Each year, hundreds of meticulously restored and carefully preserved aircraft arrive at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, many competing for one of the most respected distinctions in the aviation community: a Warbirds of America Lindy Award. The annual awards recognize excellence in the restoration, preservation, presentation, and continued operation of historic military aircraft, with honors spanning trainers, liaison aircraft, helicopters, fighters, bombers, and other significant types.
The 2026 Warbirds of America Awards celebrated an exceptional collection of military aircraft representing several generations of aviation history. Leading this year’s recipients was the American Heritage Museum’s Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina, N459CF, which received the Grand Champion WWII Award. American Aero Services of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, was also honored with the Gold Wrench Award for the craftsmanship and technical expertise demonstrated during the aircraft’s restoration.
(Image credit: American Heritage Museum)
Based in Hudson, Massachusetts, the American Heritage Museum operates what is believed to be the world’s oldest airworthy PBY Catalina. During World War II, Catalinas performed an extraordinary variety of missions, including maritime patrol, convoy escort, anti-submarine warfare, reconnaissance, and search and rescue. The museum’s award-winning example serves as a flying tribute to the crews who operated the type over the world’s oceans, including those who helped protect Allied shipping during the Battle of the Atlantic.
(Image credit: American Heritage Museum)
Bruce Eames’ North American P-51B Mustang, N51BE, was named Reserve Grand Champion WWII following its public debut at AirVenture. Owned by Eames and associated with the Dakota Territory Air Museum of Minot, North Dakota, the aircraft was restored by AirCorps Aviation of Bemidji, Minnesota, and presented in the markings of Shillelaugh.
The original Shillelagh served with the 353rd Fighter Squadron of the 354th Fighter Group, the first U.S. Army Air Forces unit to fly the Mustang in combat. The restored aircraft commemorates the pilots and ground crews who supported long-range escort missions and helped establish Allied air superiority over Europe. AirCorps Aviation also received a Gold Wrench Award in recognition of the restoration’s craftsmanship, historical accuracy, and attention to detail.
Another major honor went to William Kientz’s Temco T-35A, N58BK, which received both the Grand Champion Post-WWII Award and the Phoenix Award. The latter recognizes an aircraft returned to outstanding condition following an especially significant restoration effort.
(Image credit: T-35A Buckaroo Restoration)
The award for Best Fighter went to the Curtiss P-40K Warhawk NX9733, owned by Henry “Butch” Schroeder of Danville, Illinois. The P-40 served in nearly every major theater of World War II and earned a reputation for durability during the conflict’s critical early years. It performed missions ranging from interception and bomber escort to ground attack and tactical reconnaissance. Butch and Jay Schroeder, together with Craig Davidson, received the Silver Wrench Award for their work restoring and preserving the aircraft. Their P-40K stood among the finest examples of the type displayed at Oshkosh in 2026.
(Image credit: VAN)
Sebastien Domine of Carmel Valley, California, received the Best P-51 Award for his North American P-51D Mustang, N354WR. Finished as Jane VI, the aircraft honors Lt. Col. Bert W. Marshall Jr. and the 355th Fighter Group, whose pilots escorted Allied bombers deep into enemy territory during the closing months of World War II. Fagen Fighters Restoration of Granite Falls, Minnesota, received the Silver Wrench Award for its work on Jane VI. The honor recognized the team’s craftsmanship, historical authenticity, and meticulous recreation of one of the most celebrated American fighters of World War II.
Other notable recipients included Hugo Mathys’ North American B-25D Mitchell, Vincent Quadrani’s Douglas A-26B Invader, and James Harker’s Piper L-4H Grasshopper. Awards also recognized preserved and restored examples of the Hughes OH-6A Loach, Hiller UH-12B, Cessna L-19A Bird Dog, and Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17F. Among the larger aircraft honored, a U.S. Air Force Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy from Dover Air Force Base received the Best Active Military Aircraft Award. The Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer was selected for the Judges’ Choice Award in the patrol bomber category.
(Image credit: Ron Kaplan)
These recipients represent only a portion of the aircraft, owners, pilots, maintainers, and restoration specialists honored at AirVenture 2026. Collectively, their work preserves not only the aircraft themselves but also the stories of the service members who designed, built, maintained, and flew them. Congratulations to all the 2026 Warbirds of America award recipients for their continued commitment to keeping military aviation history alive. View the complete list of 2026 Warbirds of America award recipients here.
