Editing Commemorative Air Force (section)

==History==
The origin of the Commemorative Air Force is the organization called the "Confederate Air Corps" created by Oscar Harper in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1953.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Morrow |first1=Thomas |title=Oscar Does a Big Business with Confederate Commissions |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/372890166 |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=1 February 1956 |page=6}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=October 2024|reason=Reference does not establish a link with the modern day organization.}} Led by the fictional character "Thaddeus P. Throckmorton" and his recruiting officer "Jethro Culpepper", the CAC established several features that later became key characteristics of the CAF: folksy, tongue-in-cheek [[Culture of the Southern United States|southern]] humor; a membership structure based on each member having the equal rank of colonel; and a rallying cry of "''Semper, Mint Julep''" ("Always [[Mint Julep]]").

[[File:North American P-51D Mustang, Commemorative Air Force JP7185281.jpg|thumb|right|The P-51D "Red Nose" was the first airplane of the CAF.]]

In 1957, Lloyd Nolen and four friends purchased a [[P-51 Mustang]] called "Red Nose", splitting the $1,500 cost.<ref>[http://commemorativeairforce.org/?page=cms/index&cms_page=122 "CAF History."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724203056/http://commemorativeairforce.org/?page=cms/index&cms_page=122 |date=July 24, 2011 }} ''Commemorative Air Force''. Retrieved: April 3, 2011.</ref><ref name="TStHA">{{cite web |author=Leatherwood, Art |title=COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE |url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/vtc01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910144936/https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/vtc01 |archive-date=September 10, 2015 |access-date=June 30, 2015 |publisher=[[Texas State Historical Association]]}}</ref> In 1958, the group made their second purchase: two [[Grumman]] [[F8F Bearcats]]<ref name="TStHA" /> for $805 each. Along with the P-51, this gave the pilots two of the most-advanced piston-engine fighters to see service with the [[U.S. Army Air Forces]] and the [[United States Navy]].

In 1960, the CAF began to seriously search for other World War II aircraft. The CAF colonels were shocked to find that the aircraft which played such a major role in winning World War II were being rapidly and systematically scrapped as obsolete with no efforts, not even by the [[U.S. Air Force|Air Force]] or [[U.S. Navy|Navy]], to preserve any for display for future generations. The [[warbird]]s that remained airworthy were mostly in private hands modified for air racing or had been converted for commercial use as air freighters and aerial firefighters.

On September 6, 1961, the CAF was chartered as a nonprofit [[Texas]] corporation to restore and preserve World War II-era combat aircraft.<ref name="NBCMove">{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Commemorative-Air-Force-Moving-Headquarters-to-Dallas-257174091.html |title=Commemorative Air Force Moving Headquarters to Dallas |publisher=NBC |date=April 29, 2014 |access-date=June 30, 2015 |author=[[Associated Press]] |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062429/http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Commemorative-Air-Force-Moving-Headquarters-to-Dallas-257174091.html |url-status=live }}</ref> By the end of the year, the CAF owned nine aircraft. By 1963, the group had achieved their initial goal of acquiring one of each fighter plane operated by U.S. forces during World War II.<ref name="TStHA" /> They held their first airshow on March 10, 1963.<ref name="AIRSHO">{{cite web |url=http://airsho.org/ |title=AIRSHO |publisher=Commemorative Air Force |access-date=June 30, 2015 |archive-date=July 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704123558/http://www.airsho.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Boeing B-29 Superfortress (19926000422).jpg|thumb|right|The CAF added the B-29 ''[[FIFI (aircraft) |FIFI]]'' in the 1970s.]]
In 1965, the first museum building was completed at old Rebel Field, [[Mercedes, Texas]]. The CAF created a new Rebel Field at [[Harlingen, Texas]], and moved there in 1968,<ref name="TStHA" /> occupying three large buildings including {{convert|26000|sqft|m2}} of museum space. By the end of the decade, the CAF fleet had added medium and heavy bombers such as the [[North American B-25 Mitchell]], [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress|B-17]], [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator]]. In 1971, they bought one of the two airworthy [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress]]es, ''[[FIFI (aircraft)|FIFI]]''.

In 1976, the CAF sponsored an air show in Harlingen, Texas in which a B-29 bomber piloted by [[Paul Tibbets]], the pilot who flew the B-29 which bombed Hiroshima during World War II, reenacted the atomic bombing of Hiroshima (including a mock mushroom cloud). This air show prompted the Japanese government to lodge a formal complaint with the United States Embassy, resulting in the U.S. government issuing an apology.<ref name="NYTHiro">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/10/15/archives/us-apologizes-to-japan-for-show-that-reenacted-hiroshima-attack.html |title=U.S. Apologizes to Japan for Show That Re-enacted Hiroshima Attack |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 15, 1976 |access-date=March 14, 2019 |pages=10 |archive-date=July 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709020422/https://www.nytimes.com/1976/10/15/archives/us-apologizes-to-japan-for-show-that-reenacted-hiroshima-attack.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1983, the American Airpower Heritage Foundation was founded to financially support the CAF.<ref name="TStHA" />

The group's accomplishments were recognized in 1989 with a [[National Aviation Hall of Fame]] Spirit of Flight Award.<ref name="SOF">{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalaviation.org/SOF/ |title=Milton Caniff Spirit of Flight Award |publisher=National Aviation Hall of Fame |access-date=June 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701051359/http://www.nationalaviation.org/SOF/ |archive-date=July 1, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> That year, [[Governor of Texas|Texas Governor]] [[William Clements]] signed a resolution designating the CAF the air force of Texas.<ref name="TStHA" />

In 1990, the CAF added two corporations.<ref name="TStHA" /> The first was the American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum, tasked with obtaining and maintaining the CAF's [[vehicle title|aircraft titles]]. The second was the [[American Airpower Heritage Museum]], which acquired and maintained the CAF's non-aircraft pieces and static displays.<ref name="TStHA" /> In September 1990, CAF joined a statewide anti-littering campaign ([[Don't Mess With Texas]]), filming a low-level, high-speed pass of the B-17 ''Sentimental Journey'' on a mock bombing run of a highway-littering pickup truck, as part of a 30-second television spot.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://avgeekery.com/watch-you-dont-mess-with-texas-or-a-b-17g-flying-fortress/ |title=WATCH: You Don't Mess With Texas or a B-17G Flying Fortress |date=March 2, 2020 |access-date=July 31, 2023 |author=Walton, Bill |archive-date=August 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801002317/https://avgeekery.com/watch-you-dont-mess-with-texas-or-a-b-17g-flying-fortress/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:That's All Brother May 2019.jpg|thumb|right|The CAF C-47 ''[[That's All, Brother]]'' was the plane that led the parachute assault on Normandy during [[D-Day]].]] In 1991, the CAF moved operations to [[Midland, Texas]],<ref name="NBCMove"/> where the group opened the [[CAF Airpower Museum]] and the American Combat Airman Hall of Fame. 

In April 2014, the CAF announced the move of their headquarters and all of the planes associated with the headquarters to [[Dallas Executive Airport]] in Dallas, Texas.<ref name="NBCMove"/><ref name="AOPA">{{cite web |url=http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2014/April/29/CAF-HQ-moving-to-Dallas-Executive |title=CAF headquarters moving to Dallas Executive |publisher=Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association |date=April 29, 2014 |access-date=June 30, 2015 |author=Collins, Mike |archive-date=June 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617072437/http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2014/April/29/CAF-HQ-moving-to-Dallas-Executive |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="CBSExec">{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/dfw/news/the-commemorative-air-force-relocates-to-oak-cliff/ |title=The Commemorative Air Force Relocates To Oak Cliff |publisher=CBS |date=April 29, 2014 |access-date=June 30, 2015 |author=Gillett, Bud |archive-date=October 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015062222/https://www.cbsnews.com/dfw/news/the-commemorative-air-force-relocates-to-oak-cliff/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The museum and its artifacts (including the nose art collection) were moved to the new headquarters,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cbs7.com/news/article_279a7c98-8185-11e4-8699-638fa7cff786.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141228110331/http://cbs7.com/news/article_279a7c98-8185-11e4-8699-638fa7cff786.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 28, 2014 |title=CAF Announces Plans to Move Equipment, Museum Artifacts to Dallas |publisher=CBS |date=December 11, 2014 |access-date=June 30, 2015 |author=Rist, Matthew}}</ref> which it operates as the Henry B. Tippie [[National Aviation Education Center]].

In 2015, the CAF acquired the C-47 ''[[That's All, Brother]]'', the plane that led the parachute assault on Normandy during [[D-Day]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bergqvist |first1=Pia |title=Return to the Front Line |url=https://www.flyingmag.com/c47-thats-all-brother-restoration/ |access-date=5 July 2020 |archive-date=July 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705112847/https://www.flyingmag.com/c47-thats-all-brother-restoration/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mission: Normandy |url=https://thatsallbrother.org/ |access-date=5 July 2020 |archive-date=July 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722080012/https://thatsallbrother.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Accidents and incidents===
On September 28, 1995, a [[Martin B-26 Marauder]] operated by CAF crashed near [[Odessa, Texas]], killing all five crew members.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113029937/vintage-crafts-luck-runs-out-on-eve-of/ |title=Vintage craft's luck runs out on eve of show |first=Cathy |last=Frye |newspaper=[[Odessa American]] |location=[[Odessa, Texas]] |page=1 |date=September 29, 1995 |access-date=November 13, 2022 |via=newspapers.com |archive-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114021847/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113029937/vintage-crafts-luck-runs-out-on-eve-of/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[NTSB]] found that the pilot failed to maintain minimum airspeed.<ref name=inc>{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/news/sports/2022/11/13/6-killed-after-vintage-aircraft-collide-at-dallas-air-show/?p1=hp_secondary |title=Investigation underway over midair crash at Dallas air show |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]] |website=[[Boston.com]] |date=November 13, 2022 |access-date=November 13, 2022 |archive-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114021839/https://www.boston.com/news/sports/2022/11/13/6-killed-after-vintage-aircraft-collide-at-dallas-air-show/?p1=hp_secondary |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19254/pdf |title=Aviation Investigation Final Report: FTW95FA406 |agency=[[National Transportation Safety Board]] |website=NTSB.gov |date=August 20, 1996 |access-date=November 13, 2022 |archive-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114072611/https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19254/pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

On April 14, 2001, the CAF pilot of a [[Fairchild PT-19|Fairchild PT-19A]] was killed in a crash shortly after takeoff at [[Midland International Airport]]; the plane's one passenger survived.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113030640/authorities-continue-investigation-of-pl/ |title=Authorities continue investigation of plane crash that killed Midland man |newspaper=[[Odessa American]] |location=[[Odessa, Texas]] |page=1B |date=April 17, 2001 |access-date=November 13, 2022 |via=newspapers.com |archive-date=August 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807045630/https://www.newspapers.com/article/113030640/authorities-continue-investigation-of-pl/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The NTSB cited the pilot's "failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52066/pdf |title=Aviation Investigation Final Report: FTW01FA100 |agency=[[National Transportation Safety Board]] |website=NTSB.gov |date=April 18, 2003 |access-date=November 13, 2022 |archive-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114071110/https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52066/pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

On May 14, 2001, both CAF crew members aboard a [[Vultee BT-13 Valiant|Vultee BT-13A]] died in a crash southeast of Odessa, Texas.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113030906/two-die-in-plane-crash/ |title=Two die in plane crash |newspaper=[[Odessa American]] |first=Scott |last=Freeman |location=[[Odessa, Texas]] |page=1 |date=May 15, 2001 |access-date=November 13, 2022 |via=newspapers.com |archive-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114023236/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113030906/two-die-in-plane-crash/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The NTSB found that the pilot failed to maintain minimum airspeed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52257/pdf |title=Aviation Investigation Final Report: FTW01FA117 |agency=[[National Transportation Safety Board]] |website=NTSB.gov |date=August 26, 2002 |access-date=November 13, 2022 |archive-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114054054/https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52257/pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

On June 16, 2005, a [[PT-26 Cornell]] operated by CAF crashed in [[Williamson, Georgia]], killing both crew members.<ref name=inc/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113030195/caf-mourns-members-lost-in-georgia-plane/ |title=CAF mourns members lost in Georgia plane crash |first=David J. |last=Lee |newspaper=[[Odessa American]] |location=[[Odessa, Texas]] |page=1 |date=June 17, 2005 |access-date=November 13, 2022 |via=newspapers.com |archive-date=August 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807045630/https://www.newspapers.com/article/113030195/caf-mourns-members-lost-in-georgia-plane/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The NTSB found that the pilot "attempted a takeoff with [[Flap (aeronautics)|flap]]s extended."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61737/pdf |title=Aviation Investigation Final Report: ATL05FA098 |agency=[[National Transportation Safety Board]] |website=NTSB.gov |date=January 31, 2006 |access-date=November 13, 2022 |archive-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114062601/https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61737/pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

On November 12, 2022, during the Wings Over Dallas airshow, two planes owned and operated by CAF—a [[Bell P-63 Kingcobra|Bell P-63F]] and the Boeing B-17G ''[[Texas Raiders]]''—suffered [[2022 Dallas airshow mid-air collision|a mid-air collision]] that killed six people.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/news/national-news/2022/11/13/6-killed-after-vintage-aircraft-collide-at-dallas-air-show/ |title=6 killed after vintage aircraft collide at Dallas air show |first1=LM |last1=Otero |first2=Jill |last2=Bleed |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]] |website=[[Boston.com]] |date=November 13, 2022 |access-date=November 13, 2022 |archive-date=February 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225052434/https://www.boston.com/news/national-news/2022/11/13/6-killed-after-vintage-aircraft-collide-at-dallas-air-show/ |url-status=live }}</ref>