Number 40 Number www.warbirddigest.com WARBIRD P-51 MUSTANG TheLITTLELITTLE DIGEST WitchWitch JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2012 / FEBRUARY JANUARY KESTREL POWER ATFlying Legends AvroXH558 VULCAN JetL-39 Transition The Restoration of N139VS Ilyushin IL-2 Shturmovik DISPLAY UNTIL 3/12/12 UNTIL DISPLAY The Phoenix Arises N A GLOOMY October afternoon in 1944, after five days at sea, Lt. Donald Schoen and his 6(inset-left) James Goodwin, Lt. Col Donald Schoen USAF (Ret), squadron mates, Leroy Pletz and Jack Davenport, disembarked their transport ship at the and Lee Lauderback during Don’s reunion with The Little Witch . Oport of Liverpool, England. Lt. Schoen recalled, “Our stay in Liverpool was short and by the next day we were headed to Great Grimbsy for our introduction to the P-51 Mustang.” Upon arrival at Great Grimbsy, Don and his fellow replacement pilots immediately had their first glance at the P-51 Mustang and began their check out. With little bookwork and a quick cockpit introduction, the newly trained fighter pilot set out on his first flight in a Mustang. “On one of my training flights in the 51, when I was up more or less boring holes in the sky, I decided to detour across the channel and take a quick look at France. As I was approaching the French coast I spotted a town or a small city up ahead on the coast and considered dropping down and giving the place a buzz job. But before executing any such steps toward that end, I got to thinking that maybe the town was Dunkirk, which was still occupied by the Germans 5(inset-right) Don Schoen strapped into the rear cock- pit of The LITTLE Witch for his last “mission.” and probably well defended with anti-aircraft guns. As it turned out the town was indeed Dunkirk, and justified my passing it by.” TheThe LITTLELITTLE WitchWitch Story by Brad Lauderback (main-photo) Lee Lauderback at the controls of The LITTLE Witch over the western side of Photography by Paul Bowen the Teton mountains with James Hoff in the back seat. (Photo pilot: Bob Hoff) 10 WARBIRD DIGEST #40 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 WARBIRD DIGEST #40 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 11 “BE AT THE FIELD at 0900 and we’ll fly.” That was going through my mind a heartbeat after a thunderous crash of thunder sent me flying out of bed at 06:30. At 07:30 I called John, “Not looking good; call back at 08:30.” I called at the appointed hour to hear John say, “Get here now; there’s a window in the weather so we can fly!” Twenty minutes later I was on the field just as the chocks were being pulled and the window in the weather started to slide by. Moments later I was in the AT-6 taxing down the runway and taking to the skies. Eighteen minutes later I was back down on the ground as the weather had started to close back in on us and Barbie III had to ferry to its next show. While the flight was short, it was great to be flying alongside this unique piece of history and a small part of its mission today. The Barbie III and its crew do more than just make the public aware of our historic past, they bring it home! The B-25H Barbie III is a magnificent example of a rare warbird that is still flying. She has an amazing past and continues with an important new mission. History Flight, Inc. uses this show stopper to sell rides for a cause—to raise funds for expedi- tions to bring home the IIIIII remains of veterans left BarbieBarbie on distant shores and forgotten battlefields. Flies to Bring Them Home Story and Photography by Moose Peterson WARBIRD DIGEST #40 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 19 ROM ANCIENT LEGEND the story of the mighty Phoenix is told. Nearing (main-photo) Following a six year restoration by Boris Osetinsky’s team at Aviarestora- the end of its life the mythical bird builds a nest where it ignites into flames tion, this IL-2 took to the skies with pilot and is reduced to ashes. From these ashes a young Phoenix arises to Vladimir Barsuk at the controls for the F successful test flights. This is the soar the skies once more. Long gone are the days when Russian Shturmovik world’s only flying Shturmovik IL-2 attack aircraft preyed on invading German armies. From the overwhelming (“Flying Tank”). numbers that once flew, none were airworthy—until now. The Shturmovik Il-2 holds the record of being the It has been reported that the Il-2 suffered one most widely built military aircraft in history, with of the lowest loss rates in the VVS (Army 36,136 built between 1941 and 1946. The Il-2’s reign Air Force) but this is not true. Although losses began in June 1941, when large scale production were significant no other aircraft inflicted such was implemented; carried through production of damage on their Axis enemy, which included the the standard Il-2, which ceased in October 1945; destruction of tanks, cars, men, aircraft, ships, and finished with the Il-2U trainer that was made fortifications, etc. Contributions made by the Il-2 through the end of 1946. With such phenomenal were astounding; earning honor as a key weapon production numbers it is staggeringly unfortunate in Russia’s turning the tide of the war and that only a handful of complete airframes exist in achieving ultimate victory. museums, along with a number of partial airframes recovered from crash sites over the last 20 years. 5(upper-inset) Alexander N. Efimov as a young officer during the Great Patriotic War (GPW), known in the West as World War Two. Efimov survived 222 combat missions and 57 reconnaissance missions, and was credited with the destruction of 126 German tanks, 193 artil- lery pieces, and many other enemy targets. Ilyushin IL-2 U.S. NAVY 5(lower-inset) Air Marshall A. N. Efimov in full Shturmovik dress uniform, including two “Hero of the Soviet Union” awards he received during the GPW. Efimov was the inspiration for the markings of the IL-2 restored by Aviarestoration in Russia for the LEGACYLEGACYThe Phoenix FLIGHTFLIGHT Arises Story and Photography by Flying Heritage Collection in Everett, WA. Story by Mark SheppardTyson Photography Rininger by Boris Osentinsky 24 WARBIRD DIGEST #40 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 28 WARBIRDWARBIRD DIGEST DIGEST #40 #36 JANUARY/FEBRUARY MAY/JUNE 2011 2012 25 BROTHER TIME a Grasshopper Story Story by Stephen S. Chapis 5(inset) Jim Beasley with son Jimmy next to their L-4. Jim- my calls their father-son time “Brother Time” so he thought it was the perfect name for the Grasshopper that his dad is teaching him to fly. Photo: Liz Beasley HE PIPER J-3 CUB made its first flight in 1938. A year later the dark clouds of war descended upon Europe and the United States instituted Tthe Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP). The J-3 became the standard trainer of the CPTP, by the end of the war 80 percent of U.S. military pilots trained in a Cub. After the U.S. entered the war the J-3 took the fight directly to the enemy as the L-4 Grasshopper, serving in dozens of roles in every theater of operations. Today, this particular little Cub serves a dual role—it honors the service of the little known Grasshopper pilots of World War Two and it is also Photo: Greg Morehead training a third generation warbird pilot. 36 WARBIRD DIGEST #40 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 WARBIRD DIGEST #40 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 37 4Ron Staley (left) with Ron has flown his North American T-6 for eight a natural choice due to their popularity, ramp presence, Richard Hess (right) after the years with a group of fellow pilots in Michigan, and because the L-39’s similarity to the L-29 would homeward flight from IJ’s including Dan Schiffer, a long-time T-6 and jet allow him to take advantage of his previous jet training. restoration shop. warbird pilot. Dan was one of the early L-39 Ron said, “When developing a plan for which aircraft drivers in the late 1990s, when he purchased and to consider purchasing I developed a matrix of various restored N139LL. The L-39 was an aircraft type purchase factors, including airframe and engine hours, Ron never conceived he could operate when year of manufacture, electronics, hot or cold seats, starting his flying lessons at the same time period. spare parts, cost and other factors.” Because of Dan Dan introduced Ron to flying L-29s, including Schiffer’s past favorable experience with his L-39 formation jet skills, five years ago. “The L-29 restoration, Ron also retained International Jets (IJ) transition was very straight forward and within ten of Gadsden, Alabama, to help inspect and test fly hours I had my type rating.” Ron recalled. several aircraft. Ron noted, “Having a firm with the depth of experience in L-39 maintenance and When looking for a new jet to buy, Ron quickly directed repair gave me great confidence in this major step his attention to the L-39 advertisements. It seemed like of aircraft ownership.” JetJet TransitionTransition The Restoration of N139VS Story by Greg Morehead as Conveyed by Ron Staley and Richard Hess Walking Through an Open Door (main photo) Owner/pilot Ron Staley and International Jets’ ARBIRD PILOTS find different paths to moving from their private lead painter Tom Wade (back seat) join up with photographer Scott Slocum during EAA AirVenture 2011 for an early morning license into mastering the art and science of historic flying machines.