Photographer Jeff Rankin-Lowe

Photographer unknown

Photographer Alberto Storti - Transferred to the Philippine AF

Generating vortices as it displays in the afternoon at Spirit of St. Louis Air Show 2024. The Lightning II is from VFA-125 "Rough Raiders" which is a Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) that also certifies other F-35C units as "safe for flight."

"Spirit of Alaska" displaying at Spirit of St. Louis Air Show 2024.

On static display at Spirit of St. Louis Air Show 2024. The Learjet is assigned to 458th Airlift Squadron based at Scott AFB. It provides executive airlift and aeromedical evacuation under Air Mobility Command. The unit has a distinguished record as a B-29 squadron in WW2 and as a C-7 Caribou squadron during the Vietnam War.

On static display at Spirit of St. Louis Air Show 2024. The aircraft is assigned to VMFA-323, which traces its origin to VMF-323 "Death Rattlers" that was commissioned on 1 Aug 1943 at MCAS Cherry Point. The unit was involved in intense fighting across the Pacific in WW2, producing several aces. VMFA-323 turned in its F-4 Phantoms in 1982 to transition to the F/A-18A Hornet. In 1993 the squadron started to be equipped with the F/A-18C. VMFA-323 was the first USMC Hornet unit to embark aboard CV-43 USS Coral Sea in 1985 and the last such to fly off CVN-68 USS Nimitz in 2021.

Photographer Alberto Storti - to AMARC as CF0296 13 june 2008

Photographer Alberto Storti

Photographer Alberto Storti

On display at Spirit of St. Louis Air Show 2024. The aircraft is operated by VAW-124 "Bear Aces" based at NAS Norfolk. The unit got its nickname for directing numerous intercepts of Tu-95 bombers when it was based at NAS Keflavik in the 1980s. Originally "Bullseye Hummers", it served on Yankee Station. The unit participated in the Gulf of Sidra incident, during Op Desert Storm in which it flew the most combat sorties of any E-2C squadron and in support of Op Enduring Freedom. It transitioned to the E-2D in 2021. VAW-124 is currently under CVW-8 that embarks on CVN 78 USS Gerald R. Ford.

"Bonnie" taxiing in after its display at Spirit of St. Louis Air Show 2024. The P-47 built at Evansville was taken on charge by the USAAF on 18 Mar 1944 with s/n 42-27609. Assigned to the 5th AF, it was abandoned at Dobodura airfield on Papua New Guinea in 1944. The razorback represents the aircraft of triple ace Maj William D. Dunham of 460th FS "Black Ram", 348th FG. The unit flew in New Guinea, Netherlands East Indies, the Philippines, Okinawa and from Itazuke, Japan as part of the Occupation Force. The restored aircraft won the Grand Champion Award at Oshkosh in 2023.

Parked on the apron during Spirit of St. Louis Air Show 2024.

Withdrawn to MASDC on 15th December 1969, declared excess in January 1970 and scrapped. Richards Gebaur AFB closed in 1994 although the Kansas City authorities operated the airport from 1983 until it closed completely in 1998.

On static display at Spirit of St. Louis Air Show 2024. The F4U Corsair on the tail represents VMF-323 "Death Rattlers" that was commissioned on 1 Aug 1943 at MCAS Cherry Point. The unit was involved in intense fighting across the Pacific in WW2, producing several aces. VMFA-323 turned in its F-4 Phantoms in 1982 to transition to the F/A-18A Hornet. In 1993 the squadron started to be equipped with the F/A-18C.

Cdr Thomas Zimmerman keeps it fast and low over the active at Spirit of St. Louis Air Show 2024, showing some of the incredible skills of the Blue Angels.

InverXion Vodka jet taxiing out for departure at Spirit of St. Louis Air Show 2024.

"Flagship Detroit" at Spirit of St. Louis Air Show 2024. This aircraft was built in early 1937 and was delivered on March 2 as the 24th DC-3 to join the American Airlines fleet at Phoenix. The airliner did not serve in WW2 but it had the distinction of flying First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt several times. In 1947 AA sold the DC-3 which changed hands many times over 34 years, finally being used as an aerial sprayer. Capt. George Dennis and the Flagship Detroit Foundation bought the DC-3 in 2004. Restoration by volunteers has seen the aircraft return to its historically correct paint scheme.

Black-tailed Eagle of the 336th FS "Rocketeers", 4th FW on static display at Spirit of St. Louis Air Show 2024. The 336th FIS was the first F-86 unit to shoot down a MiG-15 over Korea on 17 Dec 1950. An F-4E of the 336th TFS shot down a MiG-21 over Vietnam on 15 Aug 1972 for the 4th TFW's only MiG kill.

May/44: TOS USAAF as 43-15982. Based in Florida until 1947 when based with 1102nd Base Unit, Mitchel Field, NY. October /47: 1377th Base Unit, Westover AFB, MA. June/48: Flew missions in the Berlin Airlift. Beginning February/49: Operated from Bermuda, New England, Germany, Austria. 1955: Back to many units in USA. December/63: TOS USA,New Cumberland Army Depot, PA. December/74: MASDC. July/75: Lee County Mosquito Control District, Fort Myers, FL, with c/r N838M. December/10: Dodson International Parts Inc, Rantoul, KS. August/12: The Roasterie, 1204 20th St, Kansas City, MO. Placed on display 18 Sep 2012.