Bomber_12th
SOH-CM-2025
In the lead-up to Oshkosh 2025, less than a month away, three highly-anticipated warbirds, all scheduled to appear there, have all made their first post-restoration test flights this week.
First, Butch Schroeder's combat-vet P-40K Warhawk 'Josephine', 42-9733, returned to flight on Tuesday, for the first time in seven years (following sale from Tom Duffy). Butch and his son Jay have spent the last seven years restoring the aircraft to 100% stock condition throughout, finding and refitting all of the missing wartime hardware. It has also been authentically refinished in the exact same paint scheme/markings it had when it served with the 343rd Fighter Group in the Aleutian Islands (a style of scheme also never seen before on a restored P-40). It will take part in one of the "Warbirds In Review" programs at Oshkosh next month. Photos: Jay Schroeder
Then, yesterday, two warbirds made their first test flights. One was Mark Timken's combat-vet P-51D Mustang, 44-72107, which had been undergoing restoration at Midwest Aero Restorations for the past few years (but which started as a restoration project 16-years ago). This aircraft originally served with the 77th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group, named 'B.J. Belle of the West/Jeane', and it has been finished in its original wartime markings. Although it has been restored with a jump seat, every other detail of the aircraft has been restored to WWII period-correct authenticity (when displayed static, it will likely have one of the Roush-made replica armor plate/radio rack assemblies installed over the top of the aft cockpit). At Oshkosh next month, it will be part of one of the "Warbirds in Review" programs, together with 20th FG veteran pilot Joe Peterburs (who, I would imagine, will be invited for a flight in the back seat). Photo: Midwest Aero Restorations
And the other warbird to take its first post-restoration test flight yesterday was the combat-vet P-38J Lightning 'JANDINA III', 42-103988, which is part of the collection of the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum. It had been under restoration since about 2004, initially at Westpac Restorations and then at Ezell Aviation since 2018. This aircraft, which was assigned to the 80th Fighter Squadron in the Pacific, was one of the personal mounts of one of the top-scoring P-38 aces, Lt. General Jay T. Robbins. The name, 'JANDINA', was derived by Jay T. Robbins by combining an abbreviated form of his name, "J", together with his wife's name, "Ina" - therefore, I have always figured it is to be pronounced as "Jay and Ina". The uncompromising restoration has returned it to looking just as it did when it last flew in April/May 1944, and it is the most stock P-38 now flying with all of the rare bits (working turbos, armor plating, period radios, gun sight, full armament, fabric instrument panel shroud, mirror atop the canopy, etc...). As an example of how detailed/accurate the restoration is, where the serial numbers on the tail were painted at the factory, but then removed after it arrived in the Pacific, they can be seen etched in the metal (the factory-applied nose number has also been done in the same manner, but it is hard to see it in these particular photos). This aircraft too will be part of one of the "Warbirds In Review" programs at Oshkosh next month. Photos: Classic Wings/Jason Muszala/FHCAM
First, Butch Schroeder's combat-vet P-40K Warhawk 'Josephine', 42-9733, returned to flight on Tuesday, for the first time in seven years (following sale from Tom Duffy). Butch and his son Jay have spent the last seven years restoring the aircraft to 100% stock condition throughout, finding and refitting all of the missing wartime hardware. It has also been authentically refinished in the exact same paint scheme/markings it had when it served with the 343rd Fighter Group in the Aleutian Islands (a style of scheme also never seen before on a restored P-40). It will take part in one of the "Warbirds In Review" programs at Oshkosh next month. Photos: Jay Schroeder
Then, yesterday, two warbirds made their first test flights. One was Mark Timken's combat-vet P-51D Mustang, 44-72107, which had been undergoing restoration at Midwest Aero Restorations for the past few years (but which started as a restoration project 16-years ago). This aircraft originally served with the 77th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group, named 'B.J. Belle of the West/Jeane', and it has been finished in its original wartime markings. Although it has been restored with a jump seat, every other detail of the aircraft has been restored to WWII period-correct authenticity (when displayed static, it will likely have one of the Roush-made replica armor plate/radio rack assemblies installed over the top of the aft cockpit). At Oshkosh next month, it will be part of one of the "Warbirds in Review" programs, together with 20th FG veteran pilot Joe Peterburs (who, I would imagine, will be invited for a flight in the back seat). Photo: Midwest Aero Restorations
And the other warbird to take its first post-restoration test flight yesterday was the combat-vet P-38J Lightning 'JANDINA III', 42-103988, which is part of the collection of the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum. It had been under restoration since about 2004, initially at Westpac Restorations and then at Ezell Aviation since 2018. This aircraft, which was assigned to the 80th Fighter Squadron in the Pacific, was one of the personal mounts of one of the top-scoring P-38 aces, Lt. General Jay T. Robbins. The name, 'JANDINA', was derived by Jay T. Robbins by combining an abbreviated form of his name, "J", together with his wife's name, "Ina" - therefore, I have always figured it is to be pronounced as "Jay and Ina". The uncompromising restoration has returned it to looking just as it did when it last flew in April/May 1944, and it is the most stock P-38 now flying with all of the rare bits (working turbos, armor plating, period radios, gun sight, full armament, fabric instrument panel shroud, mirror atop the canopy, etc...). As an example of how detailed/accurate the restoration is, where the serial numbers on the tail were painted at the factory, but then removed after it arrived in the Pacific, they can be seen etched in the metal (the factory-applied nose number has also been done in the same manner, but it is hard to see it in these particular photos). This aircraft too will be part of one of the "Warbirds In Review" programs at Oshkosh next month. Photos: Classic Wings/Jason Muszala/FHCAM
Last edited:
