Commemorative Air Force — Local services in Dallas

✈️Commemorative Air Force✈️

OUR HISTORY & MISSION

1 - Lloyd Nolen and a small group of ex-service pilots from the Rio Grande Valley in Texas pooled their money to purchase a P-51 Mustang in 1957. They formed a loosely defined organization to share the pleasure and expense of maintaining the Mustang.

2 - A short while later, the group added a pair of F8F Bearcats to the P-51 Mustang. At this point, the mission of the CAF became clear: save an example of every aircraft that flew during World War II ~ a mission no one else was undertaking.

3 - What started as a hobby became an urgent mission to preserve history.

4 - By 1960, the group began to search seriously for other World War II aircraft but it quickly became apparent that few remained in flying condition. By the end of the war, America had produced nearly 300,000 aircraft. Just 15 years later, almost all the warbirds were gone.

5 - Decommissioned and stripped of armament and instruments, most of these proud warriors were scrapped or abandoned. No one, not even the Air Force or Navy, was attempting to preserve the historic aircraft that changed the world forever.

6 - On September 6, 1961, the CAF was chartered as a nonprofit Texas corporation in order to restore and preserve World War II-era combat aircraft. By the end of the year, there were nine aircraft in the CAF fleet.

7 - In 1965, the first museum building consisting of 26,000 square feet was completed at old Rebel Field, Mercedes, Texas. The CAF created a new Rebel Field at Harlingen, Texas, when they moved there in 1968, occupying three large buildings. The CAF fleet continued to grow and included medium and heavy bombers such as the B-29, B-25, B-17 and B-24.

8 - The organization was originally known as the Confederate Air Force. Following a membership vote in 2001 and made effective on January 1, 2002, the organization is now called the Commemorative Air Force.

9 - Collecting aircraft for nearly a half a century, the CAF now ranks as one of the largest air forces in the world. Today the CAF has approximately 13,000 members and a fleet of more than 175 aircraft representing more than 60 different types—including planes from several foreign countries and other military conflicts since World War II.

10 - The Headquarters of the CAF is located in Dallas. CAF members live in every state and 28 foreign countries. In 26 states and four foreign countries, our members have joined together and formed units to foster camaraderie and, in many cases, actively support one or more of the classic military aircraft operated...

If you are a fan of WWII military aviation and haven’t been, you are missing out. They have a great exhibit about the Tuskegee airmen and the women Air Force service pilots, a room full of actual nose art saved from dozens of bombers that were scrapped after the war, it’s informative and well done. However, the truly amazing part is inside the Victor Agather hangar, where “FIFI”- one of two airworthy B-29’s in the world- and “Diamond Lil” - the ONLY flying B-24 in the world- are based. They regularly host events and air shows, and oftentimes have visitors from the various CAF wings around the country- the photos I’ve added show some of the visitors who have spent time there in the past two years. I’ve gotten up close and personal with “That’s All, Brother”, the beautifully restored lead C-47 in the D-Day invasion, “Tuskegee Airmen”, a P-51C restored as a tribute to the mighty 332nd Fighter Group, “Gunfighter” a beautiful P-51D, “Devil Dog”, a B-25 restored as a Marine PBJ in tribute to VMB 612 ship #3 which went MIA in the Pacific Theatre, “Sentimental Journey”, a stunningly beautiful B-17G restored in tribute to the 457th Bomb Group and her little sister “Maid in the Shade”, a B-25J combat veteran of the European Theatre, and currently they are housing the newest addition to the CAF fleet- the Gulf Coast Wing’s AC-47 Spooky gunship. If you time your visit right, you might get lucky enough to hear some round sound and possibly even get to see one...

Unless you're only looking to see the B-29 or B-24, don't bother. Call 1st to see what planes are there. If they're on tour, it may not be worth your time as the only other things to see is a small room of some WWII artifacts (including original nose art). I've been to every air museum I've ever come across, and I was disappointed in this museum. I thought this being the HQ, it would have more planes and displays, but it had way less than many other wings I've visited. This was more of a walk through a fancy hangar. The Midland AAF Museum High Sky Wing (where the HQ moved from) is an example of a...