Five Warbirds, One Mission – Memorial Day 2025
Five historic aircraft filled the skies over Palm Springs during the 2025 Memorial Day program at the Palm Springs Air Museum—each representing a different chapter of American aviation history and military service. My photographs of these aircraft in flight capture not only their striking forms against the desert backdrop but also the enduring legacy they carry.
The lineup included:
– C-47 “What’s Up Doc?” – A D-Day veteran honoring airborne operations and troop transport.
– P-51 Mustang “Bunny” – Flown in tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen and their place in aviation history.
– P4Y-2G Super Privateer – The last flying example of this rare patrol bomber, once used by the Navy.
– PBJ (Navy B-25 Mitchell) – A Navy-modified medium bomber that served in the Pacific theater.
– T-28 Trojan N372C – A Cold War-era trainer that transitioned into combat roles in Southeast Asia.
Each aircraft flew as part of the museum’s commemorative program, honoring those who served and sacrificed in conflicts from World War II through the Vietnam War.
I’m especially pleased that five of these images were featured yesterday in the “BREAKING NEWS from LAST 24 HOURS” section on ZUMA Press, a strong acknowledgment of the visual and historical power of these aircraft in flight.
Just Flying
This was always a fun thing to do. Flying right seat in the World War II C-47 “What’s Up Doc?”.
Landing From The North
Aircraft landing from the North have always been among my favorite for photographs in Palm Springs. The World War II C-47 “What’s Up Doc?”.
C-47 Overhead
At The Jump Door
C-47 Takeoffs And Landings
What’s Up Doc?
The World War II C-47 “What’s Up Doc?” coming in for a Memorial Day flyover at the airport in Palm Springs.
C-47 Flying Past Control Tower
Taking off and flying past the control tower at Palm Springs International Airport. The C-47 Skytrain “What’s Up Doc?” from the Palm Springs Air Museum flying ride passengers for a Living History Flight Experience.
C-47 Takeoff
More of the Palm Springs Air Museum C-47. This time as it does a takeoff. I was on the west side of the airport waiting for it to return to marshal it in after two more takeoffs and landings.
On The Way Reno Air Races 2022
Last week Tuesday on the way to the Reno Air Races 2022 in the Palm Springs Air Museum C-47 “What’s Up Doc?”. I was way too busy since then to post.
C-47 Among The Windmills
I really like this view. Coming into Palm Springs from the North, the Palm Springs Air Museum C-47. It takes a long lens shooting from our ramp at the Air Museum.
Facing Off A Mustang
Today, yet again, I faced off a P-51 Mustang and forced it into submission. At the Palm Springs Air Museum.
My Best Side
Me doing more of what I do at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Photograph by my good Air Museum friend Rob.
Great View
Doing something special flying in the Palm Springs Air Museum World War II C-47. The view is great this way. Thanks to my backup safety, Rob, for the some quick cellphone shots along the way.
77 Years Later Fueling A C-47
June 6, 1944 D-Day, the Allied Invasion of Europe. The aircraft most remembered in the invasion was the C-47, dropping paratroopers and supplies. We did not fly today at the Palm Springs Air Museum but I did fuel the Museum C-47. It is painted in the D-Day invasion stripes of the time. Just interesting to think what I was doing these 77 years later.
C-47 Flight Today
Today’s flight in the Palm Springs Air Museum World War II C-47. From and back to Palm Springs doing approaches at March Air Reserve Base. The March tower asked “How old is that airplane?” This one was built in 1944. That makes it 77 years old.
Over March Air Reserve Base
This was our last pass today through March Air Reserve Base. The prior pass was right down the runway at 50 feet before we pulled up, but I was too busy to get some video. We were flying in the grand-daddy of those C-17’s down there; the Palm Springs Air Museum World War II C-47.
Flyover For WWII Nurse 101 Years Old
June 1942, Doris Howard arrived in Palm Springs as an Army nurse at the newly converted hospital, previously the famous El Mirador Hotel. Serving throughout the war, taking her to other countries, she even survived a Kamikaze attack.
Returning to Palm Springs and what is now Desert Regional Medical Center all these years later, we were honored to do a flyover for her in the Palm Springs Air Museum WWII era C-47 on Friday May 14, 2021. The full story and more photos from the ground in the Desert Sun newspaper at http://bit.ly/DorisHoward
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