Deadly mid-air collision at the Wings over Dallas airshow - B-17 "Texas Raider" lost

 

Screen shots of the mid-air at the Wings over Dallas airshow involving the B-17 "Texas Raider" (44-83872) and P-63 "TEST" (42-68941), both of the Commemorative Air Force. Unfortunately the B17 was in the Kingcobra's blind spot under its nose and appears to hit the B17 around the waist gunner's position severing the tail off. 

" ..Just got back home from Dallas and the Wings Over Dallas put on by the CAF. It is their largest show. It was shut down due to one of their B-17s colliding with a P-63 King Cobra at the south end of the airport just before the runway area. The information as to how many people on board the B-17 has not been released nor has their status. The crash occurred during their flying routine with several B-17s, some B-25s, some P-51s, a B-24 and a P-63. At first, it was thought to be some pyro technics going off at the wrong time, but when the fire went out of control for the two airport firetrucks to contain, most people realized it was something else. The airshow was shut down and all spectators were ordered to leave the airport. When I left there were about 40 different first responder vehicles at the scene, along with a Med-Vac helicopter and a few news helicopters. The explanation as to what happened has not been released, but the bombers were lining up to portray a bomber sweep with fighter aircraft flying cover that would pass at a low level parallel to one of the runways running north and south where the air show crowd was gathered. It happened as the group was turning to approach the runway from the south..." georgeusa on BM

"... the P-63 banked pointing his belly at the B-17 ..[and].. he completely lost situational awareness doing this. He could no longer see the B-17. The P-63 already has terrible blind spots. An aircraft overtaking a slower aircraft is responsible to keep view of that aircraft. This was totally preventable, from the planning, controlling, and the flying. And yes, I trained and I am qualified in Human Factors facilitation in military aviation. There are far too many warbird owners who should not be in the cockpit. The aviation safety net is supposed to prevent these types of accidents..." scooby on BM

 

Headcorn Aero-Legends Battle of Britain airshow 24-26 June 2022

 

Aero Legends have put on another super little show from Headcorn, opened by the Red Arrows on Friday afternoon. A few of my images from the flight line and more great shots by my friends Matt (Hayward), Colin Brown and Alfred Cassell.

The show opened on the Friday lunch time with the Red Arrows. the Strikemaster duo cancelled for the weekend and the BBMF Lancaster also cancelled again ..due to high crosswinds at Scampton. 'Sally B' again graced the show, operating out of Lydd. I had no idea that this aircraft - now flying for over 40 years in the UK - is owned through this period by a Danish woman, Emmy Sallingboe; hence the name..

..and the show was filmed by Planes TV ....see the 'takeoffs' selection below...a single click to view here..

Superrmarine Spitfire T.9 NH341 'Elizabeth' and Spitfire Mk IV TD314 'St George', respectively flown by Charle Brown and Antony "Parky' Parkinson, chase a Buchön in a mock dogfight over Headcorn airfield at Saturday's  display.  (Ian Andrews)

And also on this blog - highlights from last year's Headcorn air show 

https://falkeeinsgreatplanes.blogspot.com/2021/07/more-great-shots-from-aero-legends.html

Flying Fortress crash landing, Kyushu Q1W Tokai

B-17 Flying Fortress carries out a crash landing on 23 June 1943 - location, probably North Africa, no other details known.

Fourth pic down was actually advertised as a Ju 88 night fighter - although similar in appearance to the Ju 88 the Kyushu Q1W Tokai was a smaller aircraft than the Ju 88. Developed for the Japanese Navy as a land-based anti-submarine patrol bomber, it was assigned the Allied reporting name Lorna. I have no details on the Pacific scene in the fifth photo in this post. Antikfuchs Ebay sales...

12th Air Force B-17 Flying Fortress Group filmed in North Africa during December 1942

From airboyd.tv 
"...More silent film footage, so I added period music to it as it's a long clip. All I've been able to figure out is that the 97th and 301st bomber groups, were moved from the Eighth Air Force in England to the Twelfth Air Force in North Africa. Feel free to comment the planes, places etc...I think it's Tunisia..."

A single click to watch here, two clicks will take you to airboyd.tv. I have included some low-res screen shots to give you a flavour of the clip...