History of the Commemorative Air Force

Decommissioned military aircraft were being systematically destroyed at an alarming rate in the years following World War II. Little was being done to preserve these artfully-engineered planes known as “warbirds”. Then, a small group of aviation enthusiasts in south Texas went into action, determined to save, in flying condition, a representative collection of U.S. combat aircraft from WWII.

After purchasing several vintage fighters such as the Curtiss P-40 “Warhawk”, the North American P-51 “Mustang” and Grumman F8F “Bearcat”, the Confederate Air Force was chartered as a nonprofit Texas corporation.

In 1991, the CAF began a new era by moving into facilities in Midland, Texas. The organization changed its name to the Commemorative Air Force in 2001 and today boasts over 9,000 members operating a fleet of over 160 aircraft in 23 states and three foreign countries under the name “Ghost Squadron”.

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