Tuskegee Airmen Heroes Of WWII
Off in the distance you see them, a P-40 Warhawk and a P-51 Mustang closing fast. No, not an old photo I found, but this last Saturday in the sky at the Palm Springs Air Museum.
P-40 Warhawk and P-51 Mustang
A celebration of the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II and the 96th birthday of Lt. Col. Bob Friend, the oldest living Tuskegee pilot, having flown 140 combat missions over Europe. This is the Colonel sharing his times with some of the many visitors to the Air Museum. Tom Nightingale, the pilot flying the P-40 and often flying partner with the Colonel says that he remembers names and times and places of almost every photo that people can bring up to him. And that the Colonel can go hours on end, over and over talking to people, doing photographs and signing autographs.
Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Bob Friend on his 96th birthday
The P-51 here is an airplane that has been restored in commemoration to the Colonel’s P-51, nicknamed “Bunny”, that he flew over Europe during the war. But this Saturday “Bunny” had another very special guest, Tuskegee Airman Rusty Burns! At 90 years old I can personally say this man got in and out of that airplane like a 25 year old. Even after a number of high speed passes down the runway, he was all smiles as he left the airplane off the front of the wing, not the closer to the ground back of the wing. Just like he said he always did!
Tuskegee Airman Rusty Burns getting ready to fly in the P-51 “Bunny”
Man ‘O’ War P-51 Mustang
Man ‘O’ War at the Palm Springs Air Museum. A P-51D Mustang WWII fighter plane. Courtesy of the Southern California Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. Truly amazing and exciting to see legendary airplanes like this flying close up.
Tuskegee Airmen Flies His P-51 Mustang Again!
Lt. Col. Bob Friend, 95 years old, flying in the P-51D Mustang made famous when he flew as a Tuskegee Airmen in World War II. “Bunny” has been fully restored and now flying at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Back on the ground, the Colonel was greeted by Air Museum Director Fred Bell, the man who made the restoration of this great aircraft possible over the last three years. The P-51 pilot for the Colonel and Bunny was Tom Nightingale.
Fly By Backyard
I will confess to just hanging around poolside in my backyard for some of yesterday. It was bright and sunny and 86 degrees. So I amused myself by photographing a few friends as they dropped by.
Bunny And Escorts
Bunny flew in yesterday with two of her friends. Bunny is the P-51 Mustang completely restored and dedicated to the famed Red Tails of the Tuskegee Airmen. A one and half year project of the Palm Springs Air Museum, yesterday a fly in and fly by of Bunny and two P-51 escorts. Truly an exciting sight and sounds!
The Unveiling Of Bunny
Last night at the Palm Springs Air Museum. In honor of the famed Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. A reception for the unveiling of the restored P-51 Mustang fighter plane “Bunny” which they flew into battle becoming among the most decorated and respected heroes in all of the United States Armed Forces.
With an appearance of Tuskegee Airmen welcomed by Air Museum Director Fred Bell and the model for the “Bunny” nose art by famed artist Stan Stokes.
The Only Dual Control P-51 Mustang
Another photograph from Wednesday at the Palm Springs Air Museum. The Collings Foundation P-51C Mustang, the only fully dual control version still flying. As well, there are fewer than five of the early B and C versions still flying. General Dwight Eisenhower rode in the back seat of one of these two seat versions over the beaches of Normandy to direct the D-Day Invasion of World War II.
P-51 Mustang Very Low and Very Fast!
The P-51 Mustang “Wee Willy II” at The Palm Springs Air Museum yesterday. He made four passes low and fast! Very low and very fast, and I also stood as tall as I could to shoot the photographs!
P-51 Mustang “Wee Willy II”
P-51 Mustang “Wee Willy II” Taxi Out At The Palm Springs Air Museum March 15 2014. A P-51D “Wee Willy II” was originally sold as surplus at McClellan Air Force Base in 1958. It crashed in 1979 at the Reno Air Races and has since been restored and has it’s home base in Chino California.
My Morning So Far…
My morning so far…. Coffee outside by the pool, throwing the ball for the dogs, making some notes in my journal, reading the latest issue of Vanity Fair and taking photographs of the P-51 Mustang overhead going in to the Palm Springs Air Museum.
SecondFocus Blog 