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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