Gerald Willig Photography

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Gerald Willig Photography Fine Art Aviation Photography & Merch
Shop at: https://www.geraldwillig.com
French Artist living in California, USA

08/06/2026

The world's only flyable original Boeing P-26A "Peashooter" is having its final scheduled flight demonstration at the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California, on Saturday, June 6, 2026.

Don't worry, she will fly again at Santa Maria, CA!

The historic 1934 aircraft is being permanently relocated to the museum's new Santa Maria location.

Aircraft Highlight:

The Boeing P-26A "Peashooter" is the U.S. Army Air Corps’ first all-metal monoplane fighter. Because of its age and rarity, the museum decided it is too risky to fly the aircraft back and forth, so it will remain at the Santa Maria facility after its final flight over Chino.

Entered service with U.S. Army Air Corp (USAAC) in 1934

One of three P-26s used by USAAC in the Panama Canal Zone; two still exist today, one at Planes of Fame Air Museum, and its sister ship at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

Acquired from Guatemalan Air Force in 1957 by the Museum's founder Edward Maloney.

Refurbished to flight in 1962 by Museum staff, complete restoration to flight in 2006.

Only flyable original P-26 in the world.

First all-metal monoplane fighter for the U.S. Army Air Corps, and last to have fixed landing gear.

Planes of Fame Air Museum

🇺🇸 Douglas C-53 Skytrooper "D-Day Doll" with her beautiful nose art. She flew 3 missions during D-Day.She was built at t...
06/06/2026

🇺🇸 Douglas C-53 Skytrooper "D-Day Doll" with her beautiful nose art. She flew 3 missions during D-Day.

She was built at the Douglas factory in Santa Monica, California. It is one of 159 C-53Ds and was delivered to AAF on July 7, 1943. It was assigned to the 434th Troop Carrier Group and was stationed at various locations (Alliance Field, NE, Baer Field, IN, Fullbeck, UK, and Welford Park, UK) before arriving at Royal Air Force (RAF) Aldermaston, UK in march 1944.

The 434th TCG consisted of HQ and the 71st to 74th Squadrons. Aircraft 830 was assigned to the 72nd Squadron (CU).

The group's D-Day mission was to tow gliders carrying reinforcements to 101st Division troops who had been dropped earlier in the night near Utah Beach.

At 0119, June 6, 1944, 52 of the Group's airplanes, each towing a Waco glider, took off from RAF Aldermaston Airfield for Normandy. Aircraft 830 flew three missions on D-Day and the next day.

While in the ETO it participated in the D-Day invasion, Operation Market Garden in Holland, the re-supply of Bastogne, and the crossing of the Rhine.

It also flew various support missions and wounded evacuations to England.

Source: https://commemorativeairforce.org/aircraft/157

Shop Fine Art Aviation Photography Prints and Merchandise (Aviation Mugs, Calendars...).

🌐 Link in my profile.

A percentage of sales will be donated to the various organizations in return for their efforts to restore, fly, and maintain airplanes and the aviation heritage.

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The National WWII Museum Commemorative Air Force Commemorative Air Force Inland Empire Wing Christophe Gosselin France 3 Normandie Ouest France Canon France Canon USA

05/06/2026

🇺🇸 Douglas C-53 Skytrooper "D-Day Doll"'s cockpit. She flew 3 missions during D-Day.

She was built at the Douglas factory in Santa Monica, California. It is one of 159 C-53Ds and was delivered to AAF on July 7, 1943. It was assigned to the 434th Troop Carrier Group and was stationed at various locations (Alliance Field, NE, Baer Field, IN, Fullbeck, UK, and Welford Park, UK) before arriving at Royal Air Force (RAF) Aldermaston, UK in march 1944.

The 434th TCG consisted of HQ and the 71st to 74th Squadrons. Aircraft 830 was assigned to the 72nd Squadron (CU).

The group's D-Day mission was to tow gliders carrying reinforcements to 101st Division troops who had been dropped earlier in the night near Utah Beach.

At 0119, June 6, 1944, 52 of the Group's airplanes, each towing a Waco glider, took off from RAF Aldermaston Airfield for Normandy. Aircraft 830 flew three missions on D-Day and the next day.

While in the ETO it participated in the D-Day invasion, Operation Market Garden in Holland, the re-supply of Bastogne, and the crossing of the Rhine.

It also flew various support missions and wounded evacuations to England.

Source: https://commemorativeairforce.org/aircraft/157

Shop Fine Art Aviation Photography Prints and Merchandise (Aviation Mugs, Calendars...).

🌐 Link in my profile.

A percentage of sales will be donated to the various organizations in return for their efforts to restore, fly, and maintain airplanes and the aviation heritage.

Secured payment powered by Stripe ®.

✈+📸+🎬=👉 Follow me to enjoy more posts.

⭐ Share, comment, like, and "Add to your favorites"

🔔 Don't forget to activate the notifications!

© Gerald Willig - All rights reserved. No A.I.

.gosselin.normandy

⚓🇺🇸 Douglas SBD-5 'Dauntless' close up.The Planes of Fame's SBD-5 is a World War II Combat Veteran that was manufactured...
05/06/2026

⚓🇺🇸 Douglas SBD-5 'Dauntless' close up.

The Planes of Fame's SBD-5 is a World War II Combat Veteran that was manufactured in El Segundo, California and delivered on June 18, 1943.

Following shipment to Espirito Santo in the combat zone, the aircraft was assigned to the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

It flew 32 combat missions with Squadron 25 off of the South Pacific island of Bougainville.

In May 1944, it transferred to the U.S. Marine Corps.

For the remainder of the war the aircraft served with six different Marine and U.S. Navy squadrons.

After the war, it was sold to Warner Bros., where it appeared in several movies, including the movies Midway and War and Remembrance. It was acquired by the Museum in 1959 and restored to flight in 1987.

Best known for its dive-bombing success against the Japanese during the Battle of Midway during World War II. Armed with two forward-firing .50-caliber machine guns and flexible twin .30-caliber guns aft, the SBD was well defended while diving on a target with its typical configuration of a 500- or 1,000-pound bomb.

Source: https://planesoffame.org/aircraft/plane-SBD-5

Have you ever seen a 'Dauntless' up close? Let us know in the comments! 👇✈️🇺🇸

© Gerald Willig - All rights reserved.

Shop Fine Art Aviation Photography Prints and Merchandise (Aviation Mugs, Calendars...):

🌐 Link in my profile.

A percentage of sales will be donated to the various organizations in return for their efforts to restore, fly, and maintain airplanes and the aviation heritage.

Secured payment powered by Stripe ®.

✈+📸+🎬=👉 Follow me to enjoy more posts.

⭐ Share, comment, like, and "Add to your favorites"

🔔 Don't forget to activate the notifications!

© Gerald Willig - All rights reserved. No A.I.



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