XB-42 Mixmaster – Warbird Wednesday Episode #110
Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today we’re visiting an experimental bomber, the Douglas XB-42 Mixmaster. This airplane was designed solely by Douglas and it was an unsolicited design. The XB-42 was an alternative to the B-29 that could carry the same payload but was a smaller and faster aircraft. The XB-42 was unique in its design […]
Northrop XB-35 – Warbird Wednesday Episode #109
Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today we’re visiting an experimental heavy bomber, the Northrop XB-35. The flying wing’s development started in 1941 with the purpose to go very fast and high while carrying a payload. Although only prototypes were built of the XB-35, its efficient wing design spawned various airplanes designs including the RQ-170 Sentinel and […]
XF-103 Thunderwarrior – Warbird Wednesday Episode #108
Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today we’re visiting an exotic interceptor, the Republic XF-103 Thunderwarrior. This was an experimental aircraft that was only built as a prototype. It was designed to go after Soviet bombers and could reach speeds above Mach 3. The XF-103 had a unique propulsion system that included two engines, a standard turbojet […]
Fisher P-75 Eagle – Warbird Wednesday Episode #107
Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today we’re visiting an American fighter, the Fisher P-75 Eagle. The P-75 design came from the need for a heavy fighter that was fast with a great rate of climb during the middle of WWII. Very few production versions of the Eagle were built before manufacturing was canceled when the aircraft […]
Kh-47M2 Kinzhal – Warbird Wednesday Episode #106
Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today, we’re visiting a hypersonic air-launched ballistic missile, the Kh-47M2. The “dagger” as it is also known as, is highly maneuverable, has Mach 12 speed, and can be launched from Tu-22m3 bombers or MIG31K. The Kinzhal was first introduced by Russia in 2017 and is currently being used by the Russian […]
Harry Stewart Part 2
After the war ended, Harry stayed in what was now the United States Army Air Force. Most of the pilots and ground crew from the 332nd, realizing that there wasn’t much opportunity outside of the USAF, had decided to stay in. They were now flying the P-47N Thunderbolt.
Harry Stewart Part 1
During one of my visits with Bob Friend, he asked if I had been introduced to Harry Stewart, Bob’s brother-in-law? I told him that I hadn’t, so he promptly called Harry and introduced us. It wasn’t long before I paid a visit to Harry in his house in Bloomfield Hills, MI. I quickly found Harry to be a delightful individual and full of life. I will tell his story in 2 parts, this is part 1.
Lt. Col Bob Friend
Bob Friend was near and dear to the hearts of many of us at the Palm Springs Air Museum. He was a true gentleman and had a marvelous spirit about him. This will be just an overview of his USAF career. I will expand on his accomplishment in later episodes.
A-10 Thunderbolt II – Warbird Wednesday Episode #105
Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today, we are visiting the premier close air support (CAS) aircraft of the US Air Force, the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II. Also known as the “Warthog” or “Hog”, the A-10 is built around a 30 mm rotary cannon gun. The aircraft has superior loiter capabilities and maintains excellent maneuverability at […]
Su-25 Frogfoot – Warbird Wednesday Episode #104
Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today, we are visiting an aircraft currently being used by both sides in the conflict in Ukraine, the Su-25 Frogfoot. The Su-25 is a close air support aircraft developed by the Soviet Union and was first introduced in 1978. This twin-engine, subsonic aircraft is very heavy, tough, easy to operate, can […]
MIG 29 – Warbird Wednesday Episode #103
Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today, we are pausing the x-planes series and visiting the concept of the “Ghost of Kyiv” and the MIG 29 – NATO code name Fulcrum. Could the Ghost be terrorizing the Russian Air Force? Join us as we take a look at the current battlefield and MIG 29. The Fulcrum, a […]
Kyushu J7W Shinden – Warbird Wednesday Episode #102
Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today, we’re visiting a WWII Japanese prototype land-based fighter, the Kyushu J7W Shinden. The Kyushu J7W was designed to go after strategic bombers with a 18 cylinder engine, four forward-firing 30 mm cannons and top speed of 470 mph. The aircrafts canard-based design was due to Lieutenant Commander Masayoshi Tsuruno belief […]
FI 282 – Warbird Wednesday Episode #101
Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today, we’re visiting the world’s first series production helicopter, the FI 282. Produced by Anton Flettner, the FI 282 was a single-seat rotor helicopter that flew throughout WWII. The German Navy used it for observation of their ship and the engine had a service ratio of 400 hours.
“The Movie” Memphis Belle – Warbird Wednesday Episode #100
Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today we’re visiting a famed and beloved B-17 Flying Fortress, Movie Memphis Belle. This iconic aircraft was converted from an G model to a F model to be used in the 1990 featured film Memphis Belle. Learn about the Tallichet family and future plans for Movie Memphis Belle at the Palm […]
Potez 630 – Warbird Wednesday Episode #99
Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today, we’re visiting a multi-mission French airplane, the Potez 630. The design of this aircraft stemmed from the French’s need for a heavy fighter, night fighter, light bomber and a reconnaissance aircraft all in one aircraft. Sadly, the Potez 630 didn’t hold up well in combat and became know as a […]
M S 406 – Warbird Wednesday Episode #98
Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today, we’re visiting the most numerous French fighter of WWII, the M S 406. This fighter was one of only two French aircraft that could go past 250 mph. Unfortunately, it was about 50-70 mph slower than it’s counterpart opponents in the Battle of France. The M S 406 was later […]
LeO 451 – Warbird Wednesday Episode #97
Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today, we’re visiting a twin-engine medium bomber used by the French during WWII, the LeO 451. This aircraft was extremely maneuverable, speedy and would come in fast and very low during bomb attacks. The LeO 451 was used in the Battle of France and in the conflict with Italy. The LeO […]
Dewoitine D.520 – Warbird Wednesday Episode #96
Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today, we’re visiting a French fighter aircraft that flew for the Allies during WWII, the Dewoitine D.520. In a re-arming effort across the globe, the D.520 was built around a 20mm cannon. The aircraft had superior maneuverability against the German ME 109. The D.520 saw combat in North Africa, Bulgaria, and […]
Fairey Swordfish – Warbird Wednesday Episode #95
Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today, we’re visiting a 3 person bi-plane flown by the Royal Navy during WWII, the Fairey Swordfish. This naval aircraft was designed for the dual roles of torpedo bomber and aerial reconnaissance. Despite being obsolete by 1939, the Swordfish sunk a greater amount of tonnage of Axis shipping than any other […]
Hawker Hurricane – Warbird Wednesday Episode #94
Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today, we’re visiting another British aircraft, the Hawker Hurricane. The Hurricane was durable and tough, and it could be serviced by squadrons in the field without external support. An interesting thing about this airplane is that it was launched from catapults off of ships.
Avro Lancaster – Warbird Wednesday Episode #93
Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today, we’re visiting a strategic British heavy bomber of WWII, the Avro Lancaster. With it’s 33-foot bomb bay, the Lancaster could carry a wide range of bomb loads and carried the largest payload of any bomber during the war. This aircraft later became used for night-time bombing and area bombing.
Westland Lysander – Warbird Wednesday Episode #92
Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today, we’re visiting a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft, the Westland Lysander. The Lysander was mostly used in clandestine missions to recover agents from occupied Europe during WWII. In 1940s, the Canadian’s pressed this aircraft into service as fighters in the Battle of Britain.
IL-2 Sturmovik – Warbird Wednesday Episode #91
Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today, we’re visiting the grandfather of all ground attack aircraft, the IL-2 Sturmovik. This aircraft played a crucial part in the Eastern Front during WWII and Stalin has been quoted that the IL-2’s were as essential to the Red Army as bread. Known with many nickname including the hunchback, Bark, and […]
Polikarpov I-16 – Warbird Wednesday Episode #90
Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today, we’re visiting the world’s first low-wing monoplane fighter with retractable landing gear, the Polikarpov I-16. This Soviet aircraft was a revolutionary design that saw combat in the Spanish Civil War, in China, and the Winter War.
Tupolev ANT-40 – Warbird Wednesday Episode #89
Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today, we’re visiting a medium bomber, the Tupolev ANT-40. This Soviet aircraft was numerically one of the most important bombers in the world in the late 1930s. The Tupolev ANT-40 was a prolific airplane fighting in the Spanish Civil War, China, Mongolia, the Winter War, and the Eastern Front.
MiG-3 – Warbird Wednesday Episode #88
Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today, we’re visiting a well-armed Soviet aircraft, the MiG-3. The MiG-3 was a fighter and interceptor used during WWII that was quick and designed for high altitude. However, most of the combat over the Eastern Front generally took place in lower altitudes causing the aircraft to lose its speed advantage and […]
Breda Ba.88 Lince – Warbird Wednesday Episode #87
Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today, we’re visiting an Italian ground-attack aircraft, the Breda Ba.88 Lince. This aircraft is known for being one of the most spectacular failures of a production aircraft in WWII. Despite these challenges, the Ba.88 set multiple world speed records.
Cant Z 506 – Warbird Wednesday Episode #86
Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today, we’re visiting an air-sea rescue plane, the Cant Z 506. This Italian floatplane set several different aircraft records from 1936-1938 and had remarkable speed. This search and rescue plane was important during the fighting of Greece, the Italian Peninsula, and in North Africa.
Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 – Warbird Wednesday Episode #85
Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today, we’re visiting one of the fastest medium bombers during its time, the Savoia-Marchetti SM.79. This Italian aircraft set 26 world records from 1937 to 1939. The SM.79 did not need to fly with fighters during the Spanish Civil War because of its high speeds. The airplane was later modified as […]
MC 202 Folgore – Warbird Wednesday Episode #84
Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today, we’re visiting one of the best fighters that you probably have never heard of, the Macchi 202 Folgore. The Folgore flew for the Royal Italian Air force in WWII and its name meant thunderbolt in Italian. This aircraft fought in Malta, North Africa, and on the eastern front, where it […]