Three iconic World War II-era warbirds \u2013 the Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane, and North American P-51 Mustang \u2013 will represent Canadian wartime aviation at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024, as Vintage Wings of Canada brings those historic aircraft as part of the \u201cVictory Flight\u201d at Oshkosh in July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The aircraft will be at AirVenture as part of the centennial\ncelebration for the Royal Canadian Air Force to be featured at Oshkosh this\nsummer. They will join the Canadian Forces Snowbirds aerial demonstration team\nin attendance, as in December the Snowbirds confirmed participation at the 71st\nedition of EAA\u2019s fly-in convention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each of the aircraft has a unique story:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Spitfire Mk IX \u2013 Often considered the most beautiful\naircraft design of its day, the \u201cSpit\u201d became legendary with its performance\nduring the Battle of Britain in 1940. The Vintage Wings of Canada example is\npainted in the markings of Arnold Rosemond, a Canadian who flew more than 65\nmissions before being shot down over Normandy in 1944. It received the World\nWar II Reserve Grand Champion and Phoenix Gold Wrench awards at EAA AirVenture\nOshkosh 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hurricane Mk VII \u2013 This versatile aircraft was an\nextraordinarily capable dogfighting airplane that was also developed into\nnumerous variations from fighter-bombers to carrier-based Sea Hurricanes. This\naircraft was built by Canadian Car and Foundry in Fort William, Ontario. It\ncarries the markings of Flight Officer William Lidstone \u201cWillie\u201d McKnight, who\nwas part of the Royal Air Force\u2019s all-Canadian No. 242 Squadron and Canada\u2019s\nmost outstanding fighter pilot during the first 18 months of WWII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n P-51D Mustang \u2013 One of the best-known and capable fighter\naircraft of WWII, more than 16,000 Mustangs were produced beginning in 1940 in\nresponse to a British plea for more fighter aircraft from the U.S. This\naircraft is painted in the markings of 442 Squadron as they appeared toward the\nend of the war. It is dedicated to brothers Larry and Rocky Robillard from\nOttawa, Ontario, who both flew with that squadron during the war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n