Commemorative Air Force - Museum

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.

History

The origin of the Commemorative Air Force dates back to 1957, when Lloyd Nolen and four friends purchased a P-51 Mustang, each sharing in the $1,500 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 of 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 United States Navy.

In 1960, the CAF began seriously to search for other World War II aircraft. 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 scrapped as obsolete. No one, not even the Air Force or Navy, was attempting to preserve one of each type of these historic aircraft for display for future generations. The warbirds that remained airworthy were mostly in private hands modified for air racing or had been converted for commercial use as air freighters and aerial firefighters.

On September 6, 1961, the CAF was chartered as a nonprofit Texas corporation to restore and preserve World War II-era combat aircraft. By the end of the year, there were nine aircraft in the CAF fleet. Their first airshow was held on March 10, 1963.

In 1965, the first museum building 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 including 26,000 square feet (2,400 m²) of museum space. The CAF fleet continued to grow. By the end of the decade, the CAF fleet included medium and heavy bombers such as the North American B-25 Mitchell, B-17, Consolidated B-24 Liberator. In 1971, they added the world's only airworthy Boeing B-29 Superfortress, FiFi.

The group's accomplishments were recognized in 1989 when it became a National Aviation Hall of Fame Spirit of Flight Award winner. 1991 marked the beginning of a new era for the CAF with the opening of the new Midland, Texas, headquarters and museum facilities. Once in Midland, the group also established the American Airpower Heritage Museum and the American Combat Airman Hall of Fame.

In April of 2014, the CAF announced the move of their headquarters and all of the planes associated with the headquarters to Dallas Executive Airport in Dallas, TX The museum and its artifacts (including the nose art collection) will also be moved to the new headquarters in Dallas.

Members

Today, the Commemorative Air Force comprises over 11,000 members including more than 70 regional groups, called wings or detachments, in 27 states and 4 other countries. Several hundred members actively serve as pilots and flight and/or maintenance crew members committed to preserving American combat aviation heritage. The CAF is an all-volunteer organization, made up of members from all backgrounds. Membership is open to all men and women, age 18 or older. Those who are 12 years of age or older, may join as Cadet members. 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.

Name

The original name, Confederate Air Force, started as a simple tongue in cheek joke, poking fun at the organization's ragtag beginnings. As the collection of warbirds at Central Valley Airport in Mercedes, Texas started to grow, someone painted the name on the side of the original North American P-51 Mustang Red Nose. The name stuck, and it grew to the point where the airport was renamed Rebel Field, all members were called "Colonels" (a tradition which still remains), and it led to the creation of a fictitious leader named Colonel Jethro E. Culpepper. There was even a humorous CAF twist put to the old AVG Flying Tigers World War II "blood chit" that read, "This foreign person has come to China to help in the war effort. Soldiers and civilians, one and all, should rescue, protect, and provide him medical care." The CAF version seen on the backs of flight suits and flight jackets stated, "This is a CAF aviator. If found lost or unconscious, please hide him from Yankees, revive with mint julep and assist him in returning to friendly territory. CONFEDERATE AIR FORCE".

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, did not accurately reflect the purpose of the organization, and was detrimental to fundraising efforts. This name change was deemed by some fans to be a move of political correctness. The reason for the name change as stated by the organization was "Because the word 'Confederate' is offensive to some."

Markings

In line with the original nature of the CAF, restored airframes of US origin would bear traditional US 'star-and-bar' roundel markings on their fuselage and wings, though they would use the Star with Dot on appropriate, pre-war and early-war aircraft. The practice of using a small Confederate flag has since been discontinued after the CAF's voluntary name change, though it remains part of their legacy.

Exceptions to this are the replicated Japanese aircraft of the "Tora! Tora! Tora!" group, RAF and British Commonwealth aircraft, Special Aircraft, and German Luftwaffe aircraft.

Objectives

The main objectives of the CAF are:

• 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 "American 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.

Aircraft

The CAF operates 150+ aircraft based with over 70 wings, in 27 states and 4 other countries. The entire collection of CAF aircraft is known as the CAF Ghost Squadron. Its aircraft range from the small Stinson L-5 Sentinel and Ryan PT-22 to the giant Boeing B-29 Superfortress, the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and the Consolidated Liberator B Mk I/B-24A Liberator AM927. Many of the CAF aircraft are rare - the CAF operates the only flying examples of the historic Boeing B-29 Superfortress and Curtiss SB2C Helldiver. Others, such as the B-24/LB-3 Liberator, Bell P-63 Kingcobra fighter, Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero and Douglas 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 historic aircraft operated by the CAF, about 100 are in flying condition at any given time. Restoration and maintenance of these 50+ year old aircraft is always ongoing.

• Aeronca L-3E Defender LIL' Show Me
• Aeronca L-16A - Arizona Wing
• Aichi D3A Val dive bomber replica (North American SNJ conversion)
• Beechcraft 18/C-45/SNB/JRB
  • Beech AT-11 Kansan
  • Beechcraft D-18S A-235 - Arizona Wing
• Beech T-34A Mentor (A-45)
• Bell P-39Q Airacobra 42-19597 - Central Texas Wing (damaged 2005)
• Bell P-63
  • Bell P-63A-6-BE Kingcobra 42-68941 - Dixie Wing
  • Bell P-63F Kingcobra 43-11719 - Central Texas Wing
• Boeing-Stearman PT-17 Kaydet (USN N2S)
  • Stearman N2S-4 c/n 75-4894 - Arizona Wing
• Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Sentimental Journey 44-83514 - Arizona Wing
  • Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Texas Raiders 44-83872 - Gulf Coast Wing
• Boeing B-29 Superfortress Fifi 44-62070
• CASA 352L (Spanish-built Junkers Ju 52) German bomber/transport
• Cessna UC-94/C-165 (Airmaster)
• Cessna UC-78 Bobcat (RCAF Crane) 1632 - Wright Stuff Squadron
• Cessna UC-78B Bobcat 43-32578 - Jayhawk Wing
• Consolidated B-24A/LB-30/Liberator I/C-87 40-2366 Ol 927 (ex-RAF AM927)
• Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina BuNo 64092 - Lake Superior Squadron
• Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina BuNo 64097 - Lake Superior Squadron
• Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando China Doll 44-78663 - Southern California Wing
• Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (Kittyhawk and Tomahawk)
  • Curtiss P-40N Warhawk c/n 29629 (ex-RCAF 867) - Central Texas Wing
• Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver BuNo 83589 - Cactus Squadron/West Texas Wing
• De Havilland DH-94 Moth Minor c/n N94DH - Rio Grande Valley Wing
• de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk
• Douglas A-26/B-26 Invader
  • Douglas A-26B-35DL Invader Spirit of Waco 41-39427 - CAF Invader Squadron
  • Douglas A-26B-50DL Invader 44-34313 - Air Group One
  • Douglas A-26C-40DT Invader Miss Murphy 44-35601 - Arizona Wing
  • Douglas A-26C-40DT Invader Daisy Mae 44-35643 - Sierra Hotel A-26 Group
• Douglas B-23 Dragon
• Douglas DC-3/C-47/C-53/R4D
  • Douglas C-47 Skytrain The Black Sparrow
  • Douglas C-47B Skytrain Bluebonnet Belle 43-49942 (USN R4D, RAF Dakota) - Highland Lakes Squadron
  • Douglas C-53D-DO/DC-3A Skytrooper D-Day Doll 42-68830 - Inland Empire Wing
  • Douglas R4D-6/C-47J Skytrain Ready 4 Duty BuNo 50783 - Dallas/Fort Worth Wing
• Douglas C-124 Globemaster II
• Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless (not an A-24) BuNo 54532
• ERCO Ercoupe
• Fairchild PT-19, PT-23 and PT-26
  • Fairchild PT-19A - Southern California Wing
  • Fairchild PT-23A-HO 42-49250 - Southern California Wing
  • Fairchild Cornell 42-65935 - Highland Lakes Squadron
• Fairchild UC-61 Argus/Forwarder
• Fairchild F-12R46 Argus - Southern California Wing (under restoration)
• Fairchild F-12R Argus - High Sky Wing (painted as J2K)
• Fleet 16B Finch c/n 383 - Rio Grande Valley Wing
• Focke-Wulf Fw 44J Stieglitz RF+GJ - Rio Grande Valley Wing
• Goodyear FG-1D Corsair 530 BuNo 92468 - CAF Corsair Sponsor Group, Dixie Wing
• Grumman AF-2S Guardian BuNo 126731 - Arizona Wing
• Grumman Avenger
  • Grumman/General Motors TBM-3E Avenger BuNo 53353 - Missouri Wing
  • Grumman/General Motors TBM-3E Avenger BuNo 85597 - Florida Wing
  • Grumman/General Motors TBM-3S Avenger BuNo 53503 - Rocky Mountain Wing
  • Grumman/General Motors TBM-3S Avenger BuNo 91426 - National Capital Squadron
• Grumman/General Motors FM-2 Wildcat BuNo 86819 - Arizona Wing
• Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat Minsi III - Southern California Wing
• Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat BuNo 122674 - Southern California Wing
• Grumman S-2B Tracker BuNo 136404 - Old Dominion Squadron (status unknown, crashed 2007)
• Hawker Sea Fury FB.10 c/n 41H-696792 (ex Royal Navy WJ288) - Memphis Squadron
• Interstate L-6 Grasshopper
• Lockheed C-60 Lodestar
  • Lockheed Model 18-50 Lodestar c/n 18-2274 - Hampton Roads, Virginia, painted as 255884
  • Lockheed C-60 Lodestar Goodtime Gal 42-56005 c/n 18-2478 - Houston Wing
• Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon
• Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star
• McDonnell Douglas F-4N Phantom II BuNo 153016 - Arizona Wing
• Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun German liaison/trainer
• Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15UTI 012 - Arizona Wing
• Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15bis 4415 - Arizona Wing
• Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 - Arizona Wing
• Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21PF Fishbed-D 507 - Arizona Wing
• Mitsubishi A6M3 Model 22 Zero Japanese carrier fighter - Southern California Wing
• Mitsubishi Zero fighter replica (North American Harvard conversion)
• Morane-Saulnier MS-502 painted as Fieseler Fi 156 Storch - s/n 361 Delaware Valley Wing
• Nakajima B5N Kate torpedo bomber replica (Vultee BT-13 Valiant conversion)
• Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3 - West Houston Squadron
• Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3 N4009A - High Sierra Squadron
• North American AT-6 Texan (USN SNJ, RAF Harvard, various models)
  • North American Harvard II c/n 81-4099 - Inland Empire Wing
  • North American SNJ-4 Texan c/n 88-13517 - Highland Lakes Squadron
  • North American SNJ-4 Texan c/n 88-10177 - Southern California Wing
  • North American SNJ-5 Texan c/n 88-16676/42-84895/BuNo 84865 - Southern California Wing
  • North American SNJ-5 Texan BuNo 90725 - Arizona Wing
• North American B-25 Mitchell
  • North American B-25J-5NC Yellow Rose 43-27868 - Yellow Rose Squadron
  • North American B-25J-10NC Maid in the Shade 43-35972 - Airbase Arizona
  • North American B-25J-20NC Miss Mitchell 44-29869 - Minnesota Wing
  • North American PBJ-1J-30NC Semper Fi 44-30988 - Southern California Wing
  • North American B-25J-30NC Show Me 44-31385 - Missouri Wing
  • North American B-25J-32NC Devil Dog 44-86758 - Devil Dog Squadron
• North American NA-64 Yale (painted as BT-14)
• North American P-51 Mustang
  • North American P-51D-25-NA Mustang Man-O-War 44-72739 - Southern California Wing
• North American T-28 Trojan
• Piper L-4F
• Republic P-47N-5RE Thunderbolt 44-88548 - Lobo Squadron, fuselage only
• Ryan PT-22 Recruit
• Ryan L-17 Navion
  • Ryan Navion A N444AC - Highland Lakes Squadron
• Sikorsky UH-19D-2-Sl Chickasaw 54-1416 helicopter
• Schweizer TG-3A training glider - Arizona Wing
• Stinson AT-19 Reliant (Royal Navy) - Carolinas Wing
• Stinson 108 (World War II Civil Air Patrol)
• Stinson L-5 Sentinel (USN/Marines OY)
  • Stinson L-5E-1VW/OY-2 Sentinel Carin' Belle 44-181143/BuNo 04013 - Ohio Valley Wing
  • Stinson L-5 Sentinel c/n 76-0272 - Dallas/Fort Worth Wing
• Stinson L-9B Reliant
• Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk.XIVe NH749 - Southern California Wing
• Taylorcraft L-2
• Vultee BT-13/BT-15/SNV ("Vultee Vibrator")
• Yakovlev Yak-3UA - Southern California Wing

AIRSHO

AIRSHO 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. The CAF AIRSHO is the largest warbird air show in the world, with more than 80 warbirds flying per show.

Wings and squadrons

The CAF has many wings and squadrons. Starting in 2013, a limited number of larger units may be designated as an "Airbase." The first is Airbase Arizona, located at Falcon Field in Mesa, AZ and redesignated in Jun 2013. Most CAF units are in the United States, but there are four outside the country.

US wings and squadrons

International wings & squadrons

• Australia
  • New South Wales â€" Australian Wing

• France
  • Aulnay Sous Bois â€" French Wing

• New Zealand
  • Auckland â€" New Zealand Wing

• Switzerland
  • Olten â€" Swiss Wing

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links

• Aerial Visuals Search Commemorative Air Force
• AirNav, FlightAware - Old Reb Airport Information
• Commemorative Air Force official website
• CAF Airpower Museum website
• American Combat Airman Hall of Fame webpage (on CAF Airpower Museum website)
• American Combat Airman Hall of Fame inductees webpage (on American Airpower Heritage Museum website)
• Commemorative Air Force Arizona Wing Museum - B-17G Sentimental Journey
• Commemorative Air Force Dixie Wing
• Commemorative Air Force Florida Wing
• Commemorative Air Force Gulf Coast Wing - Home of B-17G Texas Raiders
• Commemorative Air Force Rocky Mountain Wing - TBM Avenger
• Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing
• Commemorative Air Force Tora! Tora! Tora! Group site
• Commemorative Air Force French Wing
• Commemorative Air Force Air Group One Wing