Airbase Georgia Peachtree City, GA

SBD Dauntless Lady in Blue More Lady in Blue Info

The SBD was the only U.S. Navy dive bomber to serve from the beginning of the World War II until the end. Considered the most destructive air weapon in the U.S. Navy arsenal, the SBD sank over 300,000 tons of enemy ships, a greater tonnage of Japanese shipping than any other Allied aircraft during the war! Eighteen were warships, including five aircraft carriers sunk in the battle of the Coral Sea and Midway. It earned the nickname "Slow, But Deadly!" After the war, the U.S. Marine Corps continued to use the SBD, and in the 1950s, the French Air Force used SBDs in its war in Indo-China.

P-47 Thunderbolt Thunderbolt More Thunderbolt Info

The P-47 Thunderbolt was one of the most produced aircraft during World War II, and plays a very important role in the CAF’s fleet. The P-47 earned a reputation as a tough airplane due to its beefy construction and a stunning ability to absorb punishment while still bringing its crews home safely.The CAF's P-47 was built at the Republic Aviation Factory in Evansville, Indiana. In a 2006 accident, the CAF's P-47 engine caught fire, causing the pilot to execute an extremely skilled emergency landing, saving his life and the aircraft.

P-51 Mustang Red Nose More Red Nose Info

This was the plane that launched the Commemorative Air Force. It was acquired by the founding members of the CAF including Loyd P. Nolen himself. This airplane is not only historically significant, but it is thoroughly engrained in the CAF’s heritage as well. The Dixie Wing was selected to become the new home for the P-51D “Red Nose” by the CAF General Staff in November of 2002. We are very proud to have received such an honor and are doing our best to live up to that distinction. Red Nose is painted with the markings of the 334th FS, 4th FG, 8th AF, the pilot was Capt.David W.Howe,January 1945. He flew with 334th FS from 22/9/43 until 30/3/45 when returned to USA. 500 combat hours in... ...

P-63 Kingcobra "Miss Betty" More "Miss Betty" Info

Of the nine new fighter designs tested by the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) in 1942-43, only one was produced in quantity – the Bell P-63. This aircraft was designed to address the shortcomings of the P-39 Airacobra. Although similar in appearance to the P-39, the P-63 was in fact a completely redesigned airplane and only a few parts are interchangeable between the two aircraft. After more than 40 years since it’s last flight, 16 years of restoration, being affected by the Mississippi River flood of 1993 and countless man hours by the dedicated volunteers of the CAF Dixie Wing, the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Dixie Wing Bell P-63A-6 Kingcobra serial number 42-68941 flew for the... ...

FG-1D Corsair Corsair More Corsair Info

Our corsair was built by Goodyear hence the designation FG instead of F4U. BuNo 92468 (Stands for “Bureau Number” which is the Navy serial number of the airframe) never saw military combat but was used stateside in various roles until being stricken from active duty by the US Navy in 1956. BuNo 92468 was rescued from destruction in 1957 by Ernest Huggins. Ernest only held the corsair for one year when he transferred ownership to Skip Underwood of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Underwood relocated the plane to an airstrip in Buckeye, Arizona where he had a small crop dusting operation and it remained there in storage until sold in 1960 to CAF Hall of Fame member Marvin L. “Lefty” Gardner. In 2001... ...

PT-19 More Info

Flashback to 1987. The Dixie Wing was young and had no airplanes. Imagine the excitement when we were assigned our first warbird, a Fairchild PT-19 donated to the Commemorative Air Force by Col. Owen E. Stiegelmeir of Berea, Ohio. But, we had some challenges. The aircraft, N9878H, was in a field, under a shed, and had not been flown for some time. Our Dixie Wing maintenance team traveled to Ohio and got the aircraft ready to ferry to Atlanta. On September 14, 1987, Col. C. W. Kemper slicked the little navy blue Cornell onto the runway at South Fulton County Airport, and the Dixie Wing was in the Warbird business.

SNJ-4 texan More Info

This aircraft was generously donated by two of the Dixie Wing Members, Cols Morris Ray and David Peeler. Originally an SNJ-4, a 6-year restoration has been completed as an LT-6D which was used in Korea as a forward air controller and called a Mosquito. Thanks to our dedicated restoration crew, this aircraft is again in excellent flying condition. It began appearing on the 2008 airshow circuit.

T-34 Mentor More Info

After serving the Dominican Republic Air Force well for many years, N687HV was sold, along with several others, to a civilian owner and was moved to its new home in Florida. There, it sat unused for about 5 years. Although it was now kept in a hangar, its previous life was spent outside in tropical humid weather which took its toll on the airframe in the form of surface corrosion and general neglect. Fortunately for N687HV, it was then donated to the Commemorative Air Force and assigned to their Dixie Wing. The airplane was then brought into airworthiness compliance by a Certified Repair Station with extensive T-34 experience, where they completed the necessary FAA Air Worthiness... ...

PT-17 Stearman Stearman More Stearman Info

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Dixie Wing Warbird Museum has acquired a Stearman (Boeing) PT-17 (Model 75) biplane formerly used by the military as a primary trainer aircraft in the 1930s and 1940s. The Wing plans to restore the airplane with the talents of the Wing’s volunteer mechanics and other members. More than 10,600 Model 75s were built and used by the U.S. Army Air Corps, The U.S. Navy (as the NS and N2S) and the Royal Canadian Air Force (as the Kaydet) throughout World War II. “The Stearman is one of the most iconic trainers of World War II, utilized in the primary training stage in which pilot candidates took to the air,” said Dixie Wing Leader Jim Buckley. “We think this... ...