News

Last Sunday CAF SoCal hosted the Southern California Porsche club.

Members of the club spent the day touring our museum and learning about our aircraft whilst having their automobiles photographed in front of their favorite warbird.

Here are a few of the photos from the event. More can be browsed on the club’s photo sharing site HERE.

Our Museum will be closing at 2:30 on May 21, 2016 to host a private event

One day before the 23rd anniversary of our beloved B25-PBJ-1J coming to CAFSoCal on May 16th, 1993, the big bird graced the skies of Ventura county once again.

Thanks to the efforts of the entire PBJ restoration crew over the years and the tireless ground crew, all was in order with plenty of spectators and media on hand to witness the historic event.

Crew Chief:
Col. Marc Russell

Restoration Crew:
Ken Barger, Jo & Jack Brinkerhoff, Scott Drosos, Dave Fish, Mike Hohls, Tim Kutzbach, Dan Newcomb, George Sands, Thomas Van Stein, Alan Nicholson, John Cutright, Dave Neel, John Syrdahl, Jerry Burkhardt, Russ Babbit, Randy Manes, John Mullin, John Hills, Rick Johnson, Patty Stone, Cameron O’Brien, Charlie Carr, and Charlie Harwood.

Thanks All! This was a proud day for CAFSoCal, it’s an honor to have you within our ranks.

Here are a few images from today. We will update this space as more material becomes available.

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Some excellent images, including airborne photos sent in by Frank Mormillo

More images sent in by Robert Shellabarger

 

Look for an article on the PBJ’s big day in the Ventura County Star

PBJ feature on the Flying Magazine Website.  LINK HERE

CBS2 News report:

Follow THIS LINK if the video does not load.

Hi All 

CAF SoCal’s B-25 PBJ-1J is ready for it’s FIRST flight in 23 years this Sunday, May 15th. It’s been a labor of love and respect to meticulously restore this warbird.  Please plan to join us at our Museum and be part of this historic event and our celebration!

Our doors will open at 10:00 AM with the official flight scheduled for 12:30-1:00 PM.   We’ll have a food truck, special memorial PBJ gift items, museum tours and more activities!

Stay tuned for any further up dates

Another exciting event for CAF SoCal wing: All our fighters planes will be participating in the Planes of Fame Airshow at Chino, CA this weekend, April 29 to May 1st.

Please note that while the museum is still open and you can visit to see our aircraft undergoing restoration and our artifacts, most of our fighter aircraft will depart for Chino on Friday April 29th, and will return late on Sunday, May 1st.

We look forward to a successful representation of wing and its historic warbirds at our third airshow of the 2016 season and will post some photos and videos of the event here.

As of Saturday April 20th, SNJ5 “290” has passed all tests with the new engine and propeller change and is once again available for rides to the public.

A job well done by the entire SNJ Crew and special thanks to Wayne Brancato who has been working on 290 just about everyday for the past month.

We are all looking forward to seeing the same for the SNJ4 “Bluebird”!

Our fighters have returned from last weekend’s March ARB 2016 Airfest and the museum is back to normal operation.

Many thanks to Dan Newcomb for the following report and images from the airshow:

Here are some photos taken last Thursday of the flight to the March AFB air show. It was a very long day. Most of us got to CMA in the morning and started to get the planes ready. The PT-19, Mustang, Bearcat, Hellcat, Spitfire, Zero, L-29 and Charlie’s T-34 were scheduled to go. We had to be at March by 6PM. We launched the PT early and then the rest of the fighters with the exception of the Mustang took off at 4PM. Charlie and I in the T-34 took off first and flew out to the Reagan Library where we would meet up with the boys for some photo work.For most of the flight of about an hour we flew at 160 kts. And a bumpy ride.
Also included are photos from the trainer parade and a few shots of Sunday’s performance. After we finished as we walked by the crowd a spectator yelled, “Great show guys!” and several of them cheered! Kind of makes you proud……..
Luck was on my side yesterday. I flew home in the jet. I was dog tired and glad it only took 30 minutes to get home. The rest of the birds showed up about 15 minutes after we landed. We squared away the planes and put them in the hangars then headed for home. I slept 9 hours last night. Amazing week end! Amazing airplanes. Great show except for the wind. Fantastic crew!

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CAF SoCal is proud to have been invited to participate in the Airshow at the March Airfest, this weekend, April 16 and 17 in Riverside, CA.

Please note that while the museum is still open and you can visit to see our aircraft undergoing restoration and our artifacts, most of our fighter aircraft will depart for March ARB on Thursday April 14th,  and will return on Sunday, April 17.

We look forward to a successful representation of CAF and its historic warbirds at our second airshow of the 2016 season and will post some photos and videos of the event here.

Usually, the Warbirds ride program at CAF SoCal serves to fulfil the desires of us wanna-be fighter pilots, or provide a high octane thrill to the amateur history buffs amongst us.

That’s all well and good. It helps promote the wing and keep history alive.

However, every once in a while we get the pleasure to witness someone not only experience a thrill of a life time, but to also connect with a special piece of their personal family history. That’s when “keeping history alive” takes on it’s true meaning for us.

Last Saturday we had a P51 ride participant share with us what the experience truly meant for him. Michael got to see what 40 minutes in a P51 feels like, and also got an opportunity to bridge the expanse of time to his father’s time with the Mustangs of the US Air Force.

It may have been his pleasure, but it was our privilege to help Michael, and also us connect with the “Greatest Generation”.

Thanks to Dan Newcomb for sharing the following Email from Michael sent to the wing.

Dear [CAF SoCal],

I wish I had the words to express the thanks for helping me to fulfill one of my dreams. Attached is a picture of my Father shortly after the Army Air Corps became the Air Force and one that my wife took of me on the day of the flight.

Again, thank you all for giving me the memory of a life time.
Sincerely,
Michael Frisby

Michael Frisby’s Father ca. 1947

Michael Frisby with Man’O’War 2016