Every year, the Condor Squadron, based in Van Nuys, performs flyovers for Memorial Day events around Southern California. This year, I rode along with the Condors in a nine-ship formation to fly over 10 different Memorial Day events. The Condors also fly over other events throughout the year including Independence Day events and memorial services for veterans. The flight lasted 2 and a half hours! Flying in a T-6 for that long is not easy, flying in formation for that long is real tricky, and my hat goes off to the pilots that flew this sortie. You guys were great! Many thanks goes out to all of the pilots in the flight, and to Ken Gottschall, the pilot of the photo ship.

T-6 Texans lined up on the tarmac at Van Nuys.


Carter Clark, flight lead, and Stu Mcafee roll out to the taxiway.


Formed up and heading to Newhall for the first target of the day.


The view from the rear cockpit was something!


The weather at the beginning of the flight was overcast and gray.


Stu Mcafee pulls up and out of the formation for the missing man over Newhall.


The weather started to look better in spots, but we still had some overcast until later.


Over Pasadena.


Flying over the Rose Bowl.


Flying over the north side of Mount Hollywood.


Near the Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills.


Flying by the famous Hollywood sign landmark.


Crossing under the formation. That's a lot of T-6s!


Turning near the Hollywood sign again.


Crossing over the Condor home base, Van Nuys.


Smoke on for another Memorial Day service flyover.


Carl Lang and Wilbur Owen on our wing at the trailing end of the formation.


Sparky over Thousand Oaks.


Stu pulls away again for the missing man while Rick Martin holds position.


Will Kalbermatter turns on the smoke. This is one of the T-6s with Luftwaffe markings.


Another shot of Will over one of the catch basins in LA.


Over the Getty Center.


Will over Griffith Park.


Sparky on the wing.


Here is an idea of my vantage point in the cockpit, heading back to Van Nuys.


Debriefing at the squadron after the flight.


Some of the aircraft safely back on the ground.


Ken Gottschall, pilot of the photo ship. Thanks Ken!!!