|
Welcome to the Commemorative
Air Force
History of Diamond
Lil
The Commemorative Air Force owns and operates
the oldest B-24 type aircraft in existence. It was the 25th of over 18,000 built.
Consolidated Aircraft
Corporation, one of the companies merged over the years into what is now General Dynamics Corporation, produced the first
B-24 Liberator bombers for the Royal Air Force of Great Britain. Early production models of the B-24 were delivered to the
British with the first six off the line known as LB-30A's. This aircraft, the 18th LB-30 of an order of 20 for Great Britain,
was involved in an accident on its delivery flight to Canada in 1941. Consolidated rebuilt it to a transport configuration
and it was used as a company aircraft throughout World War II.
It flew on a scheduled
basis between San Diego, Fort Worth and New York. From its Consolidated serial #AM-927, the plane became known along this
route as "Old 927."
After the war, "Old 927"
was sold to the Contintental Can Company, and flown as an executive transport for about 10 years. Then it was sold to Mexico's
national oil company, Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX), and flown in Latin America until the CAF acquired it in 1967.
Since her Ghost Squadron debut
in 1967, "Old 927" has performed majestically before crowds of thousands of people. In 1971, she was put in the paint scheme
and markings of the 98th Bomb Group of the 9th Air Force.
© Copyright Commemorative Air Force,
Inc. except as otherwise marked. All rights reserved.
Cavanaugh Flight Museum
| B-29/B-24 Press Release 1-21-08 |
|
 |
|
|
Jim Cavanaugh to Sponsor CAF B-29 Bomber - FIFI
The Cavanaugh Flight Museum (“CFM”) and the Commemorative Air Force (“CAF”)
announced today a Cooperative Agreement that will put the world’s only airworthy B-29 back in the air. Jim Cavanaugh
has pledged $1.2 million sponsorship for the re-engine project of FIFI, the CAF’s world famous B-29. “This sponsorship,
together with additional donations from CAF members, should go a long way towards completing the project of putting FIFI back
in the air again,” said Stephan Brown, President / CEO of the CAF. “Fundraising for FIFI by the CAF will continue,
as we still have other restoration maintenance to perform, but Jim Cavanaugh’s generosity will get us a long way down
that track,” Brown continued. Cavanaugh is the main financial support for the CFM and has been a long time benefactor
of warbird projects and the CAF. “The B-29 played such a significant role in history that it is important that this
airplane be preserved. Because of my close relationship with the CAF, I felt the need to get FIFI flying again,” said
Cavanaugh.
Additionally, the B-29/B-24 Squadron Staff of the CAF, which has been assigned with the responsibility
of operating the B-29 and the B-24A, voted unanimously to base these two airplanes at the CFM. According to Lyn Fite, CAF
B-29 / B-24 Squadron Leader, “Up to now, these aircraft were based out of Midland, but this unit move will be beneficial
to the Squadron in many ways,” said Fite. “We will reside in Addison Texas, at the CFM, for six months, while
we perform annual maintenance and we will tour on behalf of the CAF, by our crews, for the other six months.” Steve
Sheridan Director of Maintenance of CFM exclaimed, “We have the facilities and resources to assist the volunteers of
the B-29/B24 and look forward to helping in any way we can.” According to Doug Jeanes, Director of the CFM, visitors
of the museum will be able to view this spectacular aircraft during its annual maintenance, at no additional cost.
The Cavanaugh Flight Museum is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization devoted to promoting
aviation studies and to perpetuating America's aviation heritage; the museum fulfills its mission by restoring, operating,
maintaining and displaying historically-significant, vintage aircraft, and by collecting materials related to the history
of aviation
The Commemorative Air Force is a nonprofit aviation association dedicated to Honoring American
Military Aviation, through Flight, Exhibition and Remembrance. The CAF has more
than 8000 members within 75 units worldwide, flying and restoring 171 vintage Warbirds.
For more information of the Commemorative Air Force go to www.commemorativeairforce.org
|
|
|
Click on a camera for the "Diamond Lil" Photo Album!
|
|
|
