This video captures a unique moment in aviation history. Two of the world’s most rare aircraft dance through the sky together at one of the greatest celebrations of historical war aviation, the Geneseo Airshow in New York.
Crowds gathered in the summer of 2014 at Geneseo airfield to see a 1945 DH-98 deHallivand Mosquito, a classic British multi-combat aircraft, once again grace the air. This particular aircraft was built in Canada in 1945 is one only two remaining airworthy Mosquitos surviving. One factor the contributed to this Mosquito’s survival is that it never saw combat, but was left to deteriorate in a field until purchased as a valuable piece of aviation history by the Military Aviation Museum in 2004.
AVspecs in New Zealand painstakingly restored the Mosquito featured in this video over eight years. Its signature wooden airframe was rebuilt over a period of three years, cast from molds built to the original mold design specifications. As it had never seen combat, the restored Mosquito was dedicated to the New Zealand unit that flew Mosquitos in WWII through its painted markings of the 487 Squadron RNZAF. The Mosquito received its certificate of airworthiness in September 2012 and made its first flight in 60 years to land at Virginia Beach in March 2013.
Just over a year later, the restored Mosquito showcased its prowess alongside another rare and important WWII aircraft, a stunning Lockheed P-38L Lightning. Housed at Fagen Fighters Warbird Museum, Minnesota, this aircraft is one of only seven airworthy P-38 Lightnings in existence. The P-38 featured in this video was also built in 1945 and survived the war without being deployed. Used until 1955 as a Bendix Racer, this P-38 was eventually restored in 1995 as ‘Marge’, and fitted with an E-model nose in keeping with WWII combat configuration. She was purchased by Ron Fagen and renamed ‘Ruff Stuff’ in 2012, as featured in this video, and again renamed in 2015 ‘Scat III’ in honor of the P-38 pilot Robin Olds.
Both these warbirds, the deHallivand Mosquito and the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, evoke powerful WWII nostalgia and hold a unique place in military aviation history. Only a handful of these aircraft remain in airworthy condition, making the footage captured in this video, the two rare planes sharing the skies as 70-year-old machines, a truly special treasure.