The Red Baron Pizza Squadron grew out of a promotion by the Schwan Food Company. Beginning in 1979, barnstorming pilots dressed in period clothing and cruised the U.S. in 300 horsepower PT-17 Stearmans, making appearances and towing banners to promote the newly created Red Baron brand. The popularity of the program caused the company to revisit and eventually extend the run. As barnstormers will do, the pilots began to innovate beyond the job description to evolve the program to include promotional rides, formation flying and aerobatics. The final pieces fell into place with the conversion to 450hp engines and the hiring of a veteran announcing team. The Pratt & Whitney 985 engines allowed the team to perform tight four-ship formation aerobatics and more challenging maneuvers.. Fifty-five pilots and dozens of maintenance and support personnel saw service with the Red Baron Squadron over 29 years from 1979 to the end of 2007. [icasfoundation.org]

Photo by Craig on Sunday, July 10, 2005 at the Fargo AirSho.