When a Passion Becomes a Career - Bernie Vasquez

At Oshkosh 2023, the two of the biggest highlights of the show were the appearance of Warren’s Piectch’s P-51C Bendix racer Thunderbird (USAAF #43-6859, N5528N) and the Dakota Air Museum’s combat veteran Republic P-47D USAAF #42-27609 (NX4747D) Bonnie. Showing off the aircraft that week was Bernie Vasquez, a consummate warbird pilot whose logbook is filled with the most epic warbird and classic aircraft in the world. Like so many pilots, Bernie’s story started at the local airport.