midland — B-29/B-24 Squadron

★
★ Midland — High Sky Wing

★
★ Midland — West Texas Wing

★
★ Odessa — Desert Squadron

★
★ San Marcos — Centex Wing

★
★ San Marcos — Yellow Rose Squadron

★
★ Waco — Ranger Wing

★
★ Wharton — River Bend Squadron

★ Utah

★
★ Salt Lake City — Utah Wing

★ Virginia

★
★ Chesapeke — Old Dominion Squadron

★
★ Manassas — National Capitol Squadron

★ Washington

★
★ Chewela — First Observation Detachment

★ Wisconsin

★
★ Milwaukee — Wisconsin Wing

★ National Units

★
★ Culpeper's Angels

★
★ Explosive Ordnance Detachment

★
★ Marshalling Detachment

★
★ Medical Detachment

★
★ Security Detachment

★
★ TRARON

International wings & squadrons

★ Australia

★
★ New South Wales — Australian Wing

★ France

★
★ Aulnay Sous Bois — French Wing

★ New Zealand

★
★ Auckland — New Zealand Wing

★ Switzerland

★
★ Olten — Swiss Wing

References

1. Commemorative Air Force Website: American Airpower Heritage Museum Accessed August 14, 2007
2. Commemorative Air Force Website: CAF Unit Manual, Section 14 "Constitution and Bylaws (members only). Accessed July 22, 2007.
3. Commemorative Air Force Website: CAF News 2001 Press Release Accessed August 14, 2007
4. Commemorative Air Force Website: CAF History. Accessed July 22, 2007.
5. Commemorative Air Force web site: CAF Facts and Information Accessed July 22, 2007.
6. Commemorative Air Force Website: CAF "Diamond Lil" back to B-24A configuration Access August 14, 2007
7. FINA-CAF AIRSHO website. [http://www.airsho.org "FINA-CAF AIRSHO". Accessed July 22, 2007.

See also

★ Historic transport

Other large collections of flying historic aircraft

★ Collings Foundation in Stow, Massachusetts;

★ Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Coningsby, UK

★ Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden near Biggleswade in Bedfordshire, England;

★ Fantasy of Flight, in Polk City, Florida;

★ Champlin Fighter Collection at the Seattle Museum of Flight (formerly housed at Mesa, Arizona; and

★ The Lone Star Flight Museum in Galveston, Texas.

★ The Yankee Air Museum in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

External links

★ AirNav, FlightAware - Old Reb Airport Information

★ AirNav, FlightAware - Midland International Airport Information

★ Commemorative Air Force - Official site

★ Commemorative Air Force Arizona Wing Museum - B-17 Sentimental Journey

★ Commemorative Air Force Dixie Wing

★ Commemorative Air Force Wright Stuff Squadron

★ Champlin Fighter Collection at the Museum of Flight

★ Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing