CAF Warbird Tube

The Hiller UH-12, known to the U.S. military as the OH-23 Raven, played a vital role during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Used for observation, liaison, training, and medical evacuation missions, this versatile helicopter helped pioneer military rotorcraft operations while proving equally valuable in civilian service.  In this episode of CAF Warbird Tube, guest Nick Infantino, founder of the Commem...

The AC-47 “Spooky” was more than a gunship during the Vietnam War—it became a symbol of protection, survival, and hope for troops on the ground in some of the war’s darkest moments.  In this episode of CAF Warbird Tube, we explore the restoration and future of "Spooky 86," the Commemorative Air Force’s AC-47 assigned to the Commemorative Air Force Gulf Coast Wing. Fresh from a major repa...

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the world’s greatest aviation celebration—EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026! Join us on this special episode of CAF Warbird Tube as we welcome Rick Larsen, EAA’s Vice President of Communities and Member Programming, to give us an exclusive preview of what’s in store this July.  From thrilling airshow performances and historic warbird displays to new features, special anni...

Before dawn on D-Day, C-47 Skytrains filled the skies over Normandy carrying paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions into occupied Europe. Months later, during the Battle of the Bulge, those same aircraft flew desperately needed supplies through brutal winter weather to surrounded Allied troops in the Ardennes.  One of those aircraft still survives. In this episode of CAF Warbird Tub...

For decades, Gene Moran rarely spoke about what happened in the skies over Germany.  In Tailspin, author John Armbruster brings that story to life—from a catastrophic fall from a shattered B-17 to the harsh realities of life as a prisoner of war. Along the way, the story becomes something more: a shared journey between two men confronting trauma, loss, and the challenge of telling the truth about...

More than 6,000 Handley Page Halifax bombers were built during World War II. Today, only a handful remain.  At the Bomber Command Museum of Canada, an extraordinary team of volunteers, historians, and restoration experts is working to bring one of these legendary heavy bombers back from history—piece by piece. Using recovered wreckage, rare original parts, and components sourced from around the wo...

For 53 brutal days during World War II, a small group of American servicemen fought to survive on a remote Pacific island with almost no food, constant danger, and little hope of rescue. In this episode of CAF Warbird Tube, we sit down with bestselling military historian and author John R. Bruning to discuss his gripping book, Fifty-Three Days on Starvation Island: The World War II Battle That Sav...

The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was one of the most powerful fighters of World War II—but keeping one flying today is a mission of passion, skill, and persistence. In this episode of CAF Warbird Tube, we go behind the scenes of the  Commemorative Air Force’s P-47 restoration project at Airbase Georgia. CAF member Philip Beegle III and warbird pilot Doug Jeanes share what it really takes to bring thi...

The Avro Lancaster is one of the most iconic bombers of the Second World War, but keeping one alive today is no small task. In this episode of CAF Warbird Tube, host Steve Buss sits down with Don Christopher to take you inside the remarkable Lancaster restoration project underway at the Canadian Aviation Museum.  From tracking down rare original parts to solving major structural challenges, this i...

In this episode of CAF Warbird Tube, filmmaker Zoë Lewin and writer-director Martin Hemingway-Moseley take us inside their award-winning short film A Memory Owed (2025), a deeply personal story that bridges two worlds. Set between a perilous 1944 RAF Bomber Command night mission and a present-day meeting between a 91-year-old veteran and his young caregiver, the film explores how the past continue...

Country music star Aaron Tippin is widely known for patriotic hits like “You’ve Got to Stand for Something” and “Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly.” But beyond the stage, Tippin is also a passionate aviator with a deep appreciation for historic aircraft and the stories they represent.  In this episode of CAF Warbird Tube, Tippin joins the conversation to talk about his lifelong connect...

The CAF AirPower History Tour is gearing up for another unforgettable season—and the big bombers are leading the way. In this episode of CAF Warbird Tube, we share the latest updates on the tour’s anchor aircraft, including the B-24 Liberator Diamond Lil and the B-29 Superfortress FIFI . Get the inside scoop on aircraft status, upcoming tour stops, and how to experience history firsthand with ride...

One of aviation’s biggest events of the year is almost here.  In this episode of CAF Warbird Tube, we sit down with Gene Conrad, CEO of the SUN ’n FUN Aerospace Expo , to preview what visitors can expect at the 2026 show in Lakeland, Florida. From incredible aircraft on the ramp to thrilling flying demonstrations in the sky, SUN ’n FUN has become one of the premier aviation gatherings in the world...

In this episode of CAF Warbird Tube, we dive into the story of Brian Pierson, a self-taught aviation enthusiast who has spent thousands of hours hand-building a full-scale flight deck for a Convair B-36H Peacemaker — right in his West Virginia garage. From a makeshift cockpit to rivet-by-rivet fabrication, Brian’s journey is one of passion, perseverance, and obsession with aviation history.  This...

In 1946, aviation stood at a crossroads, as the world shifted from global conflict to peacetime skies. Join CAF host Steve Buss as he explores how war-built aircraft, pilots, and technology helped shape the postwar aviation boom—transforming tools of combat into symbols of progress, innovation, and hope.  He examines how the legacy of World War II continued to shape aviation’s role in a newly peac...

USS Intrepid’s Fighting Squadron 18 was one of the highest-scoring U.S. Navy fighter units of World War II—and its story is packed with skill, leadership, and raw combat power. Join Warbird Tube host Steve Buss as he sits down with author Mike Fink to explore VF-18: Flying High with Harris’ Hellcats. From the fearsome F6F Hellcat to ace Cecil “Speedball” Harris, this episode dives into how VF-18 d...

What does it take to command bombers separated by half a century of technology? In this episode of CAF Warbird Tube, host Steve Buss sits down with Mark Novak—one of the rare pilots to have flown both the supersonic B-1 "the Bone" and the legendary B-29 Superfortress. With more than 1,000 hours in the B-29, Novak shares what leadership, responsibility, and precision look like across gene...

Before they became aces, bomber pilots, or instructors, thousands of World War II aviators took their very first flights in a Boeing PT-17 Stearman. In this episode of CAF Warbird Tube, we visit the Commemorative Air Force’s Indiana Wing to explore their beautifully restored PT-17—an aircraft that trained the heroes who won the skies. Learn what makes the Stearman such an enduring favorite and how...

The Vultee BT-13 Valiant—nicknamed the “Vultee Vibrator”—was the backbone of pilot training during World War II. Nearly every U.S. Army Air Forces combat pilot first learned to fly in this trainer, including thousands who trained at Walnut Ridge Army Airfield in Arkansas.  In this episode of CAF Warbird Tube, we spotlight the Razorback Wing’ s ambitious ground-up restoration of their 1941 BT-13A....

Built in 1943, the SNJ-5 Texan N7300C trained generations of Navy pilots at Pensacola Naval Air Station. Nicknamed “The Pilot Maker,” the Texan earned its reputation for being both challenging and deeply rewarding to fly. Its powerful Pratt & Whitney engine, responsive controls, and forgiving nature taught aviators the finesse and confidence they needed to master combat aircraft. Today, this g...

Eighty-five years ago, the North American P-51 Mustang took flight for the very first time—ushering in a new era of fighter aircraft. Known for its speed, range, and unmistakable roar, the Mustang became one of the most decisive aircraft of World War II and a symbol of American airpower. In this special anniversary episode of Warbird Tube, we commemorate the Mustang’s first flight and explore how...

The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk remains one of the most recognizable fighters of World War II. In this episode of Warbird Tube, we examine the current condition of the Commemorative Air Force’s P-40, a regular performer in the exciting TORA! TORA! TORA! Airshow Act. Join guests Taylor Stevenson and Parker Rathbun, both CAF pilots of the Warhawk, as they share behind-the-scenes insights into what it takes...

In this episode of CAF Warbird Tube, we’re joined by the Mid Atlantic Air Museum to explore their remarkable restoration of the Northrop P-61 Black Widow—a WWII-era night fighter designed specifically for after-dark missions. This twin-engine aircraft was equipped with onboard radar, four 20mm cannons, and four .50 caliber machine guns, making it one of the most formidable interceptors of its time...

Abandoned on an Alaskan sandbar for more than four decades, the B-25 Sandbar Mitchell is rising again. In this episode, we’re joined by Patrick Mihalek, Museum Director and Head of Restoration at the Warbirds of Glory Museum, to hear how his team recovered this once-lost bomber and is bringing it back to life—preserving history, inspiring youth, and keeping the legacy of WWII aviation alive. You c...

Join us for a special episode of CAF Warbird Tube as we dive into the extraordinary life and legacy of Major Richard Bong, America's top fighter ace with 40 official victories, not just of WWII but all aerial conflicts. Our guest, acclaimed author and historian Bruce Gamble, brings his deep expertise to the conversation, sharing rare insights and compelling stories about Bong’s service in the...