In 1986, the Keystone Wing was formed in Pittsburgh, PA by a group of CAF members. The Keystone Wing of the Commemorative Air Force is a local part of a national organization, the CAF. All of our members are volunteers. We restore and maintain WWII aircraft in flying condition for the general public to view in such places  as airshows and flying demonstrations. 

About one year after the Keystone Wing was formed, we were assigned an L-5 aircraft by CAF headquarters in Texas. Over the next two years, the aircraft was completely restored. For over the last ten years we have displayed the L-5 at airshows all over the country. 

We have recently started restoration on another aircraft, a Stinson L-9. When work is completed, it will join our L-5 on the airshow trail.  

Since 1990, we have hosted a WWII-style Hangar Dance at our home base at Allegheny County Regional Airport. Live Big Band music, a display of historic aircraft, and great food are just a few of the things our guests enjoy every year.

While all of these activities are a lot of work, they are also very rewarding as we are preserving an important part of our nation's heritage. Anybody can become a member of the CAF and the Keystone Wing. You don't have to be a pilot or have any special skills, just a love of historic aircraft. We also hold regular monthly meetings that anyone can attend and meet us and learn more about us in person.

Commemorative Air Force Background

Between 1945 and 1960, the greatest aerial fleet ever assembled was being turned into scrap. This was the mighty armada of over 300,000 aircraft produced by American industry in just three and a half years, which helped win a global war.

There was no organized program to preserve examples of all the historic aircraft of the WWII years for the future. The U.S. Navy Air Museum had not yet been established, and numerous WWII aircraft types were missing from the from the Air Force Museum Collection. None were to be kept flying.

In 1957, a small group of people in Texas started buying surplus aircraft from the Government, saving them from the smelter. Legend has it that one night, the name "Confederate Air Force" was painted on the side of one of these aircraft as a joke - but the name stuck. In 1961 the CAF was incorporated as a non-profit organization.

Since that time, a dedicated group of people across the country have assembled one of the finest and most complete collections of flyable WWII aircraft in the world. Included are fighters, bombers, transports, trainers and the only helicopter to see service in WWII. The collection also includes aircraft of the German Luftwaffe and a fleet of replica aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

In 2001, members of the Confederate Air Force recognized that they needed to adopt an organization name that was more descriptive of the mission that they are charged with. By a vote of the General Membership, it was decided that the new name would be Commemorative Air Force, effective January 1, 2002.

The Flying Museum of the Commemorative Air Force, known as the Ghost Squadron, currently consists of 130 aircraft, representing 60 different aircraft types from the war years. All are flying or being restored. The majority of these aircraft are assigned to CAF Wings across the country.  The Keystone Wing is just one of those.

The Commemorative Air Force is a totally self-supporting , privately financed organization. We are an all-volunteer, non-profit educational organization under IRS 501(c)3 guidelines. All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Commemorative Air Force, Inc.