Michael “Mikey” Weinstein might have manufactured a controversy over “Jesus rifles,” but in World War II, there was a Mormon Mustang. From the 151st Air Refueling Wing in Utah:
Roland R. Wright stands next to the P-51 “Mormon Mustang” he made his name flying in over Europe in WWII. Wright shot down three enemy aircraft during the war.
The Utah Air National Guard is stationed Read more
Len Krenzler’s famous artwork depicting fighter pilot Bill Overstreet’s attack under the Eiffel Tower.
Two relatively famous World War II fighter pilots recently died.
The first was William Overstreet Jr, who while flying a P-51 as a member of the 357th Squadron famously chased an Me-109 under the Eiffel Tower in Nazi-held Paris, France.
Overstreet’s most famous flight came while Read more
Paul M. Sailer
Loden Books, 2011
The Oranges are Sweet is the story of US Army Air Corps Major Don Beerbower, the leading – though seemingly little known – ace of the 9th Air Forces in the European Theater in 1944. The book describes his upbringing in a small Minnesota town to his decision to enlist as an Aviation Cadet in January 1942, even though he probably could have obtained a deferment due to his family business. Beerbower wanted to be a military pilot, and he began his flying career in February 1942.
The early portion of the book traces his journey through the PT-17 Stearman, BT-13 Valiant, AT-6 Texan, and P-36 Hawk until he became an Army pilot and 2nd Lt on 29 September 1942 – the same day he became a husband. He would go on to fly the P-39 Airacobra, bouncing around the western United States as he trained and became an experienced leader, as well as flying in West Coast defense.
He finally arrived in England in November 1943, joining the 353rd Fighter Squadron as the first fighter group to fly P-51B Mustang.
Less than a year later, in July 1944 the 22-year-old Beerbower was Read more
Former Air Force Chief of Staff General Michael “Buzz” Moseley — famous for his advocacy of the F-22 during his 2005 to 2008 tenure — recently said it was time for the Air Force to say goodbye to the A-10.
“You got to let it go and progress in to the next generation,” said retired Gen. T. Michael Moseley…
The article recalls controversy from Congress over the Air Force’s Read more
Air Force Maj Gen (Ret) Robert White died in Florida this past week. He was a P-51 pilot in World War II before eventually becoming famous as an X-15 pilot. He also served during the Korean War and flew combat sorties in Vietnam.
White achieved Mach 6 in the X-15 and also became the first “winged astronaut” when he flew the X-15 to a height of 314,750 feet, more than the 50 mile requirement for the Air Force to bestow astronaut status.