Warplanes of the USA: Alabama, Historic Photos
Alabama Warplanes
(USAF Photo)
North American RF-51D-25-NT Mustang (Serial No. 44-84522), 160th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Alabama Air National Guard, ca 1949.
Lockheed C-36 Electra, Maxwell Field, Alabama, 27 March 1939. This type was originally designated Y1C-36 and was later redesignated as UC-36. (USAF Photo)
(USAF Photo)
Republic RF-84 Thunderflash of the Alabama Air National Guard, 1961.
(Mike Freer Touchdown-aviation Photo)
McDonnell RF-4C Phantom II (Serial No. 64-0044), 106th TRS/117th TRW/Alabama ANG based at Birmingham IAP, AL, deployed for exercise "Coronet Mobile ", ca 1986.
(Staff Sgt. Miguel Lara III, USAF Photo))
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons serving with the 100th Fighter Squadron, Alabama Air National Guard, 2012.
(USGOV-PD Photo)
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft from the 187th Fighter Wing, Alabama Air National Guard unit operating at Dannelly Field ANGB in Montgomery, on Exercise Dacian Viper, a three-week joint exercise with the Romanian Air Force in 2012.
(USAF Photo)
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, 106th Air Refueling Squadron, Alabama Air National Guard.
Some of the finest military warbirds in American aviation history are still flying in the Southern State of Alabama. Many of them are on display in a number of excellent air museums, or they have been mounted on pylons to stand as memorials to the many military aviators who called Alabama home. This handbook is designed to provide aviation enthusiasts with a simple locating guide on where to find Alabama's retired warbirds within the state. Many of the aircraft can be found in the Southern Museum of Flight, Birmingham; the United States Army Aviation Museum; the US Space and Rocket Center at Huntsville; The USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park at Mobile; Maxwell AFB Park at Montgomery; or in the hands of private owners and collectors. The handbook provides photographs of many of the aircraft preserved in Alabama, along with a brief description and history of its service within the US armed forces. The aircraft are listed alphabetically by manufacturer, number and aircraft type. Famous aircraft found on display in Alabama include the Lockheed A-12 Blackbird, and a number of very rare flying machines not found in other aviation museums. The state once held the only example of the gigantic one of a kind Boeing Vertol XCH-62 Heavy Lift Helicopter.
Order book, soft cover: http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/Products/SKU-000016913/Alabama-Warbird-Survivors-2003.aspx
Hard Cover: http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/Products/SKU-000016792/Alabama-Warbird-Survivors-2003.aspx
Order in Canada: paperback http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Alabama-Warbird-Survivors-Handbook-Where-Harold-A-A-Skaarup/9780595256013-item.html?ikwid=harold+skaarup&ikwsec=Books
Alabama Warplanes
For those of you who are familiar with the airspace over Alabama and its environs, the weather and colours of the landscape can be incredibly beautiful. The Alabama weather is general ideal for flying training. During my tour of duty with NORAD as a member of the Canadian Forces detachment based in Colorado Springs, it had been my privilege to serve alongside a good number of the highly professional airmen and women of both nations working in the Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center, and to work on occasion with the outstanding airmen and airwomen based in Alabama.
As an aviation enthusiast, I have learned over the years that there are a lot of us who have an interest in military aircraft and aviation history. Unfortunately, many retired warplanes which helped to make this history happen have completely disappeared, particularly those from the early years. Fortunately, a good number of retired warplanes continue to exist, preserved in aviation museums and in some cases as gate-guardians in a wide variety of locations.
Many examples of aircraft that saw service with the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC), the United States Army Air Force (USAAF), the United States Navy (USN), the United States Marine Corps (USMC), the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the present day United States Army have been or are currently being salvaged and preserved in Alabama, particularly where they are of significant historical interest.
There are unfortunate numbers of former military aircraft that saw service in the skies over the Alabama landscape and waters that have been lost, but a wonderful collection of historic survivors can still be found and viewed here.
Volunteers working in many of Alabama’s museums have been successful in preserving a good number of retired military aircraft, and many are still being sought and in some cases, being restored to flying condition again. As an aviation artist, photographer and enthusiast, I have attempted to keep track of where these warplane survivors are presently located, and to try to identify at least one each of every warplane ever flown with a military pilot at the controls. For those of like mind, the purpose of this handbook is to provide a simple checklist of the classic heritage aircraft that have been preserved in Alabama. The book includes a number of photographs to try and illustrate an example of each warplane preserved in Alabama wherever possible, and to list the locations in the state for where one can find an example of surviving aircraft now.
It is exciting to see the actual numbers of restored warplanes increasing as a few rare examples are being recovered from their crash sites in the wildlands, traded for, or bought back from owners who have been flying them in other countries. In a few outstanding cases, accurate replicas have been constructed and are making a welcome return appearance. One of the aims of this book is to identify what Alabama’s retired warplanes on active service looked like and to help an enthusiast track down more detailed information about them such as a serial number or museum location which might be helpful in identifying an aircraft. Aircraft are listed in this handbook alphabetically by manufacturer, number and type. The data is also appended with a list of most of the current aircraft found in the various collections and air museums in Alabama.
No list can ever be completely up to date, and therefore, if a reader has additional information to add an update would be most welcome. It is my sincere hope that more of the aircraft like those listed here will one day be added to the list of survivors that have been recovered and restored. An update to the warplanes preserved in Alabama is included here.
Former Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel Harold A. Skaarup
