Arrival Day for the
2005 Hawthorne Air Faire
Friday, August 12

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A variety of vintage airplanes arrived at Hawthorne Municipal Airport on Friday the thirteenth for the Air Faire that was held on Saturday, August 14. The Air Faire is sponsored by the Western Museum of Flight, which is housed at the airport.

The Western Museum of Flight in conjunction with the City of Hawthorne and Hawthorne Municipal Airport, Jack Northrop Field, staged an Air Faire on Saturday, August 13, 2005. The theme of this year’s Air Faire was "Heavy Metal".

More than 50 classic and vintage aircraft flew in for public display, including a World War II B-17 Flying Fortress and four North American B-25 Mitchell bombers, the type that staged the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo in April 1942, less than five months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that marked the beginning of World War II.

See Jack Northrop Field on Google Earth.

North American B-25J Mitchell, N3675G Photo Fanny has been registered to James Maloney of Corona Del Mar, California since January 10, 1978. Its Army Air Corps tail number was 44-30423. Its construction number is 108-33698. While in the Air Force it was modified and re-designated TB-25J, EB-25J, and finally JB-25J. It was retired in 1958 and stored at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. National Metals of Phoenix, Arizona gave it its current registration on July 30, 1959 and then sold it to John Carter and John Jacobson of Rancho Cordova, California in March 1960. Ed Maloney and The Air Museum at Ontario, California bought it in 1965. Ed's son James took possession in 1973. It has been named Shangrila and Betty Grable. It appeared in the movie Pearl Harbor. It is often used for air-to-air photography sessions of the warbirds flying out of Chino. It is powered by a pair of Wright R-2600 radial engines.

Mooney M20C, N7182U was built in 1964. Its construction number is 2764.

Cessna 150L, N1271Q was built in 1971. Its construction number is 15072571.

Vultee BT-13A, N53331 was built in 1941. Its construction number is 1491.

Murphy Super Rebel, N422GJ was built in 2004.

Link to the Pilotfriend.com page describing the Murphy Super Rebel.

North American B-25J Mitchell, N30801 Executive Sweet has been registered to the American Aeronautical Foundation of Thousand Oaks since July 1985. Its Army Air Force serial number was 44-30801 and its North American construction number is 108-35126. It was converted to the TB-25N configuration before its retirement by the Air Force. It was retired in 1958 and stored at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Fogle Aircraft of Tucson, Arizona registered it as N3699G on September 9, 1959. Christler and Avery Aviation of Greybull, Wyoming bought it in January 1960 and converted it to an aerial sprayer. Filmways Incorporated of Hollywood acquired it in 1968 and restored it as Vestal Virgin for the movie Catch-22. Tallmantz Aviation of Orange County, California bought it in August 1971. Ed Schnepf and Challenge Publications of Van Nuys, California bought it in February 1972 and changed its registration to N30801 in 1978.

Diamond Aircraft DA40, N326DS was built in 2004. Its construction number is 40377.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, N3509G Miss Angela. It was delivered to the U. S. Army Air Corps as 44-85778. It was converted to a TB-17H trainer and then to a VB-17G VIP transport. Ace Smelting, Incorporated of Phoenix, Arizona bought it on August 14, 1959 and gave it its current registration. Sonora Flying Service of Columbia, California acquired it on September 20, 1960. Leo Demers of Madras, Oregon bought it on May 25, 1961 and flew it as tanker #97. Aero Union Corporation of Chico, California bought it on April 29, 1966 and flew it as tanker e16. Central Air Service of Rantoul, Kansas acquired it on June 2, 1972 and flew it as tanker f42, #42, and #102. Western Air Contractors of American Fork, Utah bought it on July 6, 1978 and sold it to Westernair of Albequerque, New Mexico on June 15, 1981. Aircraft Component Equipment Supplies of Klamath Falls, Oregon acquired it on March 28, 1982 and placed it in storage at Stockton, California in 1984. Arthur McDonnell of Mojave, California bought it in July 1990 and sold it to Florida Aircraft Leasing Corporation of Miami, Florida in February 1991. The Lone Star Flight Museum of Galveston, Texas and World Jet International of Fort Lauderdale, Florida acquired it in April 1991 and named it Miss Museum of Flying. It has been registered to Pond Warbirds since July 3, 2001. It is now named Miss Angela and is based at the Palm Springs Air Museum.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, N3509G Miss Angela.

Elmer Ward's North American P-51D Mustang, NL44727 Man-O'-War originally carried Army Air Force serial 44-72739. Its North American construction number is 122-39198. For a number of years it sat in open storage on the Universal Studios lot until Ascher Ward of Van Nuys, California recovered it in August 1970 and registered it as N44727 in 1971. For a while it was named Poontang. Elmer Ward acquired it in 1975 and restored it to the appearance of his original WW-II mount, 44-14292.

North American P-51D Mustang, NL44727 Man-O'-War.

Hawker Sea Fury FB Mk II, N260X has been a regular participant in Southern California airshows for over a quarter of a century. It still has a Bristol Centaurus engine with a five-bladed propeller. It was delivered to the Royal Australian Navy as WH587 on March 7, 1952. It was retired on September 3, 1963. G. Grieg of Sydney bought it in 1963 and sold it to Lord Tefgarne of Sydney in 1964. Grant Weaver of San Jose, California gave it its current registration in May 1965 and flew it as Race #33. Stan Booker of Fresno, California bought it in 1967 and sold it to James R. Fugate of Aurora, Oregon in 1969. Sherman Cooper of Merced, California bought it in 1971 and sold it to Westernair of Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1972. Ellsworth Getchell and Gretchell Aircraft Incorporated of San Jose, California acquired it on July 7, 1975.

Mitsubishi A6M3 Model 22 "Zero", NX712Z is part of the collection of the Southern California Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. It has been registered to the Liberty Aero Corporation since February 1998. Its Mitsubishi construction number is 3869. It was found on New Guinea near the town of Babo. Its restoration was begun in Russia and completed in the United States. It is powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1830 radial engine.

Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat, N7825C originally wore Navy BuNo 122674 and it carries that number again today. Its Grumman construction number is D.1227. It was built in 1948. E. Weiner of Los Angeles registered it under its current tail number in 1958. Leo Demeers of Aurora, Oregon bought it in 1963 and sold it to Larry Hamilton and Hamilton Aircraft of Sonoma, California the same year. Richard Tobey of Newport Beach, California in acquired it in 1966 and then sold it to Paul Finefrock of Hobart, Oklahoma in 1969. Gary Levitz of Long Beach, California picked it up later that year. It has belonged to the Confederate Air Force since 1972. It underwent a major rebuild from 1989 to 1991. It made its first flight after the rebuild on December 17, 1991. It is now registered to the American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum and based with the Southern California Wing of the Commemorative Air Force at Camarillo.

North American P-51D Mustang, N4223A was delivered to the Army Air Corps as 44-84864 and it carries that number again today. Its construction number is 124-44720. On august 27, 1945 it was transferred to the National Advisory Committtee for Aeronautics as NACA 126. It was retired on July 12, 1957. The Kibler brothers gave it its current registration in 1957. Sidney Franklin of Pacific Palisades bought it in 1963 and sold it to Glenn Johnson Realty of Sacramento, California in 1966. Michael Coutches of Hayward, California bought it in 1969 and loaned it to the Wagons to Wings Museum of Morgan Hill, California in 1979.

Dragonfly, N1941G was built by Troy Burris in 1984. Its construction number is 457.

North American AT-6D Texan, N7300C was ordered by the Army Air Corps as 41-34524, but it was diverted to the U. S. Navy as BuNo 43763. Its construction number is 88-15754. Edward H. Swan of Pleasant Point, California gave it its current registration in 1963. Claude E. Morey of San Rafael, California bought it in 1966 and sold it to Lee R. Donham of Santa Rosa, California in 1970. Robert Mora of Grand Forks, North Dakota bought it in 1976 and sold it to Vincent Murphy of San Diego, California in 1984. The former Confederate Air Force of Harlingen, Texas acquired it in 1991.

Link to the Warbird Registry page about North American AT-6D Texan, N7300C.

North American B-25J Mitchell, N8195H Heavenly Body was manufactured by North American at Kansas City in late 1944 and was accepted by the U.S Army Air Force in February 1945 as B-25J-25-NC, 44-30748. Its North American construction number is 108-34023. Ace Smelting Incorporated of Phoenix, Arizona acquired it as surplus for $1,143 on May 19, 1959. The registration N3447G was reserved for it but not taken up. Alson-Niblock Flying Incorporated of Elkhart, Indiana registered it as N8195H in May 1959 and sold it to Christler and Avery Aviation of Greybull, Wyoming in December 1959. An agricultural hopper and spray bars were installed in it in January 1960. Filmways Incorporated of Hollywood acquired it in 1968 and restored it as Miss Renee for the movie Catch-22. It was painted as M&M Enterprises at the end of the film. Tallmantz Aviation of Orange County, California bought it in August 1971. Milan S. Pupich of Van Nuys, California bought it in March 1972 and restored it to airworthy status in 1974.

Link to the Warbird Registry page about North American B-25J Mitchell, N8195H Heavenly Body.

Canadian Car and Foundry Harvard IIA (license built North American AT-6 Texan), N96281 was delivered to the Royal Canadian Air Force as 3832 on May 13, 1941. Its construction number is 81-4099. It was struck off charge on November 1, 1960. Lester Abbey of North Surrey, British Columbia registered it as CF-NIA in 1965. Richard D. Benner of Anchorage, Alaska gave it its current U.S. registration in 1976. It was damaged in a gear up landing at Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona on March 7, 1978. The former Confederate Air Force of Harlingen, Texas acquired it on February 5, 1979.

Link to the Warbird Registry page about Canadian Car and Foundry Harvard IIA, N96281.

North American SNJ-5 Texan, N89014 was ordered by the Army Air Corps as 41-34524, but it was diverted to the U. S. Navy as BuNo 84865 in 1943. Its construction number is 88-16676. It spent some time in the service of the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force. Dennis G. Buehn and Warbirds West of Compton, California recovered it from Japan in October 1977 and registered it as N89014. Brandon O'Brien bought it in 1979. The former Confederate Air Force of Harlingen, Texas acquired it in 1986.

Link to the Warbird Registry page about North American SNJ-5 Texan, N89014.

OMF-100-160 Symphony, N290MF was built in 2002.

Fairey Firefly AS-6 N518WB, North American T-28A Fennec N632NA, and Douglas A-1H Skyraider NX39606.

Fairey Firefly AS-6, N518WB has been registered to Edward Kurdziel of Del Mar, California since February 2003. It was built in 1950 and is a veteran of the Korean War. It flew for the Royal Australian Navy as WB518 and still carries that ID. Its Fairey construction number is F.8646. For a while, it was displayed on a pole at Griffith, New South Wales. Classic Aviation Pty Limited of Bankstown, NSW acquired it in 1991. It was restored using parts of Firefly WD828

Visit the web site of Fairey Firefly WB518.

North American T-28A Fennec, N632NA was ordered by the Air Force as 51-7632 but it was diverted to L'Armee de l'Air as Fennec No. 1 in 1959. Its construction number is 174-485. It spent some time in the service of the Moroccan Air Force as CN-AEP. It was transferred to the FA Honduras as FAH-227 in 1978. It was registered in Honduras as HR-226A. Courtesy Aircraft Incorporated of Rockford, Illinois gave it its current registration in September 1985. William S. Sullivan of Verona, New Jersey bought it in 1987 and sold it to DMS Management of Manchester, New Hampshire in 1989. It has been registered to Warbird Aircraft LLC of San Diego, California since October 26, 2000

Link to the Warbird Registry page about North American T-28A Fennec, N632NA .

Douglas A-1H Skyraider, NX39606 is registered to Warbird Aircraft of San Diego. Its Navy Buno was 139606 and it was delivered to the South Vietnamese Air Force. It was recovered through Thailand by Yesterday's Air Force in 1980. It was registered as N3915B by Military Aircraft Restoration Corporation at Chino in 1983. The Donald Douglas Museum at Santa Monica registered it as NX39606 in July 1988 and passed it on to the Santa Monica Museum of Flying in 1990.

Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless, NX670AM of the Planes of Fame Museum. It was built as Navy BuNo 28536 but delivered to the Royal New Zealand Air Force as NZ5062. It was assigned to No. 25 Squadron and flew 30 combat missions against Rabaul. After the war it was used as a wind machine by MGM Studios. Wings from another SBD were recovered from Guadalcanal to return this Dauntless to flying condition in 1987. It flew its first flight after reconstruction on July 2, 1987. It is powered by a Wright R-1820 radial engine.

Curtiss P-40N Warhawk, NL85104 was delivered to the Army Air Corps as 42-105192. It was delivered to the Royal Canadian Air Force as 858. Fred Dyson bought it and 42-106396 at Boeing Field, Seattle, Washington on October 23, 1947. It was owned by W. Bridges in Jackson, Mississippi from 1952 to 1954. Louis Rice of Marysville, California bought it in 1954 and very quickly sold it to Richard Rowlette of Riverside, California. Walter Brockin, also of Riverside, acquired it in 1955 nd then sold it to W. Keith Larkin of Weather Modification Company in San Jose, California. It was damaged in a wheels up landing near Denver, Colorado in 1958. The Air Museum in Ontario restored it to static display condition in 1959. Restoration of the airframe was begun in 1977. It made its first flight after restoration in 1981, when it acquired its current registration. It is powered by an Allison V-1710 twelve-cylinder engine.

Saia-Marchetti S.205/22R, N992WA was assembled by Waco in the United States as an S220 VELA in 1967. Its construction number is 372.

Cessna 305C, N919BD was built in 1957. Its construction number is 24551. It is restored as a U.S. Army O-1E Bird Dog.

North American T-28C Trojan, N28XC was delivered to the U. S. Navy as BuNo 140514 in 1954.

Beech T-34A Mentor, N2042Y was built in 1955. Its construction number is G-826.

Curtiss C-46F Commando, N53594 China Doll served the Army Air Force as 44-78663. Its Curtiss construction number is 22486. Riddle Airlines operated it from August 1960 to July 1963. Zantop Air Transport operated it from July 1963 to September 1966. After flying for Ortiner Air Services it was acquired by the Confederate Air Force of Midland, Texas in 1991. It is registered to the American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum and based with the Southern California Wing of the Commemorative Air Force at Camarillo.

Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat, N1078Z Minsi III. Its construction number is A-5634. John Sandberg recovered it from the Fergus Falls Airport in Minnesota in 1962. It was subsequently owned by Lloyd Nolan from 1972 to 1973 and Ed Messick from April 9, 1973 to 1990. The Confederate Air Force acquired it in 1990. It has been registered to the American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum since 1991. It is part of the collection of the Southern California Wing of the Commemorative Air Force and is based at Camarillo.

North American B-25J Mitchell, N8163H Mitch the Witch II was delivered to the Army Air Corps as 44-86747. It is restored as B-25C 42-87293. Its construction number is 108-47501. After the war, it was converted to a TB-25N trainer. The Air Force retired it in 1958 and stored it at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Alton C. Mosley of Fairbanks, Alaska gave it its current registration on May 4, 1959. In July 1959 it was converted to a fire fighting tanker with a 2,000-gallon retardent tank. Merric Inc of Anchorage, Alaska bought it in April 1961 and sold it to RJD Corporation of Fairbanks in February 1965. Aero Retardant of Fairbanks bought it in April 1967 and operated it as tanker #7. Noel M. Wien of Anchorage, Alaska bought it in February 1977 ands sold it to the Planes of Fame Air Museum of Chino, California in 1978. Robert Pond and Planes Of Fame East of Spring Park, Minnesota bought it in March 1986. It has been part of the collection of the Palm Springs Air Museum since 1997. It flew as the Ruptured Duck in the movie Pearl Harbor.

Fiesler Fi-156C Storch, NX41FS was built under license by Moraine Saulnier in France in 1944. It has been registered to Steve Ericson since 1997. It is based at the Milestones of Flight Museum at Fox Field near Lancaster. Its original 8-cylinder inverted-V engine has been replaced with a horizontally opposed 6-cylinder engine.

Antonov An-2, N2AN Big Panda was built in 1984. Big Panda has been registered to Carl Hays of San Diego since 1993.

Bell P-63C King Cobra, NX163BP Pretty Polly is part of the collection of the Palm Spring Air Museum. It has been restored as P-63A, 42-68864. It served as a memorial display at Elliot White Springs Park in Lancaster, British Columbia from 1950 to 1960. Don Whittington of Fort Lauderdale, Florida re-imported the hulk into the united States and sold it to the Confederate Air Force of Harlingen, Texas in 1984. Robert J. Pond and Planes Of Fame East of Minneapolis-Flying Cloud, Minnesota bought it in 1988 and returned it to the air with its current registration on October 2, 1992.

North American P-51D Mustang, N514DK is registered to DK Warbirds at Las Vegas. Its North American construction number is 124-48311. Its orginal Army Air Force serial number was 45-11558. It was registered as N6175C by Aerodynamics Inc. of Pontiac, Michigan in 1963. James Gorman of Mansfield, Ohio bought it in 1966 and then sold it to Herbert Rupp of Port Salerno, Florida. It crashed in Georgia in 1967 and was rebuilt using parts of 44-74829 and 44-73822. It was registered to John Dilly of Auburn, Indiana in 1969. John Rutherford of Fort Worth, Texas acquired it in 1978. It was sold to Courtesy Aircraft of Rockford, Illinois in 1982 and then to Joe Kasperoff at Montebello, California a year later. It crashed on take-off at Van Nuys on August 6, 1985. Bill Jones registered it as N151BJ for a short while before receiving its current registration in August 1999.

Vertol H-21B Shawnee, N64606 flew for the Army as 54-4001. It is registered to the Classic Rotors Museum at the Ramona Airport.

Vertol H-21B Shawnee, N64606.

Cessna 190, N9848A was built in 1950. Its construction number is 7541.

Cessna 190, N190RC was built in 1953. Its construction number is 16056.

The Western Museum of Flight is a non-profit, educational institution dedicated to preserving and displaying the artifacts of Southern California’s aviation heritage. It is located at Hawthorne Municipal Airport, Jack Northrop Field, 12016 Prairie Avenue (corner of 120th Street and Prairie Avenue). Admission is $3.00 for adults; children 12 and under are free. Normal hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM to 3 PM. Information regarding special events is available by calling 310-332-6228, or consulting the Western Museum of Flight Web site.

Previous Hawthorne Arrival Days

2003

A variety of vintage airplanes arrived at Hawthorne Municipal Airport on Friday August 15, 2003 for the Air and Auto Power Show on Saturday August 16.

2004

A variety of vintage airplanes arrived at Hawthorne Municipal Airport on Friday the thirteenth for the Air Faire that was held on Saturday, August 14, 2004.

The Southern California Airshow Page has a comprehensive list of airshow dates.

Go to the Airshow Page of the Goleta Air and Space Museum.

Send a message to Brian.