Historic warbirds soar at Monroe County Airport during Aviation Weekend

Staff report

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — September 7, 2025

Three vintage warbirds drew history buffs and aviation fans to the Monroe County Airport on Sunday, offering a rare chance to see and hear the aircraft that trained a generation of American pilots during World War II.

The event was part of Aviation Weekend, a three-day community celebration that included films, pancake breakfasts, youth flights, and concerts. But for many, the highlight came when the aircraft — a Stearman PT-17, a PT-26 Fairchild Cornell, and a Vultee BT-13 Valiant — taxied out and lifted into the skies above Bloomington.

Each plane on display belongs to the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Ghost Squadron, maintained and flown by the Indiana Wing of the CAF, a nonprofit flying museum founded in 1978. Based at several Indiana airports, the wing operates the Stearman, PT-26, BT-13, and other historic trainers, along with member-owned aircraft including a Stinson L-5 Sentinel and an AT-6 Texan.

The CAF, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, was established to acquire, restore, and preserve military aircraft for future generations. Its fleet, known as the Ghost Squadron, recreates and reminds audiences of the lessons of American airpower in World War II. Volunteers devote their time and money to keeping these machines airworthy. “Join the Air Force you’ve never heard of and keep history soaring,” the organization’s creed reads.

On Sunday, the planes and their volunteer crews carried that mission forward.

The Stearman PT-17, built May 5, 1941 — just months before the attack on Pearl Harbor — represents the starting point for thousands of American aviators. With its open cockpit, twin wings, and Continental W-670 radial engine, the rugged Kaydet introduced cadets to flight before they moved to more advanced trainers.

The Fairchild PT-26 Cornell, with its low-wing design and enclosed cockpit, offered the next step. Used heavily under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, it bridged the gap between open-cockpit trainers and high-performance combat aircraft.

The Vultee BT-13 Valiant, nicknamed the “Vibrator” for its rattling flight characteristics, was the U.S. Army Air Forces’ most common basic trainer. Nearly 12,000 were built. Heavier, faster, and more demanding than the Stearman or Cornell, the BT-13 prepared cadets for advanced fighters and bombers.

The Indiana Wing also stages Barnstorming Days each summer, bringing warbirds to airports across the state. Those events honor veterans, showcase flying history, and inspire youth by giving them firsthand experiences of the sights, sounds, and smells of WWII aviation.

• Stearman PT-17 Kaydet (E-75 model, built May 1941)
  • Primary trainer; open cockpit, biplane design.
  • Continental W-670-6A radial engine, 7 cylinders, ~220 hp.
  • Nearly every U.S. WWII pilot started in a Stearman.
• Fairchild PT-26 Cornell
  • Monoplane trainer with enclosed cockpit.
  • Powered by a Ranger inline engine.
  • Used widely in Canada and U.S. training programs.
• Vultee BT-13 Valiant
  • Basic trainer; heavier and more powerful.
  • Pratt & Whitney R-985 radial, ~450 hp.
  • Known as the “Vibrator”; over 11,500 produced.

Together, these aircraft formed the backbone of America’s wartime training program. Without them, the combat fleets of P-51 Mustangs, B-17 Flying Fortresses, and C-47 transports would never have been crewed.

The post Historic warbirds soar at Monroe County Airport during Aviation Weekend first appeared on The Bloomingtonian.