militaryaircraft

The P-51B Mustang “Berlin Express” will make a historic transatlantic flight from the U.S. to England

The P-51B Mustang “Berlin Express” achieved legendary status in an epic World War II dogfight in Paris in 1944, piloted by American Bill Overstreet, who flew the aircraft under the Eiffel Tower in hot pursuit of a German fighter. Overstreet eventually downed the German plane and eluded heavy enemy fire while escaping the battle with the aircraft intact.

As reported in the article Famed World War II P-51B Mustang ‘Berlin Express’ to make the transatlantic flight to perform in England with F-22, More than 70 years after this landmark moment, the “Berlin Express” will take to the skies again to honor the brave airmen who fought against the Axis powers in WW II. Civilian pilot Dan Friedkin, “Berlin Express” owner and one of only nine civilian Heritage Flight pilots qualified to fly in formation with U.S. Air Force single-ship demonstration teams, will fly and perform the historic aircraft in the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) in Fairford, England, July 14-16, with the Air Combat Command’s F-22 aerial demonstration team.

“The ‘Berlin Express’ is an iconic warplane that is symbolic of our country’s strong aviation history,” explained Friedkin. “It’s an honor to pilot this aircraft … as we pay homage to the brave men and women who have flown in the U.S. Air Force. We’re excited to offer people around the world the chance to follow Lee’s memorable voyage of the ‘Berlin Express’ across the Atlantic and look forward to celebrating his arrival in Duxford.”

Noteworthy before the airshow gets underway, the “Berlin Express” will make a historic transatlantic flight from the U.S. to England, with U.S. Air Force Heritage Flight Alumni Lee Lauderback in the cockpit.

Actually, Lauderback will follow the same route it took in 1942 as part of the military troop buildup in the U.K. during WW II. The four-day, 5,470-mile journey has begun on Jun. 28 in Texas and be mapped by a SPOT Gen3 tracking device that will transmit the aircraft’s location on a Google Earth map in five-minute intervals. The flight path of the “Berlin Express”, along with photos taken along the way by Lauderback, can be followed on HorsemenFlight.com through its landing in Duxford on July 4.

After departing Texas on Jun. 28, Lauderback will fly the “Berlin Express” to Bangor, Maine, Goose Bay, Canada, Narsarsuaq, Greenland, Keflavik, Iceland, and Prestwick, Scotland before arriving at Duxford Airfield.

The restored “Berlin Express” is based around the remains of the P-51B 43-24837. This Mustang flew with the 9th Air Force’s 363rd Fighter Group out of RAF Staplehurst in Kent, England. It crashed in Beckley on Jun. 10, 1944, after the pilot was forced to bail out during a training exercise. Featuring a “Malcolm Hood” canopy and wearing the markings for “Berlin Express,” it is dressed exactly like the 357th Fighter Group Mustang which Overstreet famously flew under the Eiffel Tower in 1944.

Photo by Senior Airman Kimberly Nagle / U.S. Air Force

The aircraft was the original Slot Machine, the last operational unmodified T-38A Cooke flew with the Thunderbirds

The beautiful video in this post shows retired Lt. Col. Dale Cooke experiencing the flight of a lifetime at Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB).

Cooke in fact flew for the Thunderbirds from 1979 to 1982 and recently he went to the 2nd Fighter Training Squadron (FTS) and flew on T-38A, #68-177, again.

According to Tech. Sgt. Javier Cruz, 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, article Flight of the Thunderbirds, the aircraft was the original Slot Machine, the last operational unmodified T-38A Cooke flew with the Thunderbirds.

“Col. McCurdy [2nd FTS commander] contacted me and said there was some interest in getting me to fly,” Cooke said. “It was not even believable to me because the only place you can fly a fighter airplane is the military and when you step out of your plane for the last time you think, ‘I’ll never get to do this again.’”

Still used for the slot position on the team, the name Slot Machine originally came from the home of the Thunderbirds at Nellis AFB near Las Vegas.

Noteworthy Cooke not only flew in Slot Machine again but the pair were joined by the current Thunderbirds in F-16 Fighting Falcons over the Gulf of Mexico.

“To get in Slot Machine one more time is an unbelievable experience,” he said. “It’s a dream you don’t ever expect to do again.”

Cooke and Slot Machine logged over 800 flight hours during their tenure with the Thunderbirds at over 200 performances nationwide.

A modest red, white, and blue Thunderbirds sticker on the student pilot control panel is the only reminder of the days the team flew aircraft #177.

Today aircraft #177 fulfills a vital role at the 2nd FTS, where Slot Machine plays the role of the aggressor for new F-22 Raptor student pilots consistently providing a highly maneuverable adversary paired with veteran fighter pilots.

Gloss Black with a golden tip, the motto “2nd To None,” reads clear as the Slot Machine slips in and out of view through the clouds. Something it will continue to do at Tyndall AFB until it too is retired and preserved for future generations to come.

Photo by Tech. Sgt. Javier Cruz / U.S. Air Force

The Patrouille de France is the oldest formal flying aerobatic team having originated in 1931, 15 years before the Blue Angels

On Apr. 15, 2017, the Patrouille de France, Armée de l’Air (French Air Force) aerobatic jet team, held an air show at Mather Airport, Sacramento, as part of their 2017 tour of the U.S.

The Patrouille de France is the oldest formal flying aerobatic team having originated in 1931, 15 years before the Blue Angels.

“It’s a great honor to be part of the Patrouille de France because we have the opportunity to represent all the fighter pilots in the squadrons and all the skills we get in the French air force,” said Commandant Nicholas Lieumont, a pilot of the Patrouille de France to Airman 1st Class Douglas P. Lorance, 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs for his article Patrouille de France Soars Over Sacramento. “When we are overseas in a foreign country we represent all of France, which is a tremendous honor.”

2017 Patrouille de France U.S. tour is aimed to celebrate the 100th anniversary of American volunteer pilots fighting alongside the French Air Force in World War I as part of the Lafayette Escadrille and Lafayette Flying Corps.

“We really want to thank the American people for all they did during the First World War, the Second World War and to tell them we really love Americans,” pointed out Lieumont. “There is a fraternity between our two countries we want to enhance by being here.”

Acquiring parts for their Alpha Jet training aircraft and becoming accustomed to a foreign language and culture are some difficulties that have kept the Patrouille de France from touring the U.S. in over 30 years, but Lieumont said it was worth the effort to celebrate this occasion.

“Being this far from France to represent our country is a challenge,” he said. “We were very lucky to be chosen.”

Being able to commemorate the long history between France and the U.S. as part of this tour holds a very personal meaning to Lieumont, who has worked alongside the U.S. military for the entirety of his career.

“When I joined the French air force years ago, I went to the United States on a foreign exchange program to the U.S. Air Force Academy,” Lieumont said. “Since then, I have continuously worked with Americans in different operations in many countries all over the world. I fought side by side with Americans and I am really proud to be here to thank them.”

Source: Patrouille de France Soars Over Sacramento, By Airman 1st Class Douglas P. Lorance, 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs

Photo by Staff Sgt. Rebeccah Anderson / U.S. Air Force