Chino Airshow Salutes Greatest Generation

Story And Photos
By Jim Mumaw

A cool, brisk morning greeted the throngs who flocked to Chino, Calif. last month for a Salute to the Greatest Generation at the annual County of San Bernardino Planes of Fame Airshow.

To those who remember the unseasonable heat wave of 2008 that blasted the ramp with temperatures in excess of 115 degrees, this was heaven. Still, it wouldn’t have mattered if those BBQ temps did return, the ramp would be packed because of what was on it - warbirds and more warbirds.

The Salute kicked off with the National Anthem followed by a “missing man” formation which, this year was very poignant considering the museum (and aviation) lost a great friend in double ace Walker “Bud” Mahurin, who had passed away on May 11th at his home in Newport Beach.

Then no fewer than 10 P-51 Mustangs made several passes low over the field in trail formation, the familiar roar of the Merlin engines echoing throughout the historic airfield.

The huge crowd was treated to almost anything that any warbird aficionado could ask for. There were the Navy aircraft from WW II including F-4U Corsairs, two F6F Hellcats, an Avenger, an SBD Dauntless, a Fairey Firefly, and the only fully original (right down to the power plant) Japanese Zero flying in the world today. Even Skyraider Bob got into the act with his huge A-1 and his team’s companion T-28 Trojan.

Clay Lacy brought his military gray Learjet from “Area 37” to the show and put the aircraft through its paces in smart order.

Civilian airshow performers included Margi Stivers and husband, Hartley Folstad with their trademark Stearman and “Tumbling Bear” Rob Harrison in his Zlin 50. This is a man who survived a violent crash not only to walk again, but also to return to high energy world of aerobatics. And by the time you read this, Rob will have turned 69 years of age, or maybe 12, it’s hard to say.

All day, there seemed to always by something happening with no gaps in the scheduling.

During the scheduled breaks in the flying, there were interviews with  Gen. Johnny Alison, Clarence “Bud” Anderson and John Doolittle, the son of the famed pioneering aviator Jimmy Doolittle (a fine pilot in his own right), as well as Tuskegee Airman Bill Holloman; WASP P-51 pilot Vi Cowden, P-51 pilot Bill Spengler and B-17 ball turret gunner Wilbur Richardson.

The Army Air Corps fly-bys began after the intermission. The action was hot and heavy as Mustangs, Lightnings, Mitchells, three Warhawks (OK, one was painted as a Kittyhawk), and even a Spitfire kept photographers scanning and panning. And, how often does one get to see a P-51A Mustang fly let alone with its attack version, the A-36 Apache?

Also, both days, the crowds were treated to a sight long overdue above Chino  the wing was back. Yes, that Northrop N9MB flying wing made many passes to the delight of all on hand.

The little yellow and blue boomerang-shaped wing cut a pathway back in history as it flew smoothly through the blue skies.

The Horsemen, after flying their demonstration last year in F8F Bearcats, returned to P-51 Mustangs this year. Not just any P-51s, though, but a formation of two P-51D models with a P-51C as lead.

The tempo didn’t lag at all as the afternoon progressed and the sky became the track for such names as Strega, Argonaut and Dreadnaught as these three powerful craft were joined by a T-33, an F8F Bearcat and a Yak. The aircraft simulated a the start of a Reno race as the T-33 took its role as pace plane and, when it peeled up and away, the fun began.

Air Combat Command’s Viper West demo team shook things up more than the two small southern California earthquakes did in the early hours on Friday. You could almost hear the air being torn apart by the maneuvers of the pilot, Maj. David Graham.

Brian Sanders returned to the sky again in his Sea Fury “Argonaut” as he demonstrated the phenomenon of wake turbulence. Using a pair of wingtip-mounted smoke generators, Sanders trailed streamers of smoke which twisted and literally danced in an almost unworldly manner behind the big aircraft.

There were plenty of “Riders in the Sky” following Sanders’ demonstration ... some 13 Mustangs took off to form up around the Lyon Museum’s B-17G “Fuddy Duddy.” As the big bomber made high passes over the airfield, the fighters flew protectively overhead.

Also in the sky was a pair of P-38 Lightnings and the Planes of Fame’s very rare P-47 Razorback. The show wrapped up with a demonstration put on the renowned March ARB C-17 Globemaster III combined demonstration team, vacuum cleaner and cropduster.

Behind the crowd line, there were booths aplenty with anything one could ask for when it came to a keepsakes to mark a visit to this event. There were also booths for such groups as the P-38 National Association.

Add to all of this, the cuisine that was available as well as numerous static displays (including a WW II FW-190) and there was plenty to see and do. The Greatest Generation would have been extremely proud.