Grant Farrell and Paul Wood listen in as Captain Jim Lovell, USN(ret) recalls a humorous story from his military career

Present at the May 3rd Reception for the 2006 Waukegan Air Show - hosted by the WHF - are (from left) Paul Wood; Former Astronaut and Commander of Apollo 13, Jim Lovell; Waukegan Airport Manager Jim Stanczak; and Waukegan Mayor Richard Hyde

Airport Manager Jim Stanczak, Paul Wood, Jeff Clark ("Air Boss" for the 2006 Air Show), and Grant Farrell discuss plans for the 2006 Waukegan Air Show

Retired Navy Captain Dale "Snort" Snodgrass providing F-86 ground school instruction at WHF HQ. A Top Gun graduate and 1985 U.S. Navy Fighter Pilot of the Year, Captain Snodgrass retired from the Navy in 1999 as "High-Time Pilot" on the F-14 Tomcat with over 4,800 hours, and over 1,200 traps.

Riding in the back of our T-2 Buckeye is John "JC" Penney. Here in his capacity as an FAA Authorized Examiner on the F-86, he is about to conduct an F-86 check ride. John, a former AIr Force fighter pilot, currently flies for a major airline, and is also a contract test pilot. In 2005, flying the F8F Bearcat "Rare Bear", John was the winner in the Unlimited Class of the 42nd Annual Reno AIr Races.

Members of the World War II 509th Bomb Group (B-29's) were in town on September 7, 2007 for their 62nd Annual Reunion. The Warbird Heritage Foundation was honored to have them attend a luncheon in our hangar. The 509th Composite Bomb Group was the unit that dropped the atomic bombs on Japan ending World War II.

Seated in the center of the picture, wearing a green shirt, is one of the famous members of the 509th Bomb Group, Theodore J. ("Dutch") Van Kirk. Mr. Van Kirk was navigator on the B-29 "Enola Gay" for the August 6, 1945 mission that dropped the atomic bomb "Little Boy" on Hiroshima.

509th Bomb Group Luncheon

509th Bomb Group Luncheon

Paul Wood and Dean May prepare to take the T-2 up for a hop on June 17, 2008. Dean May is a former Naval Aviator with over 1,000 hours in the T-2.

Dean May, with his wife Glenda, and Paul Wood after a hop in the T-2.

At the "Warbirds in Review" Forum at AirVenture Oshkosh 2009, Cmdr T. R. Swartz, USN(ret.) recounted his experiences flying the A-4 Skyhawk and other aircraft during his 23 year naval career. On May 1, 1967, while a member of Squadron VA-76 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31), Cmdr Swartz shot down a MIG-17 with an unguided ZUNI rocket. He was credited with the only air-to-air kill by a Skyhawk during the Vietnam War. The Foundation A-4 Skyhawk is painted in the markings of Cmdr Swartz's aircraft to commemorate this event. We were pleased to be able to provide our recently restored Skyhawk as the backdrop for his presentation.
Photo by Henning Henningsen

The Warbird Heritage Foundation was honored to have Mr. David James, one of the Tuskegee Airmen, visit our facility on May 26, 2012. Mr. James was a P-51 Mustang pilot, and member of the 332nd Fighter Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Pictured here from the top, WHF Chief Pilot Herwig Schmidts, David James in the Foundation P-51, and WHF Director of Maintenance David Staffeldt.
Photo by Mark M. Suchecki

Paul R. Wood shows Robert A. (Bob) Hoover the Foundation F-86 Sabre at the Gathering of Eagles Celebration at The U. S. Air Force Command and Staff College Graduation at Maxwell AFB on June 6, 2013. Mr. Hoover was one of the Eagle honorees and WHF was asked to bring the Sabre down in his honor.
Photo by Michael Brasier

Paul Wood welcomes General John R. Dailey, USMC to the Warbird Heritage Foundation on May 21, 2014. General Dailey is a retired United States Marine Corps four star general whose thirty-six year military career included a wide variety of operational and command assignments, including Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. Since retiring from the Corps, he has served as Acting Associate Deputy Administrator of NASA, and is the current Director of the National Air and Space Museum. The General is a pilot with over 7,000 hours in fixed and rotary wing aircraft. He flew 450 combat missions during two tours in Vietnam.
Photo by Mark M. Suchecki

Paul Wood and General John R. Dailey prepare to go up for a hop in the Foundation T-2 Buckeye.
Photo by Mark M. Suchecki

The Warbird Heritage Foundation welcomed Marine L.Cpl Kyle Moser as a guest on December 19, 2014. Kyle sustained serious injuries, including the loss of both legs, when he stepped on an IED while on patrol in Afghanistan on November 22, 2011. We recently became aware that his lifelong dream was to fly a fighter plane. This being the Christmas Season, Paul Wood and the WHF decided that it was time to make his dream come true! Pictured here are Kyle (on the right), and Jeff Clark, who took him up for a hop in the Foundation T-2 Buckeye.
Photo by Mark M. Suchecki

L.Cpl Kyle Moser signals thumbs-up while preparing for his flight in the Foundation T-2 Buckeye.
Photo by Mark M. Suchecki

L.Cpl Kyle Moser in the back seat, with Jeff Clark returning from Kyle's flight in the Foundation T-2 Buckeye.
Photo by Mark M. Suchecki

As part of their second annual "Fly for Freedom" event, the Wisconsin Chapter of the 8th Air Force Historical Society visited the Warbird Heritage Foundation hangar for a tour conducted by Paul R. Wood on September 12, 2013.
Photo by Mark M. Suchecki

As part of their second annual "Fly for Freedom" event, the Wisconsin Chapter of the 8th Air Force Historical Society visited the Warbird Heritage Foundation hangar for a tour conducted by Paul R. Wood on September 12, 2013.
Photo by Mark M. Suchecki

As part of their second annual "Fly for Freedom" event, the Wisconsin Chapter of the 8th Air Force Historical Society visited the Warbird Heritage Foundation hangar for a tour conducted by Paul R. Wood on September 12, 2013.
Photo by Mark M. Suchecki

As part of their second annual "Fly for Freedom" event, the Wisconsin Chapter of the 8th Air Force Historical Society visited the Warbird Heritage Foundation hangar for a tour conducted by Paul R. Wood on September 12, 2013.
Photo by Mark M. Suchecki

As part of their second annual "Fly for Freedom" event, the Wisconsin Chapter of the 8th Air Force Historical Society visited the Warbird Heritage Foundation hangar for a tour conducted by Paul R. Wood on September 12, 2013.
Photo by Mark M. Suchecki

As part of their second annual "Fly for Freedom" event, the Wisconsin Chapter of the 8th Air Force Historical Society visited the Warbird Heritage Foundation hangar for a tour conducted by Paul R. Wood on September 12, 2013.
Photo by Mark M. Suchecki

As part of their second annual "Fly for Freedom" event, the Wisconsin Chapter of the 8th Air Force Historical Society visited the Warbird Heritage Foundation hangar for a tour conducted by Paul R. Wood on September 12, 2013.
Photo by Mark M. Suchecki

As part of their second annual "Fly for Freedom" event, the Wisconsin Chapter of the 8th Air Force Historical Society visited the Warbird Heritage Foundation hangar for a tour conducted by Paul R. Wood on September 12, 2013.
Photo by Mark M. Suchecki

As part of their second annual "Fly for Freedom" event, the Wisconsin Chapter of the 8th Air Force Historical Society visited the Warbird Heritage Foundation hangar for a tour conducted by Paul R. Wood on September 12, 2013.
Photo by Mark M. Suchecki

As part of their second annual "Fly for Freedom" event, the Wisconsin Chapter of the 8th Air Force Historical Society visited the Warbird Heritage Foundation hangar for a tour conducted by Paul R. Wood on September 12, 2013.
Photo by Mark M. Suchecki

Members of the St. Mary's School Cub Scout Pack 512 tour the WHF hangar on January 31, 2009.

Members of the St. Mary's School Cub Scout Pack 512 tour the WHF hangar on January 31, 2009.

Members of the St. Mary's School Cub Scout Pack 512 tour the WHF hangar on January 31, 2009.

Members of the St. Mary's School Cub Scout Pack 512 tour the WHF hangar on January 31, 2009.

Members of the St. Mary's School Cub Scout Pack 512 tour the WHF hangar on January 31, 2009.

Members of the St. Mary's School Cub Scout Pack 512 tour the WHF hangar on January 31, 2009.

Members of a private group tour the WHF hangar on January 31, 2009.

Members of a private group tour the WHF hangar on January 31, 2009.

Members of a private group tour the WHF hangar on January 31, 2009.

Members of a private group tour the WHF hangar on January 31, 2009.

Members of a private group tour the WHF hangar on January 31, 2009.

Members of EAA Chapter 1414 and the Sun City Aviation Group tour the WHF hangar on November 1, 2009.
Photo by Mark M. Suchecki

Members of EAA Chapter 1414 and the Sun City Aviation Group tour the WHF hangar on November 1, 2009.
Photo by Mark M. Suchecki

Members of EAA Chapter 1414 and the Sun City Aviation Group tour the WHF hangar on November 1, 2009.
Photo by Mark M. Suchecki

Members of EAA Chapter 1414 and the Sun City Aviation Group tour the WHF hangar on November 1, 2009.
Photo by Mark M. Suchecki

Members of EAA Chapter 1414 and the Sun City Aviation Group tour the WHF hangar on November 1, 2009.
Photo by Mark M. Suchecki

Members of EAA Chapter 1414 and the Sun City Aviation Group tour the WHF hangar on November 1, 2009.
Photo by Mark M. Suchecki

Members of a private group tour the WHF hangar on November 1, 2009.
Photo by Mark M. Suchecki

Members of a private group tour the WHF hangar on November 1, 2009.
Photo by Mark M. Suchecki

The Waukegan Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol toured the WHF hangar on June 13, 2006. Members listen as Herwig Schmidts (out of view off to the right) reviews the history and capabilities of the T-2B Buckeye jet trainer aircraft.

Paul Wood (second from right) discusses the handling characteristics and some of his flight experience with the T-2B Buckeye, while CAP members inspect the aircraft interior

Paul Wood answers questions while CAP members view the front cockpit of the T-2B Buckeye jet trainer aircraft

Members of the Waukegan Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol and their guests inspect the T-2B Buckeye jet trainer aircraft

Paul Wood discusses the history and capabilities of the L-39C jet trainer aircraft with members of the Waukegan Civil AIr Patrol and their guests

Paul Wood answers questions about the L-39C jet trainer, while members of the Waukegan Civil Air Patrol and their guests view the aircraft interior

A Waukegan CAP guest - and (hopefully) future pilot - performs his very first pre-flight inspection - of the Foundation's N2S-3 Stearman