Bombers

Douglas A-26B “Invader”

The Douglas A-26 “Invader” was originally designed in 1942 and has the distinction of having served the United States by participating in three wars; WWII, for which it was designed, Korea, and lastly in Vietnam. When introduced in WWII as an attack bomber, the A-26 only had provision for one pilot, which was new to the recent past practice of the US Army Air Force to have two pilots, had remote controlled machine gun turrets, and was the fastest bomber in the US inventory with a top speed of 355 mph. The last A-26s continued service with the US Air National Guard until 1972.

The Indianapolis Air Show is proud this year to have both as a static and flying display the world’s oldest flying A-26, Serial Number 41-39230, “Lady Liberty”, which was the 130th of its type produced in August of 1944. Beginning in early 1945 this particular aircraft served with the 9th Air Force in Europe flying night interdiction missions over Germany. It is the only flyable stock A-26 that has operating bomb bay doors. It will be open for tours during the day at the Air Show. Learn more about the Douglas A-26 and “Lady Liberty” at A-26 Lady Liberty.

First time at the Indianapolis Air Show!

Douglas A-1 “Skyraider”

The Douglas “Skyraider”, powered by a Wright R-3350 18-cylinder radial engine producing 2700 hp, could carry more than 8,000 lbs in bombs, is considered to be the best propeller attack aircraft ever produced, and yet it was literally designed over night in a hotel room. Douglas designers were in Washington, DC in 1944 to see if they could still bid on a new aircraft design for the Navy, and were informed that the new aircraft would only be considered if they produced the plans the next morning. The engineers returned to their hotel, worked all night, and the next morning presented the new design to the Navy, which accepted the plans. Although first flown in March of 1945, first production did not come off the assembly line until 1946, too late for the “Skyraider” to see action in WWII. However, the “Skyraider” served in both Korea and Vietnam where it earned the reputation for the ability to carry heavy loads, loiter for long periods over the target, and absorb large amounts of battle damage and still return home. The most famous role of the “Skyraider” was that of “Sandy” missions in Vietnam, which was the escorting of rescue helicopters to the sites of downed airmen and providing suppressing fire during the retrieval of the pilots. Although it had a propeller and couldn’t fly nearly as fast as the jet aircraft of that era, it could stay at the rescue site and drop bombs and rockets for extended time periods until the pilots were extracted.

Pictured above, Bureau No. 135178, a Douglas AD-5W/EA-1E, was accepted by the Naval Bureau of Aeronautics at El Segundo, CA on June 30, 1953. It then served with VMA-332 in Korea aboard the USS Ranger, making 70 traps during its sea-borne career. During the next 20 years this particular aircraft flew 2,300 hours and was also one of the last Skyraiders retired by the military, leaving active duty on June 17, 1973. It is one of only four AD5/A1Es still flying in the world today, and this specific model is the largest single engine airplane ever built, with an 18 cylinder 3350 cubic inch engine that produces 3020 hp. The AD-5W/EA-1E has six seats in the crew cabin and is currently owned and operated by Eric Downing, President of Midwest Wild Relics Refuge LLC, based at Creve Coeur Airport in Saint Louis, MO. Learn more about the Skyraider at Midwest Wild Relics.

Back by popular demand!

North American B-25J “Mitchell”

The B-25 was made famous by sixteen B-25s that participated in the raid on Tokyo led by Lt. Col. James Doolittle from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet on April 18, 1942. This was accomplished in spite of the fact that the B-25 was never envisioned or designed to take off from an aircraft carrier. This year’s show will see a J model, which was the last B-25 production version manufactured by North American Aviation (NAA). Almost 4,400 B-25Js were built, far more than any other model of the aircraft. The B-25J was an improved B-25H but looked like a cross between a B-25C and a B-25H, with the solid gun nose of the H model replaced by a ‘greenhouse’ with one fixed and one flexible .50-cal. machine gun in the nose for the bombardier to sit, while still retaining the four .50 cal. package guns in the fuselage.

The TB-25J pictured above was built at the North American Aviation facility in Kansas City, KS and was ready for delivery in August 1945, but because the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) contract for B-25’s had been cancelled, the aircraft has placed in storage at Altus, OK. It was removed from storage in 1948 and assigned to Bolling Field, D.C. where it was converted to a pilot trainer and re-designated as a TB-25J. For the next 11 years it carried out pilot training duties at Bolling, Kelly, Offutt, and Wright-Patterson Air Bases, at which point in 1959 Serial Number 45-8898 was released for disposal in and stricken from USAF inventory.

Sold for surplus for $2,202 in 1959, this B-25 sat derelict in Texas until 1983 when it was purchased by a new owner and totally restored. After passing through a third owner, TB-25J 45-8898 was purchased by the Tri-State Warbird Museum in 2004.

Big, noisy on take-off and always fun to watch fly!

Boeing B-17G “Flying Fortress”

For many persons the Boeing B-17 “Flying Fortress” is considered to be the most famous American bomber of World War II, and during that conflict was used extensively to attack both military and industrial targets in Europe, and especially Germany. Attesting to the large scale on which the air war was fought during this conflict, over 4,700 B-17s were shot down by either anti-aircraft artillery or enemy fighters. This was 37% of all “Flying Fortresses” that were produced between 1935 and 1945.

The “Yankee Lady” is a B-17G, of which 8,680 were produced, making it the most produced model, and what is also considered to be the definitive “Flying Fort.” With its (13) .50-caliber machine guns, chin, top, ball and tail turrets; waist and cheek guns, the B-17G was indeed a “Flying Fortress”. It was also valued by the air crews that flew it into combat for its ability to withstand heavy combat damage and still return them safely home.

After missing a year in 2009, the “Yankee Lady”, which is owned and operated by the Yankee Air Force from Belleville, MI, returns for 2010. This attests to her popularity with air show crowds each year.

Yankee Lady will be offering rides during Air Show weekend. Email Norm Ellickson for more info.

Lockheed PV-2 “Harpoon”

The Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon was introduced late in WWII as a follow up patrol bomber to the PV-1 Ventura, which was used extensively by both the US Navy and the British as a land based anti-submarine/shipping aircraft. The 545 Harpoons that were built in 1944 and 1945 had longer wings that resulted in both better controllability and increased fuel capacity for longer range patrols. The Harpoon during these long range patrols could carry up to 3,000 lbs of bombs or depth charges and normally had 5 forward (7 with the dorsal turret rotated forward) firing .50 caliber machine guns for strafing attacks against enemy shipping and ground targets.

Harpoons served with the US Navy in the Central Pacific and in particular out of the Aleutian Islands, where they were part of a campaign attacking the Kurile Islands in northern Japan that became known as the Empire Express. These missions were flown from Attu Island in some of the worst weather imaginable, most of the missions being flown above the cold ocean waters in sub frigid temperatures in foggy skies. However, the dangerous missions were well worth it as it caused the Japanese to allocate 15% of its valuable fighter force to the Kurile Islands to provide air defenses against these attacks, making it easier for US forces to advance more easily in the Central Pacific.

“Hot Stuff”, the PV-2 which is owned and operated by The American Military Heritage Foundation at the Mt. Comfort airport has always been a favorite of the crowd at the Indianapolis Air Show as both a flying and static display. Being one of only 2 flyable PV-2’s in the United States, “Hot Stuff” has been recognized by the State of Indiana Historic Preservation Review Board for its rarity and deemed worthy of a high level of preservation. As a result the Review Board moved to list it on both the National and State Historic Registers. Don’t miss exploring this historically recognized aircraft free of charge, and talk to WWII PV-1 and PV-2 veteran pilots and crew members that will be there with the Harpoon on static display. These crew members will be autographing pictures and posters for a donation to “Hot Stuff’ at the show.

Always a crowd pleaser at the Indianapolis Air Show!


Indy Transponder