Worlds only USMC Mitchell PBJ-1J Restoration CAF's Semper Fi

Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:37 pm

Hi Greg and Lou,

Great to see you on and watching us working. Been really busy lately getting a lot done. I am sure you will be happy.

Take care and look forward to seeing you here soon,

Marc

Mon Mar 02, 2009 10:06 am

Hi Marc,

Been looking at all the pictures Dan has posted and you folks are really attacking those wings! Looks like they are in pretty good condition all things considered. Still wishing we lived closer.

Thanks and I'll keep watching.

Greg

Mon Mar 09, 2009 12:26 pm

For you guys who have asked, “What can I do to help the project”? Here is one way to double your efforts.

I have just been informed that our wing’s PBJ restoration has qualified for matching funds from Midland. We need to raise several thousand dollars this year to have new fuel tanks manufactured. If any of you PBJ fans have ever thought of sponsoring our war bird now is the time. I don’t know if we will ever have another chance to double our money. Our goal is to hang our rebuilt outer wings this year but we need a couple of tanks installed before hand. Midland will match up to 33 grand. Every buck counts twice. I know you guys see our unique opportunity. Every cent you donate is a tax write off for you and 2cents for the project. Believe me, I have never been comfortable asking people for money but if you believe like we do in the importance of this restoration you might find a way to help us out.

The PBJ Crew

Mon Mar 09, 2009 4:02 pm

Hey Dan! I was in the meeting when the matching grant fund requests were made! You guys and several other wings hit several home runs on the grant requests.... Your home town boy (and also my friend) Steve Barber was in there throwing strikes when questions were asked from the Aircraft Mgmt Committee! Better news is that when you have finished with that money, you can re-apply for more!!!!!!!!!! So, I am going to send $50 bucks next payday to help get the ball rolling in a small way!!!!! Keep up the good work guys!!!!!!!!! Alan Brooks

Mon Mar 09, 2009 5:35 pm

I have had people tell me that nobody cares about saving war birds. I’ve had people tell me that we are wasting time and energy restoring our aircraft to flying status. Well everybody is entitled to their opinion. I think back to a few years ago when I took a friend out to Castle AFB in Merced, CA, and showed him a static Convair B-36. The man was astounded at how large the plane was. He said that he had a hard time believing the thing could fly. Well, it did fly and I saw it fly for real way back in the early 1950’s. I not only saw a B-36 fly but I FELT it when it went over the house! Seeing it sitting in field static can’t compare! Thanks for your support buddy!

Dan

Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:46 am

http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Ai ... _id=NEXTID

I have always loved this aircraft!!!!

Wed Mar 11, 2009 10:04 pm

Congratulations on the matching funds grant, Dan. I'm glad to see your project get some of the recognition it deserves. I assume that the grant award also means that stupid sticker will be made mandatory. I hate that all your hard work will have to become a billboard for a marketing scheme.

Here is a related link to the fate of some PBJs in the combat zone:
http://www.vmb613.com/disposal.htm
The wingtip radome fairing is quite well photographed on page two.

Scott

Last edited by Second Air Force on Mon Jun 22, 2009 8:17 am, edited 1 time in total.

Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:48 am

Thanks, it has been a while since I’ve seen those underwater pictures. After looking at them a thought occurred to me. In all these years of devoting so much sweat, toil and treasure to this project we have been wrong. We aren’t working on the last PBJ in the world. There is a full and intact squadron of them at the bottom of the South Pacific.

Every day I touch this airplane I touch history. Thank you and the others who have in the past and will in the future help support this project.

Semper Fi

Thu Mar 12, 2009 11:17 am

Dan Newcomb wrote:We aren’t working on the last PBJ in the world. There is a full and intact squadron of them at the bottom of the South Pacific.

Every day I touch this airplane I touch history. Thank you and the others who have in the past and will in the future help support this project.

Semper Fi

Yes, Dan, those PBJs are still with us, but it's up to you folks to make that legacy come alive for tomorrow. Your "touching history" comment is exactly how I felt when I was involved with those other projects.

Scott

Thu Mar 12, 2009 11:43 am

I am very jealous boys.., but you hit the nail on the head.., at airshows.., watch how many people just want to walk up and lay their hand on one of these beauties you all work so hard on..,

just to touch one is amazing.., to look at all of these photos of you boys being able to work on them is making me very jealous.

Any near NYC that I could volunteer to work on ?

Cheers!

Thu Mar 12, 2009 2:22 pm

You guys might like to check this out. Six years of work in six minutes.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fusea ... D=54009555

Tue Mar 17, 2009 11:21 pm

Hi Alan,

Thanks for helping us out. The matching funds news means a lot to us and we are going to make the most of it in every way we can. I am already researching fuel tank builders and working on getting the tank areas finished so that we can install them right away. Hydraulics are nearly complete and so are control cables. We have teams working a number of projects right now. I am really proud of our crew.

Take care and thanks again,

Marc

Tue Mar 17, 2009 11:22 pm

Hi Alan,

Thanks for helping us out. The matching funds news means a lot to us and we are going to make the most of it in every way we can. I am already researching fuel tank builders and working on getting the tank areas finished so that we can install them right away. Hydraulics are nearly complete and so are control cables. We have teams working a number of projects right now. I am really proud of our crew.

Take care and thanks again,

Marc

Thu Mar 19, 2009 12:44 pm

That's great news.

Thu Mar 19, 2009 6:24 pm

mentormarc wrote:Hi Alan,

I am already researching fuel tank builders and working on getting the tank areas finished so that we can install them right away. Hydraulics are nearly complete and so are control cables. We have teams working a number of projects right now. I am really proud of our crew.

Take care and thanks again,

Marc

Marc
You might want to contact Dave Miller (29/24 crew chief) as he has done the same thing for us recently.

Just my 0.0002 Can't wait to see you guys in the air!

Chris

Worlds only USMC Mitchell PBJ-1J Restoration CAF's Semper Fi

PBJ

A great color photo taken on Guam WWII