Warbirds of America Hall of Fame

2021 Inductees

Tom Reilly

Tom Reilly of Douglas Georgia is a natural pilot — he soloed after 4 1/2 hours of instruction and received his private pilot certificate just 16 days later. He has single- and multi-engine land and sea ratings, plus type ratings in the C-47, B-25, and B-17. He also has an A&P mechanic certificate with inspection authorization. He has 5,500-plus total flight hours, mostly in warbirds, with more than 2,600 of those hours in the B-25. He has also instructed 23 pilots through their B-25 type ratings.

Tom owns and flies a B-25 Mitchell bomber nicknamed Killer B, and has completed restorations of more than 30 vintage and warbird aircraft. His specialty is taking on jobs that most other restorers say can’t be done. This was the case with the B-24 Liberator All American (now Witchcraft), the B-17 Flying Fortress Liberty Belle, and the extremely rare and complex XP-82 Twin Mustang.

Tom won the prestigious Grand Champion at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 1990 for the restoration of the B-24. He also won Grand Champion at SUN ’n FUN and EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in 2019 for the restoration of the XP-82 Twin Mustang. In addition, he was awarded both the Phoenix and Golden Wrench awards for the XP-82 at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019.

He has accumulated 50 years in the warbird restoration business without a maintenance accident. His passion for preserving our nation’s aviation heritage, teaching a new generation the dying art of warbird restoration, and acting as a goodwill ambassador for general aviation continues today and into the foreseeable future.

Previous Inductees