Heroes And Historic Military Aircraft Will Have Their Stories Shared At Warbirds In Review

Warbirds in Review, an exciting and historically enriched presentation series during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh that brings together historic airplanes with pilots and aircraft owners, returns in 2024 with guests that encompass 80 years of aviation and military history. 

The 71st edition of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s fly-in convention is July 22-28 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.

The twice daily series of “up close and personal” stories will be held July 22-28 at the Warbirds in Review aircraft ramp, located within the EAA Warbirds of America area on the AirVenture grounds. The series is open to all attending AirVenture.

“Warbirds in Review features veterans, aviation legends, and aircraft that simply cannot be seen together in one place anywhere else in the world,” said Connie Bowlin, past president of the EAA Warbirds of America, who organizes the series. 

“Many of these veterans maintain that they were just doing their jobs and nothing heroic or extraordinary, but that could not be farther from the truth. Their stories and unique perspectives on the aircraft showcased at Oshkosh are insightful, poignant, and important for the public to hear.”

The aircraft and personalities at Warbirds in Review this year include those from WWII, the Korean War, and Vietnam. The schedule as of May 24, 2024 (subject to change without notice):

Monday, July 22

• 10 a.m. - Stinson L-5 Sentinel - Captain (Ret.) Steve Seal and Chad Hill, Artist and Historian, Dijanjo Studios
• 1 p.m. - Cessna L-19 Bird Dog - Gerry Asher, Fort Worth Aviation Museum and Colonel (Ret.) Charlie Finch, Catkiller 19

Tuesday, July 23

• 10 a.m.- Cessna A-37 Dragonflys - Colonel (Ret.) Hank Hoffman, Mark Peterson, Colonel (Ret.) Jon “Huggy” Huggins and Charlie Largay
• 1 p.m.- North American P-51B and P-51D “OLD CROW” Mustangs. This program will be a celebration of life for Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Clarence E. “Bud” Anderson, who passed away on May 17, 2024. His friends reach far and wide and run deep in the Warbird and Military communities. Bud Anderson is the only individual featured as a speaker every year since the inception of Warbirds in Review 20-plus years ago. All are invited to this Warbirds in Review program for a celebration of a life well lived.

Wednesday, July 24

• 10 a.m. - de Havilland Mosquito, Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire - Flight Lieutenant (Ret.) Colin S. Bell, Rod Lewis, Stew Dawson, Dave Hadfield and Joe Cosmano
• 1 p.m. - Beechcraft T-34 Mentor and North American T-28 Trojan Trainers 75th Anniversary - Paul Walters, Mick “Thor” Thorstenson, Dan Kirkland, Tom Donovan, and Jim Rohlf

Thursday, July 25

• 10 a.m. - Douglas C-47 Skytrain - Eric Zipkin, Leader of the D-Day Squadron
• 1 p.m. - Curtiss-Wright Helldiver and the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt - Fagen Fighters WWII Museum

Friday, July 26

• 10 a.m. - Beechcraft T-34 Mentor - Chief Warrant Officer Two (Ret.) Walt Fricke, Founder, CEO, and AirBoss, Veterans Airlift Command
• 1 p.m. - Parade - Veterans Tribute

 
Saturday, July 27

• 10 a.m. - Little Friend “P-51” - Major (Ret.) Lucky Luckadoo - “Masters of the Air” (Pending)
• 1 p.m. - Fairchild PT-26 - Kevin Korterud, Danielle Reese, and Dave Holden - members of the CAF Buckeye Wing

FMI: www.EAA.org/airventure