The Commemorative Air Force (CAF), formerly known as the Confederate Air Force, is an American

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

based in

Dallas Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

, that preserves and shows historical aircraft at airshows, primarily in the U.S. and Canada. The CAF has about 13,000 members, over 70 units, and over 170 aircraft, including the world's largest collection of airworthy

warbird A warbird is any vintage military aircraft now operated by civilian organizations and individuals, or in some instances, by historic arms of military forces, such as the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the RAAF Museum Historic Flight, or th ...

History

The origin of the Commemorative Air Force is the organization called the "Confederate Air Corps" created by Oscar Harper in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1953. Led by the fictional character "Thaddeus P. Throckmorton" and his recruiting officer "Jethro Culpepper", the CAC established several features that later became key characteristics of the CAF: folksy, tongue-in-cheek southern humor; a membership structure based on each member having the equal rank of colonel; and a rallying cry of "''Semper, Mint Julep''" ("Always

Mint Julep Mint julep is a mixed alcoholic drink, or cocktail, consisting primarily of bourbon, sugar, water, crushed or shaved ice, and fresh mint. As a bourbon-based cocktail, it is associated with the American South and the cuisine of the Southern Unit ...

").

North American P-51D Mustang, Commemorative Air Force JP7185281

In 1957, Lloyd Nolen and four friends purchased a

P-51 Mustang The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II and the Korean War, among other conflicts. The Mustang was designed in April 1940 by a team headed by James ...

, each sharing in the $1,500 cost of the aircraft. With the purchase of the Mustang, known as "Red Nose", the group that became the CAF was unofficially founded. In 1958, the group made their second purchase of two

Grumman The Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, later Grumman Aerospace Corporation, was a 20th century American producer of military and civilian aircraft. Founded on December 6, 1929, by Leroy Grumman and his business partners, it merged in 199 ...

F8F Bearcats The Grumman F8F Bearcat is an American single-engine carrier-based fighter aircraft introduced in late World War II. It served during the mid-20th century in the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, and the air forces of other ...

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 The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

and the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

. In 1960, the CAF began to seriously 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 with no efforts, not even by the

Air Force An air force – in the broadest sense – is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an ar ...

Navy A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions. It include ...

, to preserve any for display for future generations. The

s 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

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. By 1963, the group had achieved their initial goal of acquiring one of each American World War II fighter plane. Their first airshow was held on March 10, 1963. Boeing B-29 Superfortress (19926000422)

In 1965, the first museum building was completed at old Rebel Field,

Mercedes, Texas Mercedes is a U.S. city in Hidalgo County, Texas. The population was 15,570 at the 2010 census. It is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission and Reynosa–McAllen metropolitan areas. Geography Mercedes is located in southeastern Hidalgo Coun ...

. The CAF created a new Rebel Field at Harlingen, Texas when they moved there in 1968, occupying three large buildings including 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 The North American B-25 Mitchell is an American medium bomber that was introduced in 1941 and named in honor of Major General William "Billy" Mitchell, a pioneer of U.S. military aviation. Used by many Allied air forces, the B-25 served in ...

B-17 The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is a four-engined heavy bomber developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). Relatively fast and high-flying for a bomber of its era, the B-17 was used primarily in the European Theate ...

Consolidated B-24 Liberator The Consolidated B-24 Liberator is an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and some initial production aircraft were laid down as export models ...

. In 1971, they added one of the two airworthy

Boeing B-29 Superfortress The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is an American four-engined propeller-driven heavy bomber, designed by Boeing and flown primarily by the United States during World War II and the Korean War. Named in allusion to its predecessor, the B-17 F ...

es, ''

FIFI Fifi may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Fifi (''Better Call Saul''), an episode of the TV show * Fifi, a ''Beverly Hills Teens'' character * Fifi (Peanuts), a love interest of Snoopy * Fifi La Fume, in ''Tiny Toon Adventures'' * Fifi the ...

''. In 1976, the CAF sponsored an air show where a B-29 bomber piloted by

Paul Tibbets Paul Warfield Tibbets Jr. (23 February 1915 – 1 November 2007) was a brigadier general in the United States Air Force. He is best known as the aircraft captain who flew the B-29 Superfortress known as the ''Enola Gay'' (named after his moth ...

, the pilot who flew the B-29 which bombed Hiroshima during World War II, reenacted the atomic bombing of Hiroshima (including a mock mushroom cloud). This air show prompted the Japanese government to lodge a formal complaint with the United States Embassy, resulting in the U.S. government issuing an apology. In 1983, the American Airpower Heritage Foundation was founded to financially support the CAF. The group's accomplishments were recognized in 1989 when it became a

National Aviation Hall of Fame The National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) is a museum, annual awards ceremony and learning and research center that was founded in 1962 as an Ohio non-profit corporation in Dayton, Ohio, United States, known as the "Birthplace of Aviation" with it ...

Spirit of Flight Award winner. It was also honored that year when

Texas Governor The governor of Texas heads the state government of Texas. The governor is the leader of the executive and legislative branch of the state government and is the commander in chief of the Texas Military. The current governor is Greg Abbott, w ...

William Clements William Perry Clements Jr. (April 13, 1917 – May 29, 2011) was an American businessman and Republican Party politician who served two non-consecutive terms as the governor of Texas between 1979 and 1991. His terms bookended the sole t ...

signed a resolution naming the CAF the air force of Texas. In 1990, the CAF added two more corporations. The first was the American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum, tasked with obtaining and maintaining the CAF's aircraft titles. The second was the

American Airpower Heritage Museum The Henry B. Tippie National Aviation Education Center (NAEC) is an aviation museum operated by the American Airpower Heritage Museum (AAHM), an affiliate organization of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF), headquartered at Dallas Executive Airpo ...

, which acquired and maintained the CAF's non-aircraft pieces and static displays. That's All Brother May 2019

1991 saw the CAF moving operations to

Midland, Texas Midland is a city in and the county seat of Midland County, Texas, United States. A small part of Midland is in Martin County. At the 2020 census, Midland's population was 132,524. It is the principal city of the Midland, Texas metropolitan ...

. Once in Midland, the group opened its museum facilities as the

CAF Airpower Museum The Henry B. Tippie National Aviation Education Center (NAEC) is an aviation museum operated by the American Airpower Heritage Museum (AAHM), an affiliate organization of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF), headquartered at Dallas Executive Airpor ...

and the American Combat Airman Hall of Fame. In April 2014, the CAF announced the move of their headquarters and all of the planes associated with the headquarters to

Dallas Executive Airport Dallas Executive Airport , formerly Redbird Airport, is six miles (10 km) southwest of Downtown Dallas, in Dallas County, Texas, United States. The airport is used for general aviation and is a reliever airport for Dallas Love Field. In 201 ...

in Dallas, Texas. The museum and its artifacts (including the nose art collection) were moved to the new headquarters in Dallas, where it operates as the Henry B. Tippie

National Aviation Education Center The Henry B. Tippie National Aviation Education Center (NAEC) is an aviation museum operated by the American Airpower Heritage Museum (AAHM), an affiliate organization of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF), headquartered at Dallas Executive Airport ...

(NAEC). In 2015, the CAF acquired the C-47 '' That's All, Brother'', the plane that led the main airborne invasion of Normandy during D-Day.

Accidents and incidents

On September 28, 1995, a

Martin B-26 Marauder The Martin B-26 Marauder is an American twin-engined medium bomber that saw extensive service during World War II. The B-26 was built at two locations: Baltimore, Maryland, and Omaha, Nebraska, by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in th ...

operated by CAF crashed near

Odessa, Texas Odessa is a city in and the county seat of Ector County, Texas, United States. It is located primarily in Ector County, although a small section of the city extends into Midland County. Odessa's population was 114,428 at the 2020 census, ma ...

, killing all five crew members. The

NTSB The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent U.S. government investigative agency responsible for civil transportation accident investigation. In this role, the NTSB investigates and reports on aviation accidents and inci ...

found that the pilot failed to maintain minimum airspeed. On April 14, 2001, the CAF pilot of a

Fairchild PT-19 The Fairchild PT-19 (company designation Fairchild M62) is an American monoplane primary trainer aircraft that served with the United States Army Air Forces, RAF and RCAF during World War II. Designed by Fairchild Aircraft, it was a contempora ...

A was killed in a crash shortly after takeoff at

Midland International Airport Midland International Air and Space Port (formerly Midland International Airport) is in the city limits of Midland, Texas, United States, about midway between Downtown Midland and Downtown Odessa, owned and operated by the City of Midland. In S ...

; the plane's one passenger survived. The NTSB cited the pilot's "failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall". On May 14, 2001, both CAF crew members aboard a Vultee BT-13A died in a crash southeast of Odessa, Texas. The NTSB found that the pilot failed to maintain minimum airspeed. On June 16, 2005, a

PT-26 Cornell The Fairchild PT-19 (company designation Fairchild M62) is an American monoplane primary trainer aircraft that served with the United States Army Air Forces, RAF and RCAF during World War II. Designed by Fairchild Aircraft, it was a conte ...

operated by CAF crashed in

Williamson, Georgia Williamson is a city in Pike County, Georgia, United States. The population was 352 at the 2010 census. History The community was named after Isaac Henry Williamson, an early settler. The Georgia General Assembly incorporated Williamson as a tow ...

, killing both crew members. The NTSB found that the pilot "attempted a takeoff with

flap Flap may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Flap'' (film), a 1970 American film * Flap, a boss character in the arcade game '' Gaiapolis'' * Flap, a minor character in the film '' Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland'' Biology and h ...

s extended." On November 12, 2022, during the Wings Over Dallas airshow, two planes owned and operated by CAF—a Bell P-63F and the Boeing B-17G ''

Texas Raiders ''Texas Raiders'' was an American Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, a B-17G-95-DL built by Douglas-Long Beach. In 1967, it was purchased by the Commemorative Air Force’s Gulf Coast Wing "Texas Raiders" group, which maintained and flew the aircra ...

''—suffered a mid-air collision resulting in six fatalities.

Membership

Today, the Commemorative Air Force comprises over 12,000 members, including more than seventy regional groups, called wings or detachments, in twenty-seven states and four 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 everyone age 18 or older, and cadet membership is available for those over 12 years of age. Although a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt group, the CAF has received financial incentives from state and local governments related to its Dallas relocation as well as its time in Midland.

Organization

The American Airpower Heritage Group is the parent organization and is made up of four separate corporations: * The Commemorative Air Force, which is the membership association * A foundation, which controls the financial assets and endowment * A museum, which manages the non-flying artifacts * A flying museum, which operates the flying aircraft

Name

The original name, Confederate Air Force, alluding to the

Confederate States of America The Confederate States of America (CSA), commonly referred to as the Confederate States or the Confederacy was an unrecognized breakaway republic in the Southern United States that existed from February 8, 1861, to May 9, 1865. The Confede ...

, 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

, started to grow, someone painted the name on the side of the original

North American P-51 Mustang The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II and the Korean War, among other conflicts. The Mustang was designed in April 1940 by a team headed by James ...

''Red Nose''. The name stuck, and it grew to the point where the airport was renamed Rebel Field, all members were called "

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge ...

s" (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 The First American Volunteer Group (AVG) of the Republic of China Air Force, nicknamed the Flying Tigers, was formed to help oppose the Japanese invasion of China. Operating in 1941–1942, it was composed of pilots from the United States ...

World War II "

blood chit A blood chit ( zh, c=血幅, p=xuè fú) is a notice carried by military personnel and addressed to any civilians who may come across an armed-services member – such as a shot-down pilot – in difficulties. As well as identifying the forc ...

" 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

Yankee The term ''Yankee'' and its contracted form ''Yank'' have several interrelated meanings, all referring to people from the United States. Its various senses depend on the context, and may refer to New Englanders, residents of the Northern United St ...

s, revive with

mint julep Mint julep is a mixed alcoholic drink, or cocktail, consisting primarily of bourbon, sugar, water, crushed or shaved ice, and fresh mint. As a bourbon-based cocktail, it is associated with the American South and the cuisine of the Southern Unit ...

and assist him in returning to friendly territory. CONFEDERATE AIR FORCE." In November 2000, the group voted to rename, using the initials "CAF" until a permanent name was selected. Following a 2001 membership vote, the group changed its name to "Commemorative Air Force", effective January 1, 2002. Many felt the name Confederate Air Force was confusing, did not accurately reflect the purpose of the organization, and was detrimental to fundraising efforts. According to CAF chief of staff Ray Kinney, "In many people's minds, the word 'confederacy' brings up the image of slavery and discrimination. We, in no way, are associated with that kind of stuff. So, it gives us, in a way, a black eye."

Aircraft

, the CAF owns 179 aircraft. The entire collection of CAF aircraft is known as the CAF Ghost Squadron. Its aircraft range from the small

Stinson L-5 Sentinel The Stinson L-5 Sentinel is a World War II-era liaison aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces, U.S. Army Ground Forces, U.S. Marine Corps and the British Royal Air Force. It was produced by the Stinson Division of the Vultee Airc ...

and

Ryan PT-22 The Ryan PT-22 Recruit, the main military version of the Ryan ST, is a military trainer aircraft used by the United States Army Air Corps during WWII for primary pilot training. Design and development The PT-22's fuselage is a simple monocoque ...

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 one of only two flying examples of the historic Boeing B-29 Superfortress, and the only remaining flightworthy

Curtiss SB2C Helldiver The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver is a dive bomber developed by Curtiss-Wright during World War II. As a carrier-based bomber with the United States Navy (USN), in Pacific theaters, it supplemented and replaced the Douglas SBD Dauntless. A few surviv ...

. Others, such as the B-24/LB-30 Liberator; the Japanese

Mitsubishi A6M Zero The Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" is a long-range carrier-based aircraft, carrier-based fighter aircraft formerly manufactured by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and was operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy from 19 ...

; and the Douglas SBD Dauntless are one of only two or three of that type left flying today. The CAF also operates

Axis An axis (plural ''axes'') is an imaginary line around which an object rotates or is symmetrical. Axis may also refer to: Mathematics * Axis of rotation: see rotation around a fixed axis * Axis (mathematics), a designator for a Cartesian-coordinat ...

and

Warsaw Pact The Warsaw Pact (WP) or Treaty of Warsaw, formally the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, was a collective defense treaty signed in Warsaw, Poland, between the Soviet Union and seven other Eastern Bloc socialist republi ...

aircraft such as the MiG 17 Fresco C. * Aeronca L-3E Defender ''LIL' Show Me'' *

Aeronca L-16 The Aeronca L-16 was a United States Army liaison aircraft built by Aeronca. It saw extensive service during the Korean War. It was essentially a militarized version of the Aeronca Champion. From 1955 large numbers were transferred to the Civil A ...

A - Airbase Arizona * Aichi D3A ''Val'' dive bomber replica (

North American SNJ The North American Aviation T-6 Texan is an American single-engined advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), United States Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and other air force ...

conversion) *Beechcraft 18/C-45/SNB/JRB **

Beech AT-11 Kansan The Beechcraft Model 18 (or "Twin Beech", as it is also known) is a 6- to 11-seat, twin-engined, low-wing, tailwheel light aircraft manufactured by the Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas. Continuously produced from 1937 to November ...

** Beechcraft D-18S ''A-235'' - Airbase Arizona ** Beechcraft UC-45J Navigator ''51242'' - Central Texas Wing *

Beech T-34A Mentor The Beechcraft T-34 Mentor is an American propeller-driven, single-engined, military trainer aircraft derived from the Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanza. The earlier versions of the T-34, dating from around the late 1940s to the 1950s, were piston ...

(A-45) *

Bell P-39Q Airacobra The Bell P-39 Airacobra is a fighter produced by Bell Aircraft for the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. It was one of the principal American fighters in service when the United States entered combat. The P-39 was used by the ...

''42-19597'' - Central Texas Wing *Bell P-63 ** Bell P-63A-6-BE Kingcobra ''42-68941'' - Airbase Georgia *

Boeing-Stearman PT-17 Kaydet The Stearman (Boeing) Model 75 is a biplane formerly used as a military trainer aircraft, of which at least 10,626 were built in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s. Stearman Aircraft became a subsidiary of Boeing in 1934. Widely kno ...

(USN N2S) ** Stearman N2S-4 ''c/n 75-4894'' - Airbase Arizona ** Stearman N2S ''c/n 75-8291'' - Utah Wing *Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress **

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is a four-engined heavy bomber developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). Relatively fast and high-flying for a bomber of its era, the B-17 was used primarily in the European Theater ...

'' Sentimental Journey'' 44-83514 - Airbase Arizona *

' 'Fifi' ''44-62070'' *

CASA 352L The Junkers Ju 52/3m (nicknamed ''Tante Ju'' ("Aunt Ju") and ''Iron Annie'') is a transport aircraft that was designed and manufactured by German aviation company Junkers. Development of the Ju 52 commenced during 1930, headed by German aeron ...

(Spanish-built Junkers Ju 52) German bomber/transport * Cessna UC-94/C-165 (Airmaster) *

Cessna UC-78 Bobcat The Cessna AT-17 Bobcat or Cessna Crane is a twin-engine advanced trainer aircraft designed and made in the United States, and used during World War II to bridge the gap between single-engine trainers and larger multi-engine combat aircraft. The ...

(

RCAF The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environ ...

Crane) ''1632'' - Wright Stuff Squadron * Cessna UC-78B Bobcat ''43-32578'' - Jayhawk Wing * Consolidated B-24A/LB-30/Liberator I/C-87 40-2366 ''Diamond Lil'' (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 The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk is an American single-engined, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground-attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and ...

(Kittyhawk and Tomahawk) **

Curtiss P-40N Warhawk The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was a WWII fighter aircraft that was developed from the P-36 Hawk, via the P-37. Many variants were built, some in large numbers, under names including the Hawk, Tomahawk and Kittyhawk. Allison-engined Model 75 XP ...

''c/n 29629'' (ex-RCAF 867) *

Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver is a dive bomber developed by Curtiss-Wright during World War II. As a carrier-based bomber with the United States Navy (USN), in Pacific theaters, it supplemented and replaced the Douglas SBD Dauntless. A few surviv ...

''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-26C-40DT Invader ''Daisy Mae'' '' 44-35643'' - Sierra Hotel A-26 Group ** Douglas A-26C Invader ''Lady Liberty'' '' 41-39230'' - Lady Liberty Squadron *

Douglas B-23 Dragon The Douglas B-23 Dragon is an American twin-engined bomber developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company as a successor to (and a refinement of) the B-18 Bolo. Design and development Douglas proposed a number of modifications designed to improve th ...

on display at CAF Headquarters *Douglas DC-3/C-47/C-53/R4D ** Douglas C-47B Skytrain ''The Black Sparrow'' ''44-77013'' (USN R4D-7) - Great Lakes Wing **

Douglas C-47 Skytrain The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota ( RAF, RAAF, RCAF, RNZAF, and SAAF designation) is a military transport aircraft developed from the civilian Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remain ...

'' That's All, Brother'' ''42-92847'' – Texas Wing ** 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 SBD-5 Dauntless The Douglas SBD Dauntless is a World War II American naval scout plane and dive bomber that was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft from 1940 through 1944. The SBD ("Scout Bomber Douglas") was the United States Navy's main carrier-based scout/dive ...

''BuNo 54532'' *

ERCO Ercoupe The ERCO Ercoupe is an American low-wing monoplane aircraft that was first flown in 1937. It was originally manufactured by the Engineering and Research Corporation (ERCO) shortly before World War II; several other manufacturers continued it ...

PT-23 The Fairchild PT-19 (company designation Fairchild M62) is an American monoplane primary trainer aircraft that served with the United States Army Air Forces, RAF and RCAF during World War II. Designed by Fairchild Aircraft, it was a contemporar ...

and PT-26 **

A - Southern California Wing ** Fairchild PT-19A ''42-83435'' - Birmingham Escadrille ** Fairchild PT-23A-HO ''42-49250'' - Southern California Wing **

Fairchild PT-26 The Fairchild PT-19 (company designation Fairchild M62) is an American monoplane primary trainer aircraft that served with the United States Army Air Forces, RAF and RCAF during World War II. Designed by Fairchild Aircraft, it was a contemporar ...

- Wisconsin Wing **

Fairchild Cornell Cornell University is a private statutory land-grant research university based in Ithaca, New York. It is a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell was founded with the intention to teach a ...

''42-65935'' - Highland Lakes Squadron * Fairchild UC-61 Argus/Forwarder * Fairchild F-12R46 Argus - Southern California Wing * Fairchild F-12R Argus - High Sky Wing (painted as J2K) *

Fleet 16B Finch The Fleet Finch (Fleet Model 16) is a two-seat, tandem training biplane produced by Fleet Aircraft of Fort Erie, Ontario. There were a number of variants mainly based on engine variations. Over several years beginning in 1939, a total of 447 ...

''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, Airbase Georgia * Grumman AF-2S Guardian ''BuNo 126731'' - Airbase Arizona *Grumman Avenger ** Grumman/General Motors TBM-3E Avenger '' BuNo 53353'' - Missouri 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'' - Airbase Arizona *

Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American Carrier-based aircraft, carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier Grumman F4F Wildcat, F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United St ...

''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 The Interstate Cadet was an American two-seat tandem, high wing, single-engine monoplane light aircraft. Around 320 of these aircraft were produced between the years 1941 and 1942 by the Interstate Aircraft and Engineering Corporation based in El S ...

Lockheed C-60 Lodestar The Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar is a passenger transport aircraft of the World War II era. Design and development Sales of the 10–14 passenger Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra, which first flew in 1937, had proved disappointing, despite the air ...

** Lockheed Model 18-50 Lodestar ''c/n 18-2274'' - Hampton Roads, Virginia, painted as ''255884'' **

''Goodtime Gal 42-56005'' ''c/n 18-2478'' - Houston Wing *

Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon The Lockheed Ventura is a twin-engine medium bomber and patrol bomber of World War II. The Ventura first entered combat in Europe as a bomber with the RAF in late 1942. Designated PV-1 by the United States Navy (US Navy), it entered combat in ...

Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star (or T-Bird) is an American subsonic jet trainer. It was produced by Lockheed and made its first flight in 1948. The T-33 was developed from the Lockheed P-80/F-80 starting as TP-80C/TF-80C in development, then ...

McDonnell Douglas F-4N Phantom II The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is an American tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor and fighter-bomber originally developed by McDonnell Aircraft for the United States Navy.Swanborough and B ...

''BuNo 153016'' - Airbase Arizona *

Messerschmitt Bf 108 The Messerschmitt Bf 108 ''Taifun'' (English: "Typhoon") was a German single-engine sport and touring aircraft, developed by Bayerische Flugzeugwerke in the 1930s. The Bf 108 was of all-metal construction. Design and development Originally desi ...

''Taifun'' German liaison/trainer *

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 (russian: Микоя́н и Гуре́вич МиГ-15; USAF/DoD designation: Type 14; NATO reporting name: Fagot) is a jet fighter aircraft developed by Mikoyan-Gurevich for the Soviet Union. The MiG-15 was one o ...

UTI ''012'' - Airbase Arizona *

bis ''4415'' - Airbase Arizona *

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 (russian: Микоян и Гуревич МиГ-17; NATO reporting name: Fresco) is a high-subsonic fighter aircraft produced in the Soviet Union from 1952 and was operated by air forces internationally. The MiG-17 w ...

- Airbase Arizona * Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21PF Fishbed-D ''507'' - Airbase Arizona * Mitsubishi A6M3 Model 22 ''Zero'' Japanese carrier fighter - Southern California Wing * Mitsubishi ''Zero'' fighter replica (

North American Harvard The North American Aviation T-6 Texan is an American single-engined advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), United States Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and other air forces ...

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 The Vultee BT-13 Valiant is an American World War II-era basic (a category between primary and advanced) trainer aircraft built by Vultee Aircraft for the United States Army Air Corps, and later US Army Air Forces. A subsequent variant of th ...

conversion) *

Naval Aircraft Factory N3N The Naval Aircraft Factory N3N was an American tandem-seat, open cockpit, primary training biplane aircraft built by the Naval Aircraft Factory (NAF) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the 1930s and early 1940s. Development and design Built t ...

-3 - West Houston Squadron *

-3 ''N4009A'' - High Sierra Squadron *

North American AT-6 Texan The North American Aviation T-6 Texan is an American single-engined advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), United States Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and other air forces ...

(

USN The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage o ...

SNJ,

RAF The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...

Harvard, various models) **North American Harvard II ''c/n 81-4099'' - Inland Empire Wing **North American SNJ-4 Texan ''c/n 88-13041'' - Buffalo Heritage Squadron **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'' - Airbase Arizona **North American SNJ-6 Texan ''BuNo 112180'' - Minnesota Wing *North American B-25 Mitchell ** North American B-25J-5NC ''Yellow Rose'' '' 43-27868'' - Central Texas Wing ** 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 The North American NA-64 (NA-64 P-2 or NAA-64 P-2 in French service, Yale in Canadian service) is a low-wing single piston engine monoplane advanced trainer aircraft that was built for the French Air Force and French Navy, served with the Royal ...

(painted as BT-14) *

** North American P-51C-10NT Mustang ''Tuskegee Airmen'' ''42-103645'' - Red Tail Squadron ** North American P-51D-25-NA Mustang ''Man-O-War'' ''44-72739'' - Southern California Wing ** North American P-51D-25-NA Mustang ''Red Nose'' ''44-73843'' - Airbase Georgia *

North American T-28 Trojan The North American Aviation T-28 Trojan is a radial-engine military trainer aircraft manufactured by North American Aviation and used by the United States Air Force and United States Navy beginning in the 1950s. Besides its use as a trainer ...

* Piper L-4F * Republic P-47N-5RE Thunderbolt '' 44-88548'' - Airbase Georgia (under restoration) *

Ryan PT-22 Recruit The Ryan PT-22 Recruit, the main military version of the Ryan ST, is a military trainer aircraft used by the United States Army Air Corps during WWII for primary pilot training. Design and development The PT-22's fuselage is a simple mono ...

''41-1902'' - Minnesota Wing *

Ryan L-17 Navion The Ryan (originally North American) Navion is a single-engine, unpressurized, retractable gear, four-seat aircraft originally designed and built by North American Aviation in the 1940s. It was later built by Ryan Aeronautical Company an ...

** Ryan Navion A ''N444AC'' - Highland Lakes Squadron * Sikorsky UH-19D-2-Sl Chickasaw ''54-1416'' helicopter * Schweizer TG-3A training glider - Airbase Arizona * Stinson AT-19 Reliant (Royal Navy) - Carolinas Wing *

Stinson 108 The Stinson 108 was a popular general aviation aircraft produced by the Stinson division of the American airplane company Consolidated Vultee, from immediately after World War II to 1950. It was developed from the prewar Model 10A Voyager. S ...

(

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

Civil Air Patrol Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a congressionally chartered, federally supported non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force (USAF). CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded mem ...

) *

(

Marines Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship (ref ...

OY) ** Stinson L-5E-1VW/OY-2 Sentinel ''Carin' Belle'' ''44-18143''/''BuNo 04013'' - Ohio Valley Wing **

''c/n 76-0272'' - Dallas/Fort Worth Wing **

''Frozen Assets'' ''42-98667'' - Minnesota Wing * Stinson L-9B Reliant * Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk.XIVe ''NH749'' - Southern California Wing *

Taylorcraft L-2 The Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshopper is an American observation and liaison aircraft built by Taylorcraft for the United States Army Air Forces in World War II. Design and development In 1941 the United States Army Air Forces ordered four Taylorc ...

* Vultee BT-13/BT-15/SNV **Vultee BT-13A ''41-11538'' - Minnesota Wing *

Vultee BT-13A Valiant The Vultee BT-13 Valiant is an American World War II-era basic (a category between primary and advanced) trainer aircraft built by Vultee Aircraft for the United States Army Air Corps, and later US Army Air Forces. A subsequent variant of the B ...

**Vultee BT-13A ''41-21178'' - Gulf Coast Wing *

Yakovlev Yak-3 The Yakovlev Yak-3 ( Russian: Яковлев Як-3) was a single-engine, single-seat World War II Soviet fighter. Robust and easy to maintain, it was much liked by both pilots and ground crew.Glancey 2006, p. 180. One of the smallest and ligh ...

UA - Southern California Wing

AIRSHO

AIRSHO is a yearly event at

showcasing the CAF's aircraft. 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 also an opportunity for CAF members to meet up. Ghost Squadron aircraft usually attend AIRSHO every other year. The CAF AIRSHO is the largest

air show in the world, with more than eighty 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 Falcon Field may refer to: * Falcon Field (Arizona), an airport in Mesa, Arizona, United States * Falcon Field (Georgia), an airport in Peachtree City, Georgia, United States * Falcon Field (Corinth, Texas), a baseball field * Falcon Baseball Fiel ...

Mesa, Arizona Mesa ( ) is a city in Maricopa County, in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is the most populous city in the East Valley section of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It is bordered by Tempe on the west, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community ...

and redesignated in June 2013. Most CAF units are in the United States, but there are three outside the country.

US wings and squadrons

*Alabama **Birmingham — Birmingham Escadrille *Alaska **Anchorage — Col Hunt Alaska Wing *Arkansas **Little Rock — Razorback Wing *Arizona **Mesa — Airbase Arizona at

*California **Camarillo — Southern California Wing **Modesto — Central California Valley Squadron **Oakland — Golden Gate Wing **Riverside — Inland Empire Wing **Sacramento — Sacramento Delta Squadron **San Diego — Group One Wing **Upland — FM-2 Wildcat Sponsor Group *Colorado **Broomfield — Mile High Wing **Grand Junction — Rocky Mountain Wing *Florida **DeLand — Florida Wing **Pensacola — Floribama Wing **Shalimar — T-33 Sponsor Group *Georgia **Peachtree City — Dixie Wing *Idaho **Caldwell — Idaho Wing *Indiana **Indianapolis — Indiana Wing *Iowa **Council Bluffs — Great Plains Wing *Kansas **Kansas City — Heart of America Wing **Wichita — Jayhawk Wing *Louisiana **New Orleans — Big Easy Wing *Minnesota **Red Wing — Red Tail Squadron **South St. Paul — Minnesota Wing *Mississippi **Madison — Mississippi Wing *Missouri **St. Charles — Missouri Wing *Montana **Bozeman — Big Sky Wing *Nevada **Las Vegas — Nevada Wing **Reno — High Sierra Squadron *New Jersey **Forked River — Delaware Valley Wing *New Mexico **Albuquerque — Lobo Wing *Oklahoma **Enid — Lady Liberty Squadron **Guymon — Cimmaron Strip Wing **Oklahoma City — Oklahoma Wing **Oklahoma City — Sierra Hotel Sponsor Group **Tulsa — Spirit of Tulsa Squadron *South Dakota **Sioux Falls — Joe Foss Squadron *Tennessee **Memphis — Delta Blues Squadron/Memphis Squadron *Texas **Aransas Pass — Maxine Flourney 3rd Coast Squadron **Brownsville — Rio Grande Valley Wing **Burnet — Highland Lakes Squadron **Conroe —

Gulf Coast Wing {{Short description, United States historical air display organization The Gulf Coast Wing of the Commemorative Air Force is a United States historical air display organization which formerly included two sub-groups that participate in the display o ...

**Corsicana — Coyote Squadron **Dallas — P-40 Sponsor Group **Dallas — Redbird Squadron **Dallas — Training Detachment One **Dallas — WASP Squadron **Fort Worth — B-29/B-24 Squadron **Fort Worth — Invader Squadron **Gainesville — Ground Forces Detachment **Georgetown — Devil Dog Squadron **Graham — Cactus Squadron **Houston — Houston Wing **Lancaster — Dallas/Fort Worth Wing **Marshall — Lone Star Wing **Midland — Blastards Detachment **Midland — High Sky Wing **Midland — West Texas Wing **Odessa — Desert Squadron **Pearland — Tora Sponsor Group **San Antonio — Tex Hill Wing **San Marcos — Centex Wing *Utah **Heber — Utah Wing *Virginia **Franklin — Old Dominion Squadron **Culpeper — Capital Wing *Washington **Everett — Rainier Squadron *Wisconsin **Janesville — Tri-State CAF Wing **Superior — Lake Superior Squadron **Waukesha — Wisconsin Wing *National units **EOD Detachment **Marshalling Detachment **Security Detachment

International wings and squadrons

*France **Saint-Ange-le-Viel — French Wing *New Zealand **Auckland — New Zealand Wing *Switzerland **Olten — Swiss Wing

References

Notes

Bibliography

* * Ogden, Bob. ''Aviation Museums & Collections of North America''. London: Air-Britain, 2007. .

External links

*{{commonscat-inline
Commemorative Air Force
official site
Aerial Visuals Search Commemorative Air ForceAirNavFlightAware
- Old Reb Airport information United States military aircraft Air shows in the United States Aviation organizations based in the United States Museum organizations 1957 establishments in the United States Removed Confederate States of America monuments and memorials