Seen with G-RMAA at the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity's new headquarters and main base just outside RAF Cosford.

Seen at the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity's new headquarters and main base just outside RAF Cosford.

Now void of markings. 317th AW Dyess AFB.

Now void of markings. 317th AW Dyess AFB.

Although still in its RS Ramstein markings this is now operated by 317th AW Dyess AFB. Left Germany end of April. D-Day stripes now removed also.

Built by Douglas at Tulsa, this Invader flew combat missions with the 416th BG of the 9th AF in Europe from December 1944 to August 1945. Post-war it was registered N86481 and I saw it as such when stored at Bradley during my first visit in 1973. In 2012 a nine-year restoration was completed.

This A-10 last served with the 118th FS, 103rd FW of the Connecticut ANG here at Bradley, but earlier saw Gulf War operations with the 354th TFW (Myrtle Beach NC) and returned with the name "The Full Armor of God". In November 2021 it was placed back on display after an extensive renovation.

The Huskie will be well remembered by those attending USAF Armed Forces Days in the 1960s, often performing fire suppression demonstrations. This one had the honour of acting as a guard for Air Force One over the stewardship of three different Presidents. Until recently is was on display next to NEAM's Kaman HOK-1 but it is now in the storage shed.

Until recently this record-breaking F-104 was on display, but a week before before my visit it was unfortunately removed to the storage hangar to make space for an F-15. While based at Hahn AB with the 479th TFW in 1962, it reached a speed of Mach 2.5 at 92,000 ft. When I saw it in 1975, it was outside in a plain light-grey scheme. Four years later it was badly damaged in the infamous tornado that wrecked so many fine airframes in the collection.

Originally intended for American Airlines, this DC-3 was diverted to the USAAF as a C-49J during the war, taking serial 43-1973. Converted back to DC-3 specification, it entered service with Eastern as NC44792 and N44792 after 1948. Sold on as N792G and later familiar as N165LG of Florida Airmotive, it was acquired by NEAM in 1992 and from 2016 received this splendid restoration to its immediate post-war state.

The NEAM has several Kaman helicopters in its collection, appropriate as they are a Connecticut company. A total of 184 SH-2s were built, the USN withdrawing the last of theirs in 2001

A truly unique exhibit at the NEAM is this CBY-3 which underwent an eight-year restoration completed in 2020. A one-off, twin-boom, aerofoil-section fuselage, high-lift airliner, it was built by Canadian Car & Foundry in 1944, registered CF-BEL-X while in the experimental stage. Despite significant interest from the industry and a trouble-free test program, no orders were forthcoming. The designer Burnelli moved back to the US and it was registered N17N, the Loadmaster flying commercially in N Canada and S America until withdrawn at Baltimore. In 1964 it was moved in derelict state to Bradley.

Previously served the 208th Aviation Co, CT NG, here at Bradley International. The sign leaning on the cargo pod covers a serial from a different CH-54

Delivered as an F-89D-40-NO, this Scorpion underwent F-89J conversion but was dropped from the USAF inventory in 1962 after a flying accident. It was damaged in the 1979 Windsor Locks tornado but has just undergone complete renovation, going back on display in CT ANG marks in summer 2023. The tail is from 53-2492

Suffering somewhat from long-term outdoor exposure, this 'Whale' was constructed as an A3D-2 and taken on charge by the USN in 1957, assigned to Heavy Attack Squadron 8 (VAH-8), NAS Whidbey Island, WA. After transfer there to VAH-13 then VAH-123, it was transferred to the NATC, NAS Patuxent River, in whose faded colours it is now on show. It was flown to the Bradley Air Museum. in 1976