Instagram story viewer> @cafairbasegeorgia> Posts

CAF Airbase Georgia

@cafairbasegeorgia

10.9K

followers

353

following

WWII Flying Museum: Honor, Inspire, Educate
Flight Experiences: airbasegeorgia.org/warbird-rides/

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

On October 17, 1922, Lieutenant Commander Virgil C. "Squash" Griffin made history when he flew a Vought VE-7SF biplane from the flight deck of USS Langley (CV-1), America's first aircraft carrier. Before he could do that, the Navy had to sort out a problem: the VE-7SF had no brakes!

Without wheel brakes, Griffin couldn't simply hold the airplane stationary while bringing its 180-horsepower engine up to full power for takeoff. So, the crew positioned the airplane well aft on the flight deck, with its tail supported by a trough constructed from two rows of sawhorses. A restraining wire held the aircraft in place, connected to a release mechanism adapted from equipment normally used to drop bombs. When Griffin was ready, a deck crewman could pull a cord to release the airplane.

There was another complication. Langley was anchored in Virginia's York River rather than steaming into the wind. To provide the best possible takeoff conditions, the crew used winches connected to the ship's stern anchor lines to adjust its heading into the wind.

With everything ready, Griffin brought the engine to full power. At his signal, the restraining mechanism was released, and the little Vought accelerated down the wooden deck. It was airborne before reaching the elevator near the middle of the ship.

Griffin then flew to Naval Air Station Hampton Roads, completing the first takeoff from an American aircraft carrier.

Leave it to the U.S. Navy. by @cafairbasegeorgia

17

0

8 hours ago

Last week, we showed you the crew polishing up the P-47 canopy. Now, see it in action with this motor test! Did you know the canopy had a motor?

🎥 Charles Burcher by @cafairbasegeorgia

164

0

a day ago

Saturday night is our long-awaited Moonlight Swing Gala presented by Delta Air Lines!

Be a part of the fun as we take you back to the 1940s to celebrate aviation history and America's 250th. Put on your finest retro look, check it in the mirror, then come join us!

Tickets at: https://airbasegeorgia.org/event/moonlight-swing-dance/ by @cafairbasegeorgia

38

0

2 days ago

Don't forget that you can visit the hangar, museum, and workshop here at Airbase Georgia most every Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday. It's a day of family fun and learning, and you never know what you might see!

For more, check out: https://airbasegeorgia.org/museum/ by @cafairbasegeorgia

34

0

3 days ago

We’re in the home stretch for the Moonlight Swing Gala presented by @delta! Join us for an unforgettable evening as we transport you back to the 1940s for dinner, dancing, and a celebration of aviation history.

More than just a great night out, the Moonlight Swing Gala helps launch the next chapter in the growth of Airbase Georgia. Proceeds benefit our museum expansion campaign, helping us create more space to preserve, share, and bring history to life.

It’s a great time for a great cause: https://airbasegeorgia.org/event/moonlight-swing-dance/

Fayette Chamber of Commerce
Visit Peachtree City by @cafairbasegeorgia

67

0

5 days ago

On October 12, 1944, Chuck Yeager became an ace in a day. Flying a P-51 Mustang with the 357th Fighter Group over Germany, Yeager shot down five enemy fighters in a single mission. Two of those victories came almost at once when a German pilot broke hard and collided with his wingman; Yeager then added three more kills in the ensuing fight. By war’s end, he was credited with 11.5 aerial victories.

That alone would have secured his place among the most famous Mustang pilots of all time, but of course, there was more. His combat career was already remarkable even before October 12, though. He had already been shot down over France, evaded capture with help from the French Resistance, returned to England, and successfully fought to be allowed back into combat.

But Yeager’s name would become even more famous after the war. On October 14, 1947, flying the Bell X-1 "Glamorous Glennis", he became the first person officially to exceed the speed of sound in level flight, reaching Mach 1.06. That flight helped establish what would become Edwards Air Force Base as the center of American experimental flight testing.

Yeager went on to test numerous experimental and high-performance aircraft, command fighter units, lead the Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot School, and eventually retire as a brigadier general. Decades after his wartime Mustang missions, he was still flying high-performance Air Force aircraft and remained one of the best-known test pilots in aviation history.

But on October 12, 1944, all of that was still ahead of him. That day, Chuck Yeager was simply a 21-year-old Mustang pilot who entered a fight over Germany and came home with five victories from a single mission. by @cafairbasegeorgia

67

0

5 days ago

#OTD in 1968, Apollo 7, the first manned Apollo spacecraft, was launched aboard a Saturn IB rocket from Launch Complex 34 at Kennedy Space Center. On day two of the 10-day mission, mission commander Wally Schirra came down with a cold, which of course spread to both Donn Eisele and Walt Cunningham. Schirra later referred to Apollo 7 as, "The ten day cold capsule." by @cafairbasegeorgia

25

0

6 days ago

Some good #FighterFriday advice for you. 😎 by @cafairbasegeorgia

67

0

8 days ago

At Moonlight Swing on October 17, you won’t just dance the night away to live period music.

You’ll spend the evening surrounded by Airbase Georgia’s historic warbirds, creating a setting no ordinary ballroom can offer.

Dress in 1940s attire or formal wear and join us for an unforgettable victory celebration among the aircraft that help us preserve the legacy of the Greatest Generation.

Reserve your place today: https://airbasegeorgia.org/event/moonlight-swing-dance/ or our link in bio. by @cafairbasegeorgia

80

1

9 days ago

On October 17, Airbase Georgia’s hangar becomes a ballroom filled with live period music, historic aircraft, 1940s characters, dancing and the atmosphere of a victory celebration.

Dress in your best 1940s attire or formal wear and step into 1945 for one unforgettable night.

More info and tickets at https://airbasegeorgia.org/event/moonlight-swing-dance/ by @cafairbasegeorgia

42

0

10 days ago

On October 6, 1950, the United States Air Force assumed control of Kimpo Air Base from the U.S. Marine Corps, who had recaptured it just weeks earlier on September 18 following the bold amphibious landings at Inchon. The battle for Kimpo was a pivotal moment in the Korean War, as the airfield’s location made it one of the most strategically significant pieces of real estate on the peninsula. Situated just west of Seoul, it offered United Nations forces a forward operating base from which aircraft could directly support ground operations, shorten supply lines, and project air power deep into enemy-held territory.

Kimpo’s wartime story began at the very outset of the conflict. On June 25, 1950, when North Korean troops surged across the 38th parallel, they quickly seized the airfield, depriving U.N. forces of a critical asset. Its value became immediately clear once General Douglas MacArthur’s daring landing at Inchon turned the tide of the war. As Marines advanced inland in mid-September, capturing Kimpo became a priority. Within days of securing the beachhead, U.N. forces fought their way to the airfield and liberated it on September 18.

Once back in Allied hands, Kimpo rapidly transformed into a vital hub of military activity. The first aircraft to touch down on the newly secured field was a Marine Corps helicopter, followed by transport planes loaded with fuel, ammunition, and supplies for troops pushing toward Seoul. Renamed K-14 by the U.S. Air Force, Kimpo quickly became a launch point for fighter-bombers, cargo aircraft, and rotary-wing assets that provided close air support, conducted interdiction missions, and ferried personnel and materiel directly to the front. Its proximity to the capital allowed aircraft to respond rapidly to shifting battle conditions, while its improved logistics network played a crucial role in sustaining the momentum of U.N. offensives. by @cafairbasegeorgia

89

0

12 days ago

Last week, four CAF Airbase Georgia colonels (Jane Simpson, Robyn Rosenzweig, Carla Reid, and Marybeth Britton) represented ABG at Girls in Aviation Day sponsored by Women in Aviation, Wheels Down South Chapter. Inspiring the next generation is one of our favorite parts of our mission! by @cafairbasegeorgia

49

1

12 days ago