Rare warbirds on the ground at Oshkosh | Ft. B-29s, Lancaster, Helldiver & More!

This video features several rare aircraft seen on the ground at this year's EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh. Most of the videos only show the aircraft on the ground as many didn't display at the show, but this allowed for nice up-close and personal footage.

Aircraft skip:
00:00 - Avro Lancaster Mk.X & B-29 Superfortress (x2)
03:27 - Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver
06:15 - Douglas A-26C Invader
09:22 - North American P-51C Mustang
11:22 - Grumman C-1A Trader
14:48 - North American PBJ-1J Mitchell
17:33 - Douglas AC-47D Spooky

Info on each aircraft:

1. Avro Lancaster Mk.X:
7,377 examples of the Avro Lancaster were built, nearly half of which were shot down during the Second World War. Only two remain in airworthy condition in the world - one of which is the Royal Air Force owned and BBMF operated Mk.1, serial number PA474 - based at RAF Coningsby in Linlconshire, United Kingdom. The other one is seen in this video - FM213 - owned and operated by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Ontario, Canada.

2. Boeing B-29 Superfortress:
Like the Lancaster, only two airworthy B-29s remain in the world, both of which are seen flying together in this video alongside the Lancaster!

3. Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver:
Destined to replace the SDB Dauntless, the faster and more powerful SB2C Helldiver entered US Navy service in late 1942. This one, serial no. 83393, is now the second airworthy example of the Curtiss Helldiver. Having only flown for the first time post-restoration on 23rd July, Fagen Fighters brought their new gem to Oshkosh on its second flight just a couple of days later!

4. Douglas A-26C Invader
Known as 'Millionairess', this Invader has recently returned to the US following a month and a half tour in Europe commemorating the 80th Anniversary of D-Day! It spent three of the last four weeks on tour at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford in the UK, having been in the care of the Aircraft Restoration Company. Only a handful of airworthy Invaders remain, and Millionairess was the only one of her type to make it to Oshkosh 2024!

5. North American P-51C Mustang
There are many Mustangs in airworthy condition all over the world, but the majority of them are from the P-51D series, the variant with the bubble canopy. This Mustang, painted with a red tail and known as 'Tuskegee Airmen' is a P-51C - the main visual difference between the marks of P-51 is the canopy.
The Tuskegee Airmen were the aviators from the 332nd Fighter Group who wore distinctive red markings on their tails - they were just referred to by many as 'The Red Tails'. Used for pleasure flights by the Commemorative Air Force (CAF), it is one of only four P-51C Mustangs in existence.

6. Grumman C-1A Trader
The C-1 Trader was introduced to the US Navy in 1956 and it served until 1988 where it was replaced by the Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye. Only 87 of these aircraft were built with a fair few in private ownership and airworthy condition. All remaining examples of the Trader are in the United States.

7. North American PBJ-1J Mitchell
Most people know of the B-25 Mitchell bomber, but did you know that there was a US Marine Corps/Navy variant? The Navy/Marine Corps ones was known as the PBJ. 'Devil Dog', as this one is known, was built as a B-25 but was restored as a PBJ-1J, the latest variant of the PBJ series.

8. Douglas AC-47D Spooky
The military version of the Douglas DC-3, known as the C-47 became very popular with allied forces during World War 2 with more than 10,000 units being built in total. The full list of C-47 operators is extensive and stretches all over the world, and although they are seen to many as a thing of the past, some of them are still being operated to this day in 2024!

There was another variant of the C-47 which is less spoken about, but certainly packed-a-punch and left its mark or two - the AC-47, the 'attack' version. This particular AC-47, registered as N2805J, served under the 14th Air Commando Wing in Vietnam. It is seen fitted with a couple of 7.62mm SUU-11A Gatling miniguns on the port side of the fuselage.

Interestingly, there is still a variant of the AC-47 still in active military service. The Columbian Air Force operate six examples of the Basler BT-67, essentially the AC-47T. Basler Turbo Conversion was a company founded in 1990 that specialises in the conversion of DC-3/C-47 aircraft into the BT-47, fitted with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67R turboprop engines. The conversions take place in the Basler hangar based at Wittman Regional Airport, AKA Oshkosh!

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[teri]

I live in Oshkosh and for the past decade I had the privilege of just seeing both flying overhead. This year it was an honor to see both in person as well as the Lancaster.

[airailimages]

You've got some nice catches here. Always a pleasure to see the Lancaster at AirVenture. Thumbs up!

[jimfarnell]

My dad was a Canadian and served as a navigator on a Lancaster out of RAF Ludford Magna, No. 101 Squadron RAF in 1944-45… He and his Canadian crew flew 30 missions (mostly at night with some during the day)… I have his log book and photos from some of those missions… seeing that Lanc taxi and takeoff is very special for me…

[ryanmoeller]

I was the crew member on the C1A on the Starboard side wing! That is such an AWESOME aircraft! Thanks for the GREAT video!

[williamlarson]

Was at the Oshkosh Airshow in the '90s, lugging my heavy over-the-shoulder Panasonic and loved it. Great planes, then and now. But your beautiful camera work, fast eye and composures here sure beats the crap 'outa that VHS-era work of mine . . .

[bluevanimaging]

Great photography! Seeing 2 B-29s and a Lanc flying together was really unique...

[threejean]

Thanks for the vid! I went with some friends in the summer of 1985 (hey Ian!). Fifi was there along with a bunch of Mustangs, B-17's and a Tigercat (what happened I thought there were two still airworthy?) The highlight was Concorde. Watching it come in and then do a touch and go and two low passes was pretty awesome! It was hot and sticky and there were a zillion people there. Good times!

[meindertvr]

Thank you for great video. I was also at Oshkosh but had to stay behind public line. You had some great spots 😊

[DblIre]

Nowhere else in the world will you see 2 B-29s and a Lancaster flying in formation.😊

[randemness]

Awesome video to show some of the history that is at Airventure evey year❤

[wfdix]

Thanks for the video! I haven’t seen FiFi in awhile, since my dad died. He was a member of the Confederate Air Force, on the B-17 crew.

[NedskiYT]

Great camera work. Good framing and focus. Proper shutter speed, spinning propellors should be a blur! Very efficient editing.
I can't imagine the fear one would have when seeing HUNDREDS of B-29's or Lancaster's headed towards the city you were in!

[stevecurd]

fantastic footage, 4 RR Merlins on song on the Lanc cannot be beaten

[buzzabuzza]

Superb many thanks for sharing👏👏🙏🙏 It’s heartwarming to think the Lancaster was flying with two B29s from the uk 🇬🇧👏👏

[Tom-Lahaye]

Great seeing two B-29s and the Lancaster together, this Lanc was several years ago in the UK and flew with the other one together.
Learned about the PBJ-1J, this seems to be more of an ground attacker than a pure bomber like the standard B-25. I always like the B-25 because it is so loud, the B-17 seems like a whisper bomber compared to the B-25.
Also the P-51C was cool, the B and C variants are as rare as the Spitfire Mk1 or 2, I had the honour of seeing 3 Mk1 and one Mk2 Spitfires being started up in front of me all at once, and then taking the skies with 8 another later built Spitfires at Duxford.

[mike-gl]

Great seeing "Miss Belle" in the air again...USS Independence 1977 Med.

[AndreiTupolev]

What a beautiful machine the Navy Mitchell is.

[davehadfield]

So, why no footage of the Spitfire and Hurricane? They flew 3 times.

[steveshoemaker]

Good to very
Old F-4 Phantom ll Shoe🇺🇸

[Cormorant]

It's amazing that these old warbirds are still flying. I wonder how they find replacement parts for these planes.