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| Abbreviation | CAF |
|---|---|
| Formation | 6 September 1961 (1961-09-06) |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 32°40′38″N96°51′39″W / 32.67722°N 96.86083°W /32.67722; -96.86083 |
| Membership | 13,000 |
| Website | commemorativeairforce |
Formerly called | Confederate Air Force |
TheCommemorative Air Force (CAF), formerly known as theConfederate Air Force,[1] is an Americannon-profit organization based inDallas,Texas, that preserves and shows historical aircraft atairshows, primarily in the U.S. and Canada.
The CAF has about 13,000 members, more than 70 chapters, and more than 170 aircraft,[2] including the world's largest collection of airworthywarbirds.[3]
The origin of the Commemorative Air Force is the organization called the "Confederate Air Corps" created by Oscar Harper in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1953.[4][failed verification] Led by the fictional character "Thaddeus P. Throckmorton" and his recruiting officer "Jethro Culpepper", the CAC established several features that later became key characteristics of the CAF: folksy, tongue-in-cheeksouthern humor; a membership structure based on each member having the equal rank of colonel; and a rallying cry of "Semper, Mint Julep" ("AlwaysMint Julep").
In 1957, Lloyd Nolen and four friends purchased aP-51 Mustang called "Red Nose", splitting the $1,500 cost.[5][6] In 1958, the group made their second purchase: twoGrummanF8F Bearcats[6] for $805 each. Along with the P-51, this gave the pilots two of the most-advanced piston-engine fighters to see service with theU.S. Army Air Forces and theUnited States Navy.
In 1960, the CAF began to seriously search for other World War II aircraft. The CAF colonels were shocked to find that the aircraft which played such a major role in winning World War II were being rapidly and systematically scrapped as obsolete with no efforts, not even by theAir Force orNavy, to preserve any for display for future generations. Thewarbirds that remained airworthy were mostly in private hands modified for air racing or had been converted for commercial use as air freighters and aerial firefighters.
On September 6, 1961, the CAF was chartered as a nonprofitTexas corporation to restore and preserve World War II-era combat aircraft.[7] By the end of the year, the CAF owned nine aircraft. By 1963, the group had achieved their initial goal of acquiring one of each fighter plane operated by U.S. forces during World War II.[6] They held their first airshow on March 10, 1963.[8]
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In 1965, the first museum building was completed at old Rebel Field,Mercedes, Texas. The CAF created a new Rebel Field atHarlingen, Texas, and moved there in 1968,[6] occupying three large buildings including 26,000 square feet (2,400 m2) of museum space. By the end of the decade, the CAF fleet had added medium and heavy bombers such as theNorth American B-25 Mitchell,B-17,Consolidated B-24 Liberator. In 1971, they bought one of the two airworthyBoeing B-29 Superfortresses,FIFI.
In 1976, the CAF sponsored an air show in Harlingen, Texas in which a B-29 bomber piloted byPaul Tibbets, the pilot who flew the B-29 which bombed Hiroshima during World War II, reenacted the atomic bombing of Hiroshima (including a mock mushroom cloud). This air show prompted the Japanese government to lodge a formal complaint with the United States Embassy, resulting in the U.S. government issuing an apology.[9]
In 1983, the American Airpower Heritage Foundation was founded to financially support the CAF.[6]
The group's accomplishments were recognized in 1989 with aNational Aviation Hall of Fame Spirit of Flight Award.[10] That year,Texas GovernorWilliam Clements signed a resolution designating the CAF the air force of Texas.[6]
In 1990, the CAF added two corporations.[6] The first was the American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum, tasked with obtaining and maintaining the CAF'saircraft titles. The second was theAmerican Airpower Heritage Museum, which acquired and maintained the CAF's non-aircraft pieces and static displays.[6] In September 1990, CAF joined a statewide anti-littering campaign (Don't Mess With Texas), filming a low-level, high-speed pass of the B-17Sentimental Journey on a mock bombing run of a highway-littering pickup truck, as part of a 30-second television spot.[11]
In 1991, the CAF moved operations toMidland, Texas,[7] where the group opened theCAF Airpower Museum and the American Combat Airman Hall of Fame.
In April 2014, the CAF announced the move of their headquarters and all of the planes associated with the headquarters toDallas Executive Airport in Dallas, Texas.[7][12][13] The museum and its artifacts (including the nose art collection) were moved to the new headquarters,[14] which it operates as the Henry B. TippieNational Aviation Education Center.
In 2015, the CAF acquired the C-47That's All, Brother, the plane that led the parachute assault on Normandy duringD-Day.[15][16]
On September 28, 1995, aMartin B-26 Marauder operated by CAF crashed nearOdessa, Texas, killing all five crew members.[17] TheNTSB found that the pilot failed to maintain minimum airspeed.[18][19]
On April 14, 2001, the CAF pilot of aFairchild PT-19A was killed in a crash shortly after takeoff atMidland International Airport; the plane's one passenger survived.[20] The NTSB cited the pilot's "failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall".[21]
On May 14, 2001, both CAF crew members aboard aVultee BT-13A died in a crash southeast of Odessa, Texas.[22] The NTSB found that the pilot failed to maintain minimum airspeed.[23]
On June 16, 2005, aPT-26 Cornell operated by CAF crashed inWilliamson, Georgia, killing both crew members.[18][24] The NTSB found that the pilot "attempted a takeoff withflaps extended."[25]
On November 12, 2022, during the Wings Over Dallas airshow, two planes owned and operated by CAF—aBell P-63F and the Boeing B-17GTexas Raiders—suffereda mid-air collision that killed six people.[26]
As of 2020[update], the Commemorative Air Force had more than 13,000 members,[2] in more than 70 regional groups, called wings or detachments, in 27 states and five countries.[27] Several hundred members actively serve as pilots and flight and/or maintenance crew members committed to preserving American combat aviation heritage. The CAF is an all-volunteer organization, made up of members from all backgrounds. Membership is open to everyone age 18 or older, and cadet membership is available for those over 12 years of age. Although a501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt group,[27][28] the CAF has received financial incentives from state and local governments to move to Dallas and operate in Midland.[29][30][31][32]
The American Airpower Heritage Group is the parent organization and is made up of four corporations:[33]
The original name, Confederate Air Force, alluding to theConfederate States of America, started as a joke about the organization's ragtag beginnings. As the collection of warbirds at Central Valley Airport inMercedes, Texas, started to grow, one member painted the name on the side of the originalNorth American P-51 MustangRed Nose. The name stuck, and it grew to the point where the airport was renamed Rebel Field, all members were called "colonels" (a tradition which still remains), and it led to the creation of a fictitious leader named Colonel Jethro E. Culpepper. Ablood chit written on the backs of flight suits and flight jackets stated, "This is a CAF aviator. If found lost or unconscious, please hide him fromYankees, revive withmint julep and assist him in returning to friendly territory. CONFEDERATE AIR FORCE."
In November 2000, the group voted to rename, using the initials "CAF" until a permanent name was selected.[1] Following a 2001 membership vote, the group changed its name to "Commemorative Air Force", effective January 1, 2002.[6] Many felt the name Confederate Air Force was confusing, did not accurately reflect the purpose of the organization, and was detrimental to fundraising efforts.[34] According to CAF chief of staff Ray Kinney, "In many people's minds, the word 'confederacy' brings up the image of slavery and discrimination. We, in no way, are associated with that kind of stuff. So, it gives us, in a way, a black eye."[35]
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As of 2022[update], the CAF owned 179 aircraft, a collection known as the CAF Ghost Squadron.[38] Its aircraft range from the smallStinson L-5 Sentinel andRyan PT-22 to the giant Boeing B-29 Superfortress; the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress; and the Consolidated Liberator B Mk I/B-24A Liberator AM927. Many of the CAF aircraft are rare; the CAF operates one of only two flying examples of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, and the only remaining flightworthyCurtiss SB2C Helldiver. Others, such as theB-24/LB-30 Liberator; the JapaneseMitsubishi A6M Zero; and the Douglas SBD Dauntless are one of only two or three of that type left flying today. The CAF also operatesAxis andWarsaw Pact aircraft such as theMiG 17 Fresco C.
AIRSHO is a yearly event atMidland International Airport showcasing the CAF's aircraft.[8] Because its aircraft tend to be spread out over large geographic distances, and most Ghost Squadron aircraft rarely fly more than a few hours from their home base, AIRSHO is also an opportunity for CAF members to meet up. Ghost Squadron aircraft usually attend AIRSHO every other year. The CAF AIRSHO is the largestwarbird air show in the world, with more than eighty warbirds flying per show.[citation needed]
The CAF has more than 80 wings and squadrons. Starting in 2013, a limited number of larger units may be designated as an "airbase." The first is Airbase Arizona, located atFalcon Field inMesa, Arizona and redesignated in June 2013. Most CAF units are in the United States, but there are three outside the country.
Media related toCommemorative Air Force at Wikimedia Commons