Classic Warbirds
@classicwarbirds.bsky.social
Covering military aviation between 1930 and 1945. Profiling the aircraft, people and events that took place.
Posts by Andrew Clayton
https://www.classicwarbirds.co.uk
Posts by Andrew Clayton
https://www.classicwarbirds.co.uk
Pinned
Get more warbird content at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk. Our website has profiles on over 90 aircraft, a range of articles, a Battle of Britain timeline and a guide to aviation museums.
#OnThisDay in 1943, the Seafire Mk III, powered by the 1,585-hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 55M engine, entered service when No. 894 Naval Air Squadron received the first examples.
Read our Seafire profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #ww2 #WorldWar2
Read our Seafire profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #ww2 #WorldWar2
November 27, 2025 at 3:43 PM
#OnThisDay in 1943, the Seafire Mk III, powered by the 1,585-hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 55M engine, entered service when No. 894 Naval Air Squadron received the first examples.
Read our Seafire profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #ww2 #WorldWar2
Read our Seafire profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #ww2 #WorldWar2
#OnThisDay in 1943, two XF8F-1 Bearcat prototypes were ordered, these will be powered by the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp engine.
Read our F8F profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/american-air... #ww2 #WorldWar2
Read our F8F profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/american-air... #ww2 #WorldWar2
November 27, 2025 at 3:39 PM
#OnThisDay in 1943, two XF8F-1 Bearcat prototypes were ordered, these will be powered by the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp engine.
Read our F8F profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/american-air... #ww2 #WorldWar2
Read our F8F profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/american-air... #ww2 #WorldWar2
New Home for Polish Heritage Flight & Hawker Hurricane G-HURI at the Shuttleworth Collection.
▶️ polishheritageflight.com/f/phf-moves-...
▶️ polishheritageflight.com/f/phf-moves-...
November 26, 2025 at 3:37 PM
New Home for Polish Heritage Flight & Hawker Hurricane G-HURI at the Shuttleworth Collection.
▶️ polishheritageflight.com/f/phf-moves-...
▶️ polishheritageflight.com/f/phf-moves-...
#OnThisDay in 1943 the XP-47J prototype made its first flight. It was the first piston-engined aircraft to reach 500 mph in level flight.
Read our P-47 profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/american-air...
📷 www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/...
Read our P-47 profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/american-air...
📷 www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/...
November 26, 2025 at 12:03 PM
#OnThisDay in 1943 the XP-47J prototype made its first flight. It was the first piston-engined aircraft to reach 500 mph in level flight.
Read our P-47 profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/american-air...
📷 www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/...
Read our P-47 profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/american-air...
📷 www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/...
#OnThisDay in 1941 the Avro Lancaster B.II prototype made its maiden flight. Powered by the Bristol Hercules engine, only 301 were built and the last B.II was scrapped in 1950.
Read our Lancaster profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #ww2 #WorldWar2
Read our Lancaster profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #ww2 #WorldWar2
November 26, 2025 at 10:55 AM
#OnThisDay in 1941 the Avro Lancaster B.II prototype made its maiden flight. Powered by the Bristol Hercules engine, only 301 were built and the last B.II was scrapped in 1950.
Read our Lancaster profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #ww2 #WorldWar2
Read our Lancaster profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #ww2 #WorldWar2
Some of the aircraft of the Scramble! exhibition at the #IWMDuxford earlier this year.
November 25, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Some of the aircraft of the Scramble! exhibition at the #IWMDuxford earlier this year.
Lancaster B.VII (NX611) ‘Just Jane’ – Restoration Update 248.
▶️ vintageaviationnews.com/restorations...
▶️ vintageaviationnews.com/restorations...
November 25, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Lancaster B.VII (NX611) ‘Just Jane’ – Restoration Update 248.
▶️ vintageaviationnews.com/restorations...
▶️ vintageaviationnews.com/restorations...
November 25, 2025 at 12:36 PM
#OnThisDay in 1944 production of the Bristol Beaufort ended. A total of 2,130 had been built, 700 of which were made in Australia.
Read our Beaufort profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #ww2 #WorldWar2
Read our Beaufort profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #ww2 #WorldWar2
November 25, 2025 at 9:36 AM
#OnThisDay in 1944 production of the Bristol Beaufort ended. A total of 2,130 had been built, 700 of which were made in Australia.
Read our Beaufort profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #ww2 #WorldWar2
Read our Beaufort profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #ww2 #WorldWar2
#OnThisDay in 1940 the B-26 Marauder made its first flight. The B-26 would normally have a crew of seven, comprising pilot, co-pilot, bombardier, wireless operator, top turret gunner, waist gunner and tail gunner.
Read our B-26 profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/american-air... #ww2 #WorldWar2
Read our B-26 profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/american-air... #ww2 #WorldWar2
November 25, 2025 at 9:34 AM
#OnThisDay in 1940 the B-26 Marauder made its first flight. The B-26 would normally have a crew of seven, comprising pilot, co-pilot, bombardier, wireless operator, top turret gunner, waist gunner and tail gunner.
Read our B-26 profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/american-air... #ww2 #WorldWar2
Read our B-26 profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/american-air... #ww2 #WorldWar2
#OnThisDay in 1940, flying from Hatfield, with Geoffrey de Havilland Jr at the controls, the de Havilland Mosquito prototype made its first flight.
Read our Mosquito profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #ww2 #WorldWar2
Read our Mosquito profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #ww2 #WorldWar2
November 25, 2025 at 9:31 AM
#OnThisDay in 1940, flying from Hatfield, with Geoffrey de Havilland Jr at the controls, the de Havilland Mosquito prototype made its first flight.
Read our Mosquito profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #ww2 #WorldWar2
Read our Mosquito profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #ww2 #WorldWar2
November 24, 2025 at 8:55 AM
de Havilland Aircraft Museum wins national award for WWII Mosquito.
▶️ www.whtimes.co.uk/news/2561380...
▶️ www.whtimes.co.uk/news/2561380...
November 24, 2025 at 8:25 AM
de Havilland Aircraft Museum wins national award for WWII Mosquito.
▶️ www.whtimes.co.uk/news/2561380...
▶️ www.whtimes.co.uk/news/2561380...
Woman, 104, receives France's highest military honour for D-Day role.
▶️ www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
▶️ www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
November 24, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Woman, 104, receives France's highest military honour for D-Day role.
▶️ www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
▶️ www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
POST CORRECTION
There are surviving airworthy examples of this aircraft, sorry for the mistake.
There are surviving airworthy examples of this aircraft, sorry for the mistake.
Visitors to the UK in 2025.
With no surviving airworthy aircraft, this particular CAC CA-13 Boomerang was originally built in America, using parts from a number of different Boomerangs, and has been based in Europe sine 2013.
With no surviving airworthy aircraft, this particular CAC CA-13 Boomerang was originally built in America, using parts from a number of different Boomerangs, and has been based in Europe sine 2013.
November 21, 2025 at 8:46 PM
POST CORRECTION
There are surviving airworthy examples of this aircraft, sorry for the mistake.
There are surviving airworthy examples of this aircraft, sorry for the mistake.
Visitors to the UK in 2025.
With no surviving airworthy aircraft, this particular CAC CA-13 Boomerang was originally built in America, using parts from a number of different Boomerangs, and has been based in Europe sine 2013.
With no surviving airworthy aircraft, this particular CAC CA-13 Boomerang was originally built in America, using parts from a number of different Boomerangs, and has been based in Europe sine 2013.
November 20, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Visitors to the UK in 2025.
With no surviving airworthy aircraft, this particular CAC CA-13 Boomerang was originally built in America, using parts from a number of different Boomerangs, and has been based in Europe sine 2013.
With no surviving airworthy aircraft, this particular CAC CA-13 Boomerang was originally built in America, using parts from a number of different Boomerangs, and has been based in Europe sine 2013.
#OnThisDay in 1942, Beaufighters of the North Coates Strike Wing performed their first operation. By the 8th May 1945 they would be credited with sinking over 150,000 tons of enemy shipping.
Read our Beaufighter profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #ww2 #WorldWar2
Read our Beaufighter profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #ww2 #WorldWar2
November 20, 2025 at 8:24 PM
#OnThisDay in 1942, Beaufighters of the North Coates Strike Wing performed their first operation. By the 8th May 1945 they would be credited with sinking over 150,000 tons of enemy shipping.
Read our Beaufighter profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #ww2 #WorldWar2
Read our Beaufighter profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #ww2 #WorldWar2
Heinkel He 111H-16 Restoration Reaches Milestone at Kent Battle of Britain Museum.
▶️ vintageaviationnews.com/aviation-mus...
▶️ vintageaviationnews.com/aviation-mus...
November 19, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Heinkel He 111H-16 Restoration Reaches Milestone at Kent Battle of Britain Museum.
▶️ vintageaviationnews.com/aviation-mus...
▶️ vintageaviationnews.com/aviation-mus...
WWII Combat Veteran P-51D Mustang ‘Sierra Sue II’ Listed for Sale.
▶️ vintageaviationnews.com/warbirds-new...
▶️ vintageaviationnews.com/warbirds-new...
November 19, 2025 at 5:20 PM
WWII Combat Veteran P-51D Mustang ‘Sierra Sue II’ Listed for Sale.
▶️ vintageaviationnews.com/warbirds-new...
▶️ vintageaviationnews.com/warbirds-new...
November 19, 2025 at 5:18 PM
November 18, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Only two official TP-47G two-seater trainers were built by Republic as prototypes. The extra cockpit was added to the front of the aircraft, these would be nicknamed 'Doublebolt'.
📷 1000aircraftphotos.com/Fairchild/49...
📷 1000aircraftphotos.com/Fairchild/49...
November 18, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Only two official TP-47G two-seater trainers were built by Republic as prototypes. The extra cockpit was added to the front of the aircraft, these would be nicknamed 'Doublebolt'.
📷 1000aircraftphotos.com/Fairchild/49...
📷 1000aircraftphotos.com/Fairchild/49...
#OnThisDay in 1943, Bomber Command began its Battle of Berlin, with Lancasters one of the aircraft that took part. Over the next four months 9,111 sorties will be flown and 2,690 aircrew lost.
Read our Lancaster profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #ww2 #WorldWar2
Read our Lancaster profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #ww2 #WorldWar2
November 18, 2025 at 4:33 PM
#OnThisDay in 1943, Bomber Command began its Battle of Berlin, with Lancasters one of the aircraft that took part. Over the next four months 9,111 sorties will be flown and 2,690 aircrew lost.
Read our Lancaster profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #ww2 #WorldWar2
Read our Lancaster profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #ww2 #WorldWar2
Discover the aviation history on your doorstep with our museum guide which lists over 190 museums and places of interest across the UK.
▶️ www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/museum-guide... #DaysOut
Don't forget to check opening times and dates!
▶️ www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/museum-guide... #DaysOut
Don't forget to check opening times and dates!
November 18, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Discover the aviation history on your doorstep with our museum guide which lists over 190 museums and places of interest across the UK.
▶️ www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/museum-guide... #DaysOut
Don't forget to check opening times and dates!
▶️ www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/museum-guide... #DaysOut
Don't forget to check opening times and dates!
November 16, 2025 at 6:02 PM