Arizona Wing CAF Flying Museum - Mesa, Arizona

Arizona Wing CAF Flying Museum - Mesa, Arizona

The purpose and goal of the museum is to complete collection of combat aircraft which were flown by all military services of the USA in WW II.  To provide protection and display of these aircraft as a tribute to those that served with them.

One of the planes that has captured the spirit of people is the B-17 Sentimental Journey which can be hired for flights for $425 per person although the plane goes on tour so check with them to see if it’s at a location you will be near when you are interested in flying in it.  The Sentimental Journey rolled off the Douglas assembly line in late 1944 and commissioned to the Army Air Corp in 1945.  Since it was too late in the war to see service in the European was, the aircraft was assigned to the Pacific theater for the rest of the war.  It was then put into storage in Japan until 1947 when it was assigned to Clark Field in Manila as a photo-mapping plane.  For nearly three years it did this job and had the experience of flying to all corners of the Pacific in the configuration of a RB-17G. 

Following that experience it was converted to a DB-17G for service as an air-sea rescue craft.  During the 50’s it was converted once again to become a DB-17P, serving with the 3215th Drone Squadron at Patrick Air Force Base in Flroida.  It participated in "Operation Greenhouse," the fourth postwar atmospheric nuclear weapon test series conducted by the US during the spring of ‘51.  On January 27, 1959 the orders came throug transferring the plane to military storage at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona.  Within a few months it was acquired by teh Aero Union Corp. of California and became a civilian aircraft.  For the next 18 years, an aircraft that has been designed to survive no more than 100 misisons, flew literally thousands ofd sorties against forest fires throughout the country.

On January 14, 1978 the plane was donated to the CAF for assignment to the Arizona Wing of the Flying Museum.  This story is just one of many about the planes that are at the museum.

The museum also has a North American Aviation B-25-J "Mitchell" which the volunteer members of the museum have restored to flying condition (pending FAA clearance.)  These planes were perhaps the most versatile of the war.  They were heavily armed, used for high and low level bombing, strafing, photo reconnaissance, submarine patrol and even as a fighter.  It was the plane that was the aircraft that completed the historic raid over Tokyo in 1942.

More than 9,800 B-25’s were built during WWII.  This twin-tail, mid-wing land monoplane was powered by two 1,700 hp Wright Cyclone engines.  There is more information available about this plane at the museum too. 

Also included in the collection is the American Grumman AF-2S "Guardian", which was part of the Navy.  The plane is undergoing restoration so it is for display only at this time.  There is also the RAF B-32 Harpoon which saw combat as part of the US Naval Reserve in the Pacific Theater up until the later 1940’s.  There is the McDonnel Douglas Aircraft Corp. F4N Phanton II built for the US Navy.  This aircraft was used in Viet Nam.  It is on loan to the museum from the Pima Air Museum in Tucson.  The names on the canopy rails commemorate the last two aircrews from the carrier USS Ranger to be lost in the Viet Nam War.  The aircraft is considered a monument to these flyers.  The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15bis "Fagot" was built in Moscow in 1951 and sent to China where is served in the Chinese Air Force until the 80’s.  It was then sold and shipped to Merica where it was purchased and then donated to the museum.  The Mikoyan & Gurevick MiG 21PF "Fishbed" was also built by the Russian State Industries.  The MiG is on loan from the Pima Air & Space musem.  The history is largely unknown but it came to Pima from the USMC Air Museum and the paper work with it at the time said 1982.  It is suspected this jet may have been flown from Hunary by a pilot defecting.  It carries the markings of pre-1991 Hungarian Air Force.  The story that will finally follow will add intrique to the planes story.

Look over the Douglas Aircraft Company A-26B "Invader" which served in WWII, Korean War, First Indochina War, Southeast Asia, Bay of Pigs Invasion, Africa (1960’s).  This plane is on loan from Rodney and Linda Huskey.  The Republic P-47N "Thunderbolt" (Half scale home-built) which was built to fly in air shows.  It was a replica of the plane used to escort the B-29 fuperfortress bombers flying raids on the Japanese home islands.  The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a is a 3/4 scale replica of the British biplane fighter aircraft from WWI.

The North American NSJ/T6 "Texan" is a two place trainer plane used for most of teh Allied pilots who flew in WWII.  It was called the "pilot maker" by its crews.  This type of plane is said to have trained several hundred thousand pilots in 34 different countries.  That’s quite a feat for the 15,495 planes that were made.  There is an opportunity to take a ride in this plane.

The Schweizer TG-3A Glider is a two place, duel-control gilder which was used to train glider pilots for WWII.

The Boeing/Stearman Model Pt-17 "Kaydet" Trainer was built for the US Navy.  It is a biplane built during the 1930’s and 40’s as a trainer aircraft.

As a transport aircraft the Beech C-45 Expeditor was built for the civilian market in late 1037 and then used by the Army Air Corps for training aircraft and use dprimarily as a transport aircraft.  You can arrange for a ride in this plane at the museum.

The Aeronca L-16 "Grasshopper" is flyable and in use for the museum.  It was used as a light observation, utility and liaison duties plane and then redesigned and served in many theaters and in many diverse roles. 

Interested in helicopters?  The Sikorsky H-19/S55 "Whirlwind" that is at the museum is on display only at this time while it undergoes restoration.

Location: Arizona Wing Commemorative Air Force Museum, 2017 North Greenfield Rd, Mesa, Arizona 85215.

Phone: 480-924-1940

Winter Hours: Oct 15 - May 14 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 7 days a week.  Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day.  Summer hours: May 15 - Octber 14 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Wednesday - Sunday.

The museum is located at Falcon Field Airport at the intersection of Greenfield and Mckellips Rd, Mesa.

Email: info@azcaf.org