Other Warbirds

While the major warbird theme of this year's air show was undoubtedly a tribute to the B-25 Mitchell, a large number of other warbirds were present on the ground and in the air.  Included were examples of Second World War fighters, bombers, trainers and liaison aircraft as well as Vietnam-era types and jet warbirds.

   T-6, SNJ, Harvard - call it what you will, this famous trainer from the designers at North American Aviation is one of the great aircraft of the Second World War.  Used extensively in the huge pilot training programs of the Allied nations, it found useful employment turning out military pilots around the world in the post-war years even as recently as the 1990s.  Thunder Over Michigan was opened by a formation of five and one Vultee BT-13.  Three of the formation, AT-6C N16JG/LTA-579, T-6G N799MU/TA-799 and T-6G N8201V/TA-472, are seen here during one of the flypasts.

   The mighty Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was represented by three aircraft in the flying display.  Here P-47D N1345B Jackie's Revenge roars past the crowd.  The aircraft is part of the American Airpower Museum collection at Farmingdale, New York where it, and thousands of other Republic fighters over several decades, was built.

   The unique Warbirds Over Long Island father/son team of Robert and Chris Baranaskas in action.  Chris leads in North American P-51D Mustang N751RB Glamorous Gal while his father is tucked in tight in Curtiss-Wright P-40N Warhawk N740RB during one of many two-ship and individual passes.

   Following the display of his Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon's capabilities, Major Jason 'Buzzer' Koltes forms up on former USAF F-4 Phantom II pilot Brad Hood in P-51D N51VF for the USAF Heritage Flight portion of the Saturday show.  Home for Shangri-la is the Vintage Fighters collection at Sellersburg, Indiana.

   One of the stars of the show was certainly Sikorsky UH-34D Seahorse N19YN.  A rarity in the world of warbirds, this beautifully restored helicopter joined with three Cessna O-2 forward air control aircraft to participate in a recreated rescue of a downed airman in Vietnam.  Operated by the Marine Helicopter Squadron 361 Veterans Association, it is a fine tribute indeed to veterans in general and, in particular, those members of HMM-361 and HMH-361 who have made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam and Iraq.

back