Planes of Fame Airshow 2015: WW2 European Theatre Warbirds

There is never any shortage of warbird action at the Planes of Fame Airshow and 2015 showcased many European Theatre World War Two era aircraft including a Bell P-63 Kingcobra (mostly flown by the Soviets as it was seen as inferior to the P-51 Mustang by the USAAF), the Douglas C-47 Skytrain (Dakota) venerable transport, Lockheed P-38J Lightning “23 Skidoo“, Messerschmitt Bf-108 Taifun, North American B-25 Mitchell, numerous North American P-51 Mustangs (P-51A,C & D models) and a Republic P-47G Thunderbolt (Republic licensed the Curtiss-Wright Company to produce the P-47D “razorback” and they were given the P-47G designation. 354 P-47G were built between December 1942 and March 1944). It is always a pleasure to see so many classic aircraft in one place doing flyby after flyby, one after the other. Great stuff!

Republic P-47G Thunderbolt Planes of Fame Airshow 2015 Chino CA — Republic P-47G Thunderbolt heads along the runway

P-51 Mustangs Planes of Fame Airshow 2015 Chino CA takeoff — P-51 Mustangs away (A, C and D models)!

P-51 formation pass Planes of Fame Airshow 2015 Chino CA — P-51 formation pass to open the show

P-51A P-51C Mustang Planes of Fame Airshow 2015 Chino CA — North American P-51A & P-51C Mustangs

North American P-51A P-51C Planes of Fame Airshow 2015 Chino CA — The early model P-51’s were vastly improved upon in the later P-51D Mustang in regards to power and aerodynamics

P-51D Spam Can Dolly Planes of Fame Airshow 2015 Chino CA — North American P-51D Mustang “Spam Can / Dolly” (different name on each side of the nose)

Douglas C-47 Planes of Fame Airshow 2015 Chino CA — Douglas C-47 Skytrain

C-47 Skytrain Planes of Fame Airshow 2015 Chino CA — The C-47 is one of the greatest transport aircraft ever built and many are still in use today

P-51D Bunny Planes of Fame Airshow 2015 Chino CA — North American P-51D Mustang “Bunny” with the Tuskegee Airmen red tail

Lockheed P-38J Lightning "23 Skidoo" Planes of Fame Airshow 2015 Chino CA — Lockheed P-38J Lightning “23 Skidoo”

North American B-25 Mitchell Planes of Fame Airshow 2015 Chino CA — North American B-25 Mitchell “Photo Fanny”

P-51D Mustang Buzzin Cuzzin Planes of Fame Airshow 2015 Chino CA — North American P-51D Mustang “Buzzin’ Cuzzin”

P-47G Planes of Fame Airshow 2015 Chino CA — Republic P-47G Thunderbolt from the Planes of Fame Museum collection

Bf-108 Taifun Planes of Fame Airshow 2015 Chino CA — The Messerschmitt Bf-108 Taifun was operated as a general liaison aircraft by the Luftwaffe in WW2

Bf108 Planes of Fame Airshow 2015 Chino CA — The design of the Bf-108 helped in development of the Bf-109 fighter

IMG_7690 (3) (700x463) P-51D Kimberly Kaye — North American P-51D “Kimberly Kaye”

IMG_7641 (2) (700x468) P-63 Kingcobra POF 2015 — The Bell P-63 Kingcobra was mostly used by the Soviet Union in WW2 and only a small number were operated by the USAAF

IMG_7641 (3) (700x468) P-63 Kingcobra POF 2015 — The Kingcobra was an advancement on the P-39 Airacobra

IMG_7641 (4) (700x468) P-63 Kingcobra POF 2015 — The Bell P-63 Kingcobra has its engine mounted behind the cockpit

Bell P-63 King Cobra and North American P-51D "Bunny" from Palm Springs Air Museum — Bell P-63 King Cobra and North American P-51D “Bunny” – both fighters are from the Palm Springs Air Museum

P-51D's "Wee Willy II" and "Six-Shooter" — P-51D’s “Wee Willy II” and “Six-Shooter”

P-51D Mustang "Six-Shooter" — P-51D Mustang “Six-Shooter”

A couple of excellent looking replicas were flying too. These were in the form of a Supermarine Spitfire and Focke-Wulf Fw-190A. They have done a great job in recreating these classic fighters of World War Two.