Warbird Information Exchange

I stopped by the Kalamazoo Air Zoo when I was visiting my hometown over the holidays to check out progress on the FM-2 and SBD restorations. Both were recovered from Lake Michigan. The last I heard, the FM-2 will be displayed at Glenview upon completion. I have not heard of the eventual location for the SBD-2P. I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

The FM-2 fuselage is now in a jig. Here are some photos, including close-ups of the tailcone assembly coming together.

IMG_0365 by Matthew Vader, on Flickr

IMG_0367 by Matthew Vader, on Flickr

IMG_0369 by Matthew Vader, on Flickr

IMG_0394 by Matthew Vader, on Flickr

IMG_0396 by Matthew Vader, on Flickr

This is one of the tailcone pieces being used as a pattern.

IMG_0370 by Matthew Vader, on Flickr

Wing progress:

IMG_0371 by Matthew Vader, on Flickr

IMG_0375 by Matthew Vader, on Flickr

IMG_0377 by Matthew Vader, on Flickr

On to the SBD. Most of the progress seems to be in general disassembly and cleaning at the moment. It is in absolutely remarkable shape for having spent so much time at the bottom of the lake. It almost seems a shame to restore and cover with a new coat of paint. The different layers of paint showing through really speak to the airframe's history.

I think this is a new cowling that was acquired.

IMG_0346 by Matthew Vader, on Flickr

Airframe and wing views.

IMG_0348 by Matthew Vader, on Flickr

IMG_0353 by Matthew Vader, on Flickr

IMG_0363 by Matthew Vader, on Flickr

IMG_0356 by Matthew Vader, on Flickr

IMG_0357 by Matthew Vader, on Flickr

Dive flaps and engine.

IMG_0351 by Matthew Vader, on Flickr

IMG_0354 by Matthew Vader, on Flickr

Another new arrival is the cockpit section of a Skywarrior! I wasn't able to get the story on this. Anyone know where it came from? It's in great shape. I couldn't get any photos of the interior because the end of the section was boarded off, but from looking inside it appears to be complete and only in need of a good cleaning.

IMG_0347 by Matthew Vader, on Flickr


If anyone is ever in the area, I highly encourage stopping by. Even if you've seen the museum before, the admission to see the restoration work on the FM-2 and SBD is worth it.

_________________
Matt

Davis Monthan? looks like there is some spraylat residue on the Skywarrior cockpit.

_________________
Magister Aviation
It's all in my book

thanks for the photo update. I was present the day the Wildcat was brought up out of the water so its interesting to see the progress. I have also hear this Wildcat will be going to Navy Pier in Chicago. I wish more planes could be brought up before its too late.

_________________
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

Nathan Decker's Forgotten Jets site has the skinny on it:

As it appeared in 1979:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/skyhawkpc ... 09/sizes/l

_________________

All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

It really would be a shame not to salvage as much of the original paint on the SBD as possible.

If Pensacola have any involvement in the restoration, there will be elements of tactical markings/paint left as original with the rest repainted.

The SBD fuselage should have a few repair patches as it was damaged. Would be nice to see some pics. Rear fuselage had a few I recall (from being at the recovery)

From my article.

The upgraded 2173 (ed - after being rebuilt as a 2P) was available for the Lae/Salamua strike on 10 March, as well as the Battle of Coral Sea fought between 4 and 8 May 42, that became the first carrier-to-carrier battle and resulted in the loss of USS Lexington (CV-2) and a small Japanese carrier (Shoho). When the battle was over Yorktown’s VS-5 (compliment of 15+2 spare SBD’s) had suffered 5 loses, 4 damaged/unserviceable and 8 damaged/repairable. Basically every SBD had either been lost or damaged. The damaged Yorktown returned to Pearl Harbor for hasty repairs and on 27 May, the damaged but repairable 2173 flew ashore.

Again, from my article

SBD 2173 is likely to be restored at NMNA Pensacola (ed - now known to be Air Zoo) before being put on display at the Pacific Aviation Museum (PAM) on Ford Island, Hawaii. 2173 will replace a glass fibre replica currently on display there.

regards

Mark

_________________
'Coups De Foudre'
(511FS, 405FG watering hole), St Dizier, France 1944/45

Doesn't Kalamazoo already have a Dauntless and the former flyable FM-2? Why would they spend resources, time and money restoring two aircraft that they already have copies of?
Just wondering.
Jerry

_________________
"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

Time for an update:
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/jetregis ... 47657.html

_________________
Scott Rose
Editor-In-Chief/Webmaster
Warbirds Resource Group - Warbird Information Exchange - Warbird Registry

Be civil, be polite, be nice.... or be elsewhere.
-------------------------------------------------------
This site is brought to you with the support of members like you. If you find this site to be of value to you,
consider supporting this forum and the Warbirds Resource Group with a VOLUNTARY subscription
For as little as $2/month you can help ($2 x 12 = $24/year, less than most magazine subscriptions)
So If you like it here, and want to see it grow, consider helping out.



Thanks to everyone who has so generously supported the site. We really do appreciate it.

Follow us on Twitter! @WIXHQ

I believe the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola is now contracting (at least some of) their restoration work to the Air Zoo. I have heard that the SB2C Helldiver that's been rotting on the ramp at Pensacola will eventually be shipped to Kalamazoo for restoration, but I have no confirmation of that, and it may be just somebody's wishful thinking.

SN

Would like to see the SBD cleaned up and put back together with the original paint left intact.

It's not as if there aren't any fully painted SBD's left elsewhere in the world for people to see.

Really nice pics. Thanks for the update!

If anyone at Kalamazoo/NMNA is keeping score, put me in for the "keep the original paint" crowd.

After all, it's only original once...

Thanks for posting Kid!

I know you said the aft end of the A-3 fuselage was covered in plywood, but did you get a stern shot up the escape door/chute by chance? The escape system was interesting (thus the moniker "All 3 dead") and it never shows up well in pictures, but this cockpit section would seem to show it very well. You can see how the door had built in steps, but the door and tunnel were otherwise flush to allow the crew to slide out and parachute to safety (given enough altitude of course )

Thanks to Chris for the input on the history of the Skywarrior and thanks Mark for the additional information on the SBD.

As Steve mentioned, the NNAM is contracting some of their restoration work to the Air Zoo. I have heard the same rumor that the SB2C will eventually be shipped to Kalamazoo for restoration, but I don't know how valid that information is. I do hope the Air Zoo is allowed an unveiling event for the FM-2 and SBD when complete so the local folks who have seen the aircraft being worked on can see them before the planes are shipped elsewhere. Obviously, that's down the road a ways yet.

sandiego89, I did not get a close-up of the aft end of the cockpit section, but I did get a rear shot that somewhat shows the tunnel/slide you're referring to. Seems that it was a precarious arrangement at best. Here's the photo.

IMG_0350 by Matthew Vader, on Flickr

_________________
Matt

Thanks for the additional A-3 photo! I do not envy the A-3, SkyNight and some other jet crews like the Vulcan and Victor (rear crews) and a few other aircraft who had the prospect of egressing down the slide/hole...