The Fagen Fighters WWII Museum in Granite Falls, Minnesota, has sold its World War I-era Curtiss JN-4D “Jenny” to vintage aircraft collector Walter Bowe of Esparto, California. The historic biplane—one of America’s most iconic early military aircraft—has found a new home where it will soon return to the skies. The Curtiss JN-4D, better known as the “Jenny,” played a pivotal role in training thousands of U.S. Army Air Service pilots during World War I. After the war, surplus Jennys were sold to civilians and became the backbone of the barnstorming era, introducing flight to communities across the country.
The aircraft’s relocation from Minnesota to California was coordinated by warbird pilot and restorer Bernie Vasquez, who oversaw both the transport and reassembly of the Jenny in its new hangar. Now fully reassembled in Esparto, the aircraft is being prepared for flight and is expected to take to the air again soon. Walter Bowe, an avid aviation preservationist, has a deep passion for keeping early aircraft flying. The Jenny will be a highlight in his growing collection of rare and historic planes, and he plans to share it with the public at airshows and special events throughout California. The Ala Doble Flying Ranch near Esparto, California, is a privately owned airfield originally built in the 1980s by renowned airshow pilot Verne Dallman, who used the property to house his collection of aerobatic aircraft. Following Dallman’s passing in 1998 and that of his wife in 2016, the ranch was nearly sold and converted into a cannabis farm. However, aviation historians Walt and Carlene Bowe intervened to preserve its legacy. They purchased the property, restored its aviation purpose, and transformed it into both their home and the base for their private aircraft collection—now known as the Ala Doble Flying Collection.
The Fagen Fighters WWII Museum, known for its pristine collection of World War II aircraft and its dedication to living history, saw the sale as an opportunity to place the Jenny with a steward who would continue to honor its legacy. While the museum focuses primarily on the WWII era, its brief foray into WWI history has now transitioned into a new chapter under Bowe’s care. This transfer not only ensures the preservation of the Jenny but also guarantees that its story will continue to be told in the air, not just on the ground—just as it was over a century ago. For more information, visit www.aladobleflyingcollection.org
