This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
Tue Aug 03, 2004 12:00 pm
I just returned from twelve days of flying around Asia. These are some of the places I went and some of the stuff I saw.
Yokota AB, Japan: F-86 on a pole
Osan AB, Korea: Didn't see anything, but I did get me a good deal on a new backpack.
Guam: I didn't see the Mig 15 that used to be at the Airport and I didn't see the C-46 that has been laying at the airport for many years. I was told that it had finally been scrapped, but I don't know for sure. The Corsair is still laying in the weeds at the Navy base, looking about the same as it did last time I saw it. The B-29 wreck is still laying off the side of the Runway.
Hong Kong, China: Didn't see anything, but my C-17 sure looked cool sitting amongst all the airliners.
Manila, Philipines: Two or three C-47s
Jakarta, Indonesia: Three C-47's, T-34C and several AN-12's
Singapore: Didn't get to visit the museum, but I did see it from the crewbus. A-4, Strikemaster, T-33, Hunter, F-5's several other planes.
Kuala Lumphur, Malaysia: Two AN-12s
Phnom Phen, Cambodia: Several AN-12s, lots of Mi-18s
Bangkok, Thailand: Royal Thai Air Force Museum: Helldiver, Firefly, two Spitfires, F8F, T-6, Hawk 75, L-5, C-123, Skyraider, lots of other stuff. I visited for quite a while with the director of the museum. He is a really nice guy and very dedicated to the preservation of Thai aviation. Also located here is the Tango Squadron. It's a group of retired aviatiors that are restoring and flying warbirds.
Rangoon, Burma: possible C-47 wreckage over in the weeds. A couple of AN-12s.
Chiang Mai, Thailand: F-86 on a pole, Lots of T-28's, some on poles and some flyable. Lots of L-39's, flyable T-6, lots of O-1's, a couple of C-47's and a bunch of other stuff. The F8F that is airworthy might have been in one of the hangers. This is the other home of the Tango Squadron.
As for the P-40 news:
Bangkok Post, 30 July 2004-
Beiijing--A world War II era American fighter plane that crashed in China more than 60 years ago is set to be salvaged next year in the hope of getting it flying again, state media said yesterday. The P-40 fighter plunged into Dianchi Lake in southwestern Yunnan province on April 28, 1942, killing the pilot. Painted with Sharks's teeth and nicknamed the "Flying Tigers", teh P-40's belonged to the 300-strong American Volunteer group under the command of retired US Army Air Corps Captain Claire Lee Chennault, said Zinhua news agency.