Frank Strickler Frank Strickler (EAA 26649): Strickler’s love of aviation began at an early age, when his pediatrician bound a couple of tongue depressors together and told him it was an airplane. In the U.S. Air Force beginning in 1959, he flew C-130s, F-101s, and...
Chuck Greenhill 2023 Warbirds of America Hall of Fame Inductee – Chuck Greenhill Chuck Greenhill’s involvement in warbird restoration began soon after his time serving as a Private First Class in the U.S. Army. Greenhill worked as a tool and die maker, and used those...
Tom Reilly 2022 Warbirds of America Hall of Fame Inductee – Tom Reilly Reilly’s piloting and restoration accomplishments are legendary within the warbirds community. He has more than 5,500 hours logged as pilot-in-command, primarily in warbird aircraft, with more than...
2021 Warbirds of America Hall of Fame Inductees – Carl Scholl and Tony Ritzman Carl Scholl and Tony Ritzman were both born in the 1940s and bitten by the aviation bug in their early 30s. Carl came across a derelict B-25 parked at the Ramona Airport in California....
2020 EAA Warbirds Hall of Fame Inductee – Mark Clark As a child growing up in Rockford, Illinois, Mark dreamed of being an aviator. He soloed on his 16th birthday, earned his private pilot certificate on his 17th birthday, and earned his commercial certificate...
Dennis Sanders EAA Warbirds of America Hall of Fame 2019 In the warbird community, when you say the name Sanders, most people think of the Hawker Sea Fury. The Sanders family has spent decades restoring and maintaining these rare airplanes. Dennis Sanders has spent...
Jack Roush was born in Covington, Kentucky, in 1942 at the height of the war. His interest in science, math, and all things mechanical began at an early age. Those interests led him to auto racing and eventually partnering with Fenway Sports Group to form Roush Fenway...
Clarence E.“Bud” Anderson Clarence Emil “Bud” Anderson was born in Oakland, California, and grew up on a farm. He was commissioned in the U.S. Army Air Forces as a pilot in the fall of 1942, and went on to fly two combat tours with the 363rd Fighter Squadron of the...
Doug Champlin Doug Champlin’s passion for preserving military aircraft extends to all eras, for World War I to the Vietnam War period. His Champlin Air Museum in Mesa, Arizona, became a magnet for warbird enthusiasts from around the world. The facility also became the...
Nelson Ezell EAA 484845, Warbirds 595324 Since 1986, Nelson Ezell has been rebuilding warbirds. That’s an understatement – from his facilities at the Stephens County Airport in Breckenridge, Texas, he and his team have saved some unique aircraft that...
Jay Wisler Jay Wisler of Tampa, Florida, has been the go-to guy in the warbird parts industry. His Business, Warbird Parts and Memorabilia, has supplied critical parts for restoration projects around the world since 1982. He has traveled from coast to coast in the...
Lee Lauderback Lee Lauderback, EAA 333795, of Orlando, Florida, began flying in 1966 at the age of 15. Shortly after graduation from college, Lee started to work for professional golfer and businessman Arnold Palmer. For 17 years, Lee headed up Arnold’s flight...
