CAF Warbird Tube

It’s a story of courage, survival, and unlikely alliances forged in one of World War II’s most legendary air campaigns.

On August 1, 1943, American B-24 Liberators flew one of the most daring and decorated missions in U.S. airpower history: Operation Tidal Wave, the low-level attack on the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania.

But what happened to the crews who were shot down and left for dead?

In this episode of CAF Warbird Tube, bestselling author Adam Makos discusses his new book, Tidal Wave, which follows the rookie 389th Bomb Group, whose crews produced the most stunning success of the raid, and its untold aftermath.

Makos straps you into the B-24 "Chattanooga Choo Choo" with Lt. Ernie Poulson, a 22-year-old Utah outdoorsman whose bomber crash-landed on the estate of Romanian Princess Catherine Caradja. The Americans had just bombed her country, yet the princess made an extraordinary decision to risk everything by helping them.

To watch this episode as a video, go to https://youtu.be/Ou0I72xCKgo.

• Aired On: October 21, 2026
• Guest: Author, Adam Makos
• Host: Steve Buss
• Producer: Bob Score Jr.
• Produced By: Commemorative Air Force

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Thanks for watching CAF Warbird Tube — where history takes flight.
You can join us live for upcoming broadcasts by registering at www.WarbirdTube.com.

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is dedicated to Educating, Inspiring, and Honoring through flight and living history experiences.
Programs like this help preserve and share the stories of aviation history — and we couldn’t do it without your support.

To learn more or get involved, visit www.CommemorativeAirForce.org.

Thanks for helping us keep history flying.

How can a shared love for the sky connect two lives lived largely apart? In this episode of Air Born: Two Generations in Flight, we sit down to explore the deeply personal story behind the book Air Born, examining the complex connection between a daughter, her father, and the parallel passion for flight that runs through their veins.

In the book, she connects her experiences as a Space Shuttle astronaut with the wartime service of her father, B-17 pilot Ben Smotherman. Shot down over Holland in 1943 and held as a prisoner of war for 21 months, Smotherman's experiences left a lasting legacy that Davis came to understand more deeply while researching his Wartime Log. Davis shares the remarkable parallels she discovered between her father's combat missions and her own journeys into space.

You can watch this episode at https://youtu.be/KmxlazSoSJI.

• Aired on: October 14, 2026
• Guest: Dr. Jan Davis
• Host: Steve Buss
• Producer: Bob Score Jr.
• Produced by: Commemorative Air Force

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Thanks for watching CAF Warbird Tube — where history takes flight.
You can join us live for upcoming broadcasts by registering at www.WarbirdTube.com.

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is dedicated to Educating, Inspiring, and Honoring through flight and living history experiences.
Programs like this help preserve and share the stories of aviation history — and we couldn’t do it without your support.

To learn more or get involved, visit www.CommemorativeAirForce.org.

Thanks for helping us keep history flying.

Graduating just three years before Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1938 was scattered across every theater of World War II. From the Pacific carrier battles to submarine patrols and naval aviation, discover the remarkable untold stories, sacrifice, and leadership of these Annapolis graduates thrust directly into the greatest conflict in history.

We sit down with author and historian Justin Laborde, Ph.D., to discuss Scattered Far and Wide: The Naval Academy Class of ’38 at War. Drawing on five years of research and firsthand accounts, Laborde follows the young officers of the Class of 1938 from the opening days of World War II through pivotal Pacific battles, prisoner-of-war camps, carrier operations, and submarine patrols. The story is also personal, Laborde’s grandfather was a member of the class, inspiring his journey to uncover the wartime experiences of the men who graduated from Annapolis on the eve of war.

To watch this as a video go to https://youtu.be/WLN8DSjUwMM.

• Aired On: October 7, 2026
• Guest: Justin Laborde, Ph.D.
• Host: Steve Buss
• Producer: Bob Score
• Produced by: Commemorative Air Force

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for watching CAF Warbird Tube — where history takes flight.
You can join us live for upcoming broadcasts by registering at www.WarbirdTube.com.

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is dedicated to Educating, Inspiring, and Honoring through flight and living history experiences.
Programs like this help preserve and share the stories of aviation history — and we couldn’t do it without your support.

To learn more or get involved, visit www.CommemorativeAirForce.org.

Thanks for helping us keep history flying.

What is it really like to carry forward one of the most iconic names in aviation history? In this episode, we sit down with Erik Lindbergh, grandson of pioneering aviator Charles Lindbergh, to explore his family’s incredible legacy, personal stories, and the future of flight. Erik shares a unique perspective on aviation's past, present, and future. Watch this episode at https://youtu.be/xZJ4hzP8uQo.

• Aired on: September 30, 2026
• Guest: Erik Lindbergh
• Host: Steve Buss
• Producer: Bob Score
• Produced by: Commemorative Air Force

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for watching CAF Warbird Tube — where history takes flight.
You can join us live for upcoming broadcasts by registering at www.WarbirdTube.com.

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is dedicated to Educating, Inspiring, and Honoring through flight and living history experiences.
Programs like this help preserve and share the stories of aviation history — and we couldn’t do it without your support.

To learn more or get involved, visit www.CommemorativeAirForce.org.

Thanks for helping us keep history flying.

Few fighter squadrons of World War II have achieved the legendary status of the Black Sheep. In just four short months in late 1943, the Marines of VMF-214, led by Major Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, established, for themselves and the Vought Corsair, a reputation that would live on long after the war. That reputation was so formidable it led to the short-lived and controversial TV series Baa Baa Black Sheep in 1976. But where does the true history end and Hollywood begin?

In this episode of Warbird Tube, we welcome aviation historian and author Stephen Chapis to explore how their wartime story became part of popular culture through the 1970s television series Baa Baa Black Sheep. A series that the real Black Sheep veterans despised. Stephen’s book, Poor Little Lambs: The Baa Baa Black Sheep Story, is the result of years of research, interviews, rare photographs, and firsthand accounts examining the making of the series and the remarkable collection of warbirds that brought the Black Sheep back to life on television.

Watch this episode on YouTube at https://youtu.be/LrsdpOntz_o.

Aired on: September 23, 2026

Guest: Stephen Chapis

Host: Steve Buss

Producer: Bob Score

Produced by: Commemorative Air Force

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for watching CAF Warbird Tube — where history takes flight.
You can join us live for upcoming broadcasts by registering at www.WarbirdTube.com.

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is dedicated to Educating, Inspiring, and Honoring through flight and living history experiences.
Programs like this help preserve and share the stories of aviation history — and we couldn’t do it without your support.

To learn more or get involved, visit www.CommemorativeAirForce.org.

Thanks for helping us keep history flying.

Join CAF Warbird Tube for a compelling examination of one of history’s most consequential air campaigns, the Battle of Britain.

Military aviation historian and author Andy Saunders explores the air war of 1940 from both sides of the English Channel, examining the aircraft, pilots, tactics, and rapidly changing conditions that shaped the battle.

At the center of the discussion is the Luftwaffe’s Messerschmidt Bf 109E. Although the formidable “Emil” possessed impressive firepower and performance, it faced one limitation that would prove critical over Britain: its restricted range.

The author of more than 20 books on air warfare, Saunders draws upon decades of experience as a historian, researcher, editor, and museum curator to bring the human experience behind the history into focus. What did pilots endure during the summer of 1940? How did tactics evolve as each side learned from the other? And what do firsthand accounts reveal about a battle that has since become the stuff of legend?

To watch this as a video, go to https://youtu.be/jcMhm9jZ7RI.

Aired on: Sept. 9, 2026

• Guest: Andy Saunders
• Host: Steve Buss
• Producer: Bob Score Jr.
• Produced by: Commemorative Air Force

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for watching CAF Warbird Tube — where history takes flight.
You can join us live for upcoming broadcasts by registering at www.WarbirdTube.com.

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is dedicated to Educating, Inspiring, and Honoring through flight and living history experiences.
Programs like this help preserve and share the stories of aviation history — and we couldn’t do it without your support.

To learn more or get involved, visit www.CommemorativeAirForce.org.

Thanks for helping us keep history flying.

During World War II, the PBY Catalina became one of the Allies’ most important long-range patrol aircraft—hunting enemy submarines, protecting convoys, and rescuing downed airmen. But few surviving Catalinas have a story as remarkable as PBY-5A BuNo. 2459.

Accepted by the U.S. Navy just weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor, BuNo. 2459 was among the first PBY-5A amphibians ever built. It was soon deployed to Iceland for combat operations over the North Atlantic, where it became the first PBY credited with sinking a German U-boat. By the end of the war, the aircraft had accounted for three U-boats destroyed.

In this episode of CAF Warbird Tube, Rob Collings, President of the American Heritage Museum, shares the extraordinary history of BuNo. 2459 and the years-long effort to return it to its authentic 1942 wartime configuration.

From reconstructing its nose turret and locating exceptionally rare original equipment to recreating its historic combat markings, the award-winning restoration required painstaking research, craftsmanship, and dedication.

Discover the story behind this remarkable aircraft, and what it takes to preserve a warbird that didn’t merely witness history. It helped make it.

You can watch this video at https://youtu.be/SL1dPz35wKg.

• Aired on: September 2, 2026
• Guest: Rob Collings
• Host: Steve Buss
• Producer: Bob Score Jr.
• Produced by: Commemorative Air Force

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for watching CAF Warbird Tube — where history takes flight.
You can join us live for upcoming broadcasts by registering at www.WarbirdTube.com.

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is dedicated to Educating, Inspiring, and Honoring through flight and living history experiences.
Programs like this help preserve and share the stories of aviation history — and we couldn’t do it without your support.

To learn more or get involved, visit www.CommemorativeAirForce.org.

Thanks for helping us keep history flying.

During World War II, thousands of young British airmen crossed the Atlantic to learn to fly in the United States. The first and largest of their American training schools was in an unlikely place: Terrell, Texas.

Beginning in 1941, before the United States had even entered the war, Royal Air Force cadets arrived in North Texas to train under wide-open skies, far from the bad weather and dangers of wartime Britain. Between 1941 and 1945, more than 2,200 British and American cadets trained at the No. 1 British Flying Training School, forging a remarkable connection between a Texas community and the young men preparing for war.

Today, the No. 1 British Flying Training School Museum preserves this little-known chapter of aviation history. And one important piece of that story has come home for good.

“Ole 42,” a Boeing Stearman that was based at the school, has been donated to the museum by retired U.S. Navy aviator Phil Webb after years of touring. In this episode of CAF Warbird Tube, Denis Rottler, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director, and Carl Best, Board Member and caretaker of Ole 42, take us inside the museum, introduce us to the Stearman, and share the remarkable story of the British airmen who came thousands of miles to Texas to earn their wings.

To watch this video, go to https://youtu.be/q4FXttg6G4U.

• Aired On: August 26, 2026
• Guests: Denis Rottler, Carl Best
• Host: Steve Buss
• Producer: Bob Score Jr.
• Produced by: Commemorative Air Force

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for watching CAF Warbird Tube — where history takes flight.
You can join us live for upcoming broadcasts by registering at www.WarbirdTube.com.

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is dedicated to Educating, Inspiring, and Honoring through flight and living history experiences.
Programs like this help preserve and share the stories of aviation history — and we couldn’t do it without your support.

To learn more or get involved, visit www.CommemorativeAirForce.org.

Thanks for helping us keep history flying.

The de Havilland Mosquito was one of the most remarkable aircraft of World War II, yet today, not a single UK-built example remains airworthy. In this episode of Warbird Tube, we sit down with John Lilley, Chairman of The People’s Mosquito, to talk about the ambitious effort to change that—and return Britain’s legendary “Wooden Wonder” to the skies. To watch this video online, go to https://youtu.be/vrOx232_Whk.

• Aired on: August 18, 2026
• Guest: John Lilley, Chairman of The People’s Mosquito
• Host: Steve Buss
• Producer: Bob Score Jr.
• Produced by: Commemorative Air Force

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for watching CAF Warbird Tube — where history takes flight.
You can join us live for upcoming broadcasts by registering at www.WarbirdTube.com.

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is dedicated to Educating, Inspiring, and Honoring through flight and living history experiences.
Programs like this help preserve and share the stories of aviation history — and we couldn’t do it without your support.

To learn more or get involved, visit www.CommemorativeAirForce.org.

Thanks for helping us keep history flying.

This is the remarkable story of one of America's pioneering women aviators. We sat down with Judith Stanford Miller, M.Ed., M.A., writer and producer of the documentary "Crosswinds: The Courageous Life of Cornelia Fort," to explore the life and legacy of the trailblazing pilot who, as a civilian pilot instructor, came nose-to-nose with a Japanese Zero as the Pearl Harbor attack began on Dec. 7, 1941.

To watch this show, go to https://youtu.be/u0L5bsvTee4.

• Aired On: August 12, 2026
• Guest: Judith Sanford Miller, M. Ed., M.A.
• Host: Steve Buss
• Producer: Bob Score, Jr.
• Produced by: Commemorative Air Force

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for watching CAF Warbird Tube — where history takes flight.
You can join us live for upcoming broadcasts by registering at www.WarbirdTube.com.

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is dedicated to Educating, Inspiring, and Honoring through flight and living history experiences.
Programs like this help preserve and share the stories of aviation history — and we couldn’t do it without your support.

To learn more or get involved, visit www.CommemorativeAirForce.org.

Thanks for helping us keep history flying.

General Robin Olds wasn't just a fighter ace—he became a legend. A triple ace with victories in both World War II and Vietnam, Olds flew the P-38 Lightning, P-51 Mustang, and F-4 Phantom while earning a reputation as one of the U.S. Air Force's most fearless and influential fighter pilots.

In this special episode of CAF Warbird Tube, Robin Olds' daughter, Christina Olds, joins us for an intimate conversation about the man behind the famous handlebar mustache. She shares personal stories, family memories, and behind-the-scenes insights into one of military aviation's most iconic leaders.

Discover how Robin Olds shaped fighter pilot culture, led combat missions in Vietnam, inspired generations of aviators, and why his legacy continues to captivate pilots, historians, and aviation enthusiasts today.

Whether you're passionate about World War II aviation, the Vietnam War, the F-4 Phantom, the P-51 Mustang, or the history of the U.S. Air Force, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

If you prefer to watch this episode, go to https://youtu.be/ghgyMsBLMcg.

• Aired On: July 29, 2026
• Guest: Christina Olds
• Host: Steve Buss
• Producer: Bob Score
• Produced by: Commemorative Air Force

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for watching CAF Warbird Tube — where history takes flight.
You can join us live for upcoming broadcasts by registering at www.WarbirdTube.com.

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is dedicated to Educating, Inspiring, and Honoring through flight and living history experiences.
Programs like this help preserve and share the stories of aviation history — and we couldn’t do it without your support.

To learn more or get involved, visit www.CommemorativeAirForce.org.

Thanks for helping us keep history flying.

Get an inside look at the inaugural DC-3 Society Fly-In & Showcase coming to historic Flabob Airport in Southern California this August! On this episode of CAF Warbird Tube, we sit down with Lyndse F. Costabile, Interim Executive Director and Director, Corporate Relations for the DC-3 Society, Andy Maag, on the Board of Directors, and Moreno Aguiari, President of the DC-3 Society Board of Directors, for a preview of this exciting event dedicated to one of aviation's most iconic aircraft.

Learn what attendees can expect as DC-3 owners, crews, historians, restorers, and enthusiasts come together to celebrate the aircraft that revolutionized commercial aviation and played a vital role during World War II. Discover why, nearly 90 years after its first flight, the legendary DC-3 continues to captivate aviation enthusiasts worldwide!

Check out the video of this episode at https://youtu.be/-tKybobLrLY.

• Aired on: July 10, 2026
• Guests: Andy Maag, Moreno Aguiari, Lyndse Constabile
• Host: Steve Buss
• Producer: Bob Score
• Produced by: Commemorative Air Force

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for watching CAF Warbird Tube — where history takes flight.
You can join us live for upcoming broadcasts by registering at www.WarbirdTube.com.

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is dedicated to Educating, Inspiring, and Honoring through flight and living history experiences.
Programs like this help preserve and share the stories of aviation history — and we couldn’t do it without your support.

To learn more or get involved, visit www.CommemorativeAirForce.org.

Thanks for helping us keep history flying.

The Women Airforce Service Pilots changed aviation history. Now, the National WASP WWII Museum is looking toward the future.

In this episode of CAF Warbird Tube, Dr. Rachael McClain shares her plans to build on the legacy established by WASP Deanie Bishop Parrish and Nancy Parrish while expanding educational programs and connecting new audiences with one of World War II's most inspiring stories.

Discover how the Museum at historic Avenger Field is ensuring the achievements of the WASP continue to inspire generations to come.

• Aired on: July 15, 2026
• Guest: Dr. Rachael McClain
• Host: Steve Buss
• Producer: Bob Score
• Produced by: Commemorative Air Force

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for watching CAF Warbird Tube — where history takes flight.
You can join us live for upcoming broadcasts by registering at www.WarbirdTube.com.

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is dedicated to Educating, Inspiring, and Honoring through flight and living history experiences.
Programs like this help preserve and share the stories of aviation history — and we couldn’t do it without your support.

To learn more or get involved, visit www.CommemorativeAirForce.org.

Thanks for helping us keep history flying.

The Hiller UH-12, known to the U.S. military as the OH-23 Raven, played a vital role during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Used for observation, liaison, training, and medical evacuation missions, this versatile helicopter helped pioneer military rotorcraft operations while proving equally valuable in civilian service.

In this episode of CAF Warbird Tube, guest Nick Infantino, founder of the Commemorative Air Force New England Wing, shares the story behind the Wing's newly assigned Hiller UH-12A. Assigned to the Unit in 2026, the helicopter represents an exciting new chapter for both the New England Wing and the CAF's expanding collection of post-World War II historic aircraft.

Discover the history of the OH-23 Raven, learn how this remarkable helicopter served generations of military aviators, and hear the New England Wing's plans to preserve and fly this rare aircraft so future generations can experience its story firsthand. If you enjoy military aviation history, vintage helicopters, Korean War history, Vietnam War aviation, and aircraft restoration, be sure to like, subscribe, and leave a comment. To watch this episode, go to https://youtu.be/SE-ab5uoYZw.

• Aired on: July 2, 2026
• Guest: Nick Infantino
• Host: Steve Buss
• Producer: Bob Score
• Produced by: Commemorative Air Force

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for watching CAF Warbird Tube — where history takes flight.
You can join us live for upcoming broadcasts by registering at www.WarbirdTube.com.

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is dedicated to Educating, Inspiring, and Honoring through flight and living history experiences.
Programs like this help preserve and share the stories of aviation history — and we couldn’t do it without your support.

To learn more or get involved, visit www.CommemorativeAirForce.org.

Thanks for helping us keep history flying.

The AC-47 “Spooky” was more than a gunship during the Vietnam War—it became a symbol of protection, survival, and hope for troops on the ground in some of the war’s darkest moments.

In this episode of CAF Warbird Tube, we explore the restoration and future of "Spooky 86," the Commemorative Air Force’s AC-47 assigned to the Commemorative Air Force Gulf Coast Wing. Fresh from a major repaint and preparing for its first national touring season with the CAF, the aircraft is part of an ambitious mission to help preserve and share the stories of Vietnam veterans through one of the War’s most iconic aircraft.

To watch this episode, go to https://youtu.be/7zpHPxoukxM.

• Aired on: June 24, 2026
• Guests: Nancy Kwicien, Kevin McNulty, Aaron Sloper
• Host: Steve Buss
• Producer: Bob Score
• Produced by: Commemorative Air Force

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for watching CAF Warbird Tube — where history takes flight.
You can join us live for upcoming broadcasts by registering at www.WarbirdTube.com.

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is dedicated to Educating, Inspiring, and Honoring through flight and living history experiences.
Programs like this help preserve and share the stories of aviation history — and we couldn’t do it without your support.

To learn more or get involved, visit www.CommemorativeAirForce.org.

Thanks for helping us keep history flying.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the world’s greatest aviation celebration—EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026! Join us on this special episode of CAF Warbird Tube as we welcome Rick Larsen, EAA’s Vice President of Communities and Member Programming, to give us an exclusive preview of what’s in store this July.

From thrilling airshow performances and historic warbird displays to new features, special anniversaries, and can't-miss aircraft, Rick shares insider info on what aviation fans can expect at this year’s event. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a seasoned Oshkosh veteran, you won’t want to miss this exciting sneak peek! Tune in and get ready for takeoff— EAA AirVenture 2026 is just around the corner!

To watch this as a video, go to https://youtu.be/cRQ8v_b7YAc.

• Aired On: June 17, 2026
• Guest: Rick Larsen
• Host: Steve Buss
• Producer/Editor: Bob Score
• Produced by: Commemorative Air Force

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for watching CAF Warbird Tube — where history takes flight.
You can join us live for upcoming broadcasts by registering at www.WarbirdTube.com.

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is dedicated to Educating, Inspiring, and Honoring through flight and living history experiences.
Programs like this help preserve and share the stories of aviation history — and we couldn’t do it without your support.

To learn more or get involved, visit www.CommemorativeAirForce.org.

Thanks for helping us keep history flying.

Before dawn on D-Day, C-47 Skytrains filled the skies over Normandy carrying paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions into occupied Europe. Months later, during the Battle of the Bulge, those same aircraft flew desperately needed supplies through brutal winter weather to surrounded Allied troops in the Ardennes.

One of those aircraft still survives. In this episode of CAF Warbird Tube, we explore the restoration of C-47A Skytrain 43-15200—better known by its wartime nose art name, “Francis L.” Now undergoing restoration at the Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base.

This historic aircraft participated in Operation Overlord and later served during the Battle of the Bulge. Guest Arthur Sullivan takes us behind the scenes of the ambitious restoration effort, including the rebuilding of the aircraft’s Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp engines and the painstaking work required to return the aircraft to historically accurate condition.

Recovered from Alaska and now beginning a new chapter in Georgia, “Francis L.” represents more than a surviving aircraft—it is a direct connection to the aircrews and paratroopers who helped change the course of World War II.

You can watch this episode on YouTube at https://youtu.be/LmN7QFI_KMI.

• Aired on: June 12, 2026
• Guest: Arthur Sullivan
• Host: Steve Buss
• Producer: Bob Score
• Produced by: Commemorative Air Force

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for watching CAF Warbird Tube — where history takes flight.
You can join us live for upcoming broadcasts by registering at www.WarbirdTube.com.

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is dedicated to Educating, Inspiring, and Honoring through flight and living history experiences.
Programs like this help preserve and share the stories of aviation history — and we couldn’t do it without your support.

To learn more or get involved, visit www.CommemorativeAirForce.org.

Thanks for helping us keep history flying.

For decades, Gene Moran rarely spoke about what happened in the skies over Germany.

In Tailspin, author John Armbruster brings that story to life—from a catastrophic fall from a shattered B-17 to the harsh realities of life as a prisoner of war. Along the way, the story becomes something more: a shared journey between two men confronting trauma, loss, and the challenge of telling the truth about war.

In this Warbird Tube episode, we talk with Armbruster about the process of uncovering this story and why preserving these voices matters now more than ever.

• Aired on: May 29, 2026
• Guest: John Armbruster
• Host: Steve Buss
• Producer: Bob Score
• Produced by: Commemorative Air Force

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for watching CAF Warbird Tube — where history takes flight.
You can join us live for upcoming broadcasts by registering at www.WarbirdTube.com.

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is dedicated to Educating, Inspiring, and Honoring through flight and living history experiences.
Programs like this help preserve and share the stories of aviation history — and we couldn’t do it without your support.

To learn more or get involved, visit www.CommemorativeAirForce.org.

Thanks for helping us keep history flying.

More than 6,000 Handley Page Halifax bombers were built during World War II. Today, only a handful remain.

At the Bomber Command Museum of Canada, an extraordinary team of volunteers, historians, and restoration experts is working to bring one of these legendary heavy bombers back from history—piece by piece. Using recovered wreckage, rare original parts, and components sourced from around the world, they are rebuilding a Halifax to honor the crews who flew them into combat over Europe.

But this is more than a Canadian story. During World War II, more than 8,800 Americans crossed the border to serve in the Royal Canadian Air Force before the United States officially entered the War.

Many of them flew aboard Halifax bombers during some of the most dangerous missions of the conflict. Thousands never returned.

In this episode of CAF Warbird Tube, we go behind the scenes of one of the most important warbird restoration projects underway today. Discover the history of the Halifax, the international effort to preserve it, and the people dedicating countless hours to ensure these stories are never forgotten. This is not just the restoration of an aircraft—it is the restoration of memory.

Subscribe for more aviation history, warbird stories, and behind-the-scenes access from the Commemorative Air Force.

Aired on: May 22, 2026

Guest: Karl Kjarsgaard

Host: Steve Buss

Producer: Bob Score

Produced by: Commemorative Air Force

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for watching CAF Warbird Tube — where history takes flight.
You can join us live for upcoming broadcasts by registering at www.WarbirdTube.com.

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is dedicated to Educating, Inspiring, and Honoring through flight and living history experiences.
Programs like this help preserve and share the stories of aviation history — and we couldn’t do it without your support.

To learn more or get involved, visit www.CommemorativeAirForce.org.

Thanks for helping us keep history flying.

For 53 brutal days during World War II, a small group of American servicemen fought to survive on a remote Pacific island with almost no food, constant danger, and little hope of rescue.

In this episode of CAF Warbird Tube, we sit down with bestselling military historian and author John R. Bruning to discuss his gripping book, Fifty-Three Days on Starvation Island: The World War II Battle That Saved Marine Corps Aviation. This episode explores the desperate struggle faced by Marines and aviators during the Guadalcanal campaign, where starvation, disease, exhaustion, and relentless combat became part of daily life. It’s a story not just about war, but about endurance, leadership, sacrifice, and survival against overwhelming odds.

If you enjoy untold World War II history, Pacific Theater stories, Marine Corps aviation history, and firsthand accounts of survival, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. You can watch this show on YouTube at https://youtu.be/lka3sswY9PQ.

• Aired on: May 8, 2026
• Guest: John R. Bruning
• Host: Steve Buss
• Producer: Bob Score Jr.
• Produced by: Commemorative Air Force

Want to learn more about this show and upcoming episodes? Go to, www.cafwarbirdtube.com, for more info.

Send us Fan Mail

Thanks for watching CAF Warbird Tube — where history takes flight.
You can join us live for upcoming broadcasts by registering at www.WarbirdTube.com.

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is dedicated to Educating, Inspiring, and Honoring through flight and living history experiences.
Programs like this help preserve and share the stories of aviation history — and we couldn’t do it without your support.

To learn more or get involved, visit www.CommemorativeAirForce.org.

Thanks for helping us keep history flying.