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I made some new friends today! The people at the FHC are the warmest bunch that you could ever ask to meet. But I am getting ahead of myself. Let me take a few steps back and tell you about my visit.
I was hoping to get a chance to visit the FHC while on my business trip to Seattle. After studying their website I discovered that you need to make your reservation by phone on Thursdays. As my bad luck would have it, I didn’t have a chance to get anywhere near a phone that I could use on Thursday (don’t ask). I worked all day Friday, but I had a window of opportunity to go for a drive this morning. I didn’t have a reservation, but I took a chance and headed north on the I-5 up through Seattle to Arlington.
I arrived and parked in the FHC parking lot around 9:30. There were no cars in sight. I was a worried that I may have driven all they way there for nothing, and the fact that I didn’t have a reservation didn’t put me at ease. I figured what the heck and I picked up my cell phone and called the office. A nice lady answered and indicated they did not have any docents scheduled since there were no reservations for that day. She was very helpful and indicated she would call one at home and see if he could come in, and when she got an answer she would come outside and let me know. A minute latter she approached the car and invited me in. The docent would not be able to make it since he had a cold but she would be happy to take me on a tour if I would like, and so Barb introduced herself.
Barb took me inside and turned on the lights in the two hangers. As the lights came up, slowly a Mitsubishi Zero was revealed out of the darkness. It is displayed un-restored. The center section and wings are mostly intact, but the aft fuselage is placed behind the center section. It is obvious major damage had been suffered in this section. I was told this airframe had be recovered from PNG, and it showed obvious signs of damage from vandals with what appeared to be axe cuts in the firewall mounted fuel tank. There was no engine displayed either.
Moving on Barb showed me the FHC’s JN-4 Jenny. This is one beautifully restored machine. It is quite impressive. I am not an expert, but certainly a high standard was applied when this airframe was restored.
Next was a Fiesler Storch. I don’t have the history of the airframes yet, so if anyone can share any info please do. I’ll have more details regarding markings when I get the scans back from the photo lab.
The next airframe I saw was an authentic V-1 Buzz Bomb. Apparently this one came out of the mountains in Germany (literally out of a tunnel manufacturing site). It appears to be in perfect condition. I was told that an original engine is being restored (Germany maybe I can’t quite remember). They are planning to do engine runs during public gatherings!!! (airshows, flyins, etc) That has to be worth the price of any admission right there!!!
Next down the line was the I-153 that had been purchased from New Zealand. Again I didn’t note the C/R but I think I got it in one of my photos. If anyone happens to remember the ID feel free to share.
Barb then guided me though a door into the next hanger. I was nose to nose with a P-40C. I haven’t had that feeling of awe for a while (like when I first started searching for warbirds), but I was hit with it again then. This P-40 was recovered in Russia and was restored in Chino. It was used in the filming of Pearl Harbor (stop that I can hear you groaning, no comments about the movie). It now calls the FHC home. It is still in it’s Pearl Harbor paint scheme, but there are plans to strip the paint. And give it a new paint job. I forgot what they told me the scheme would be.
Next was the Spitfire. I forget the exact mark, but this one was a high back with the single large radiator under the starboard wing and has the “C” wings with rounded tips.
Next was the Mustang. “Cessna of the warbird world” or not I bowed in praise of my favorite plane. This was one fine looking machine, and apparently it has been restored to the highest standards as well. I was told all the radios are original, right down to the vacuum tubes. Apparently Mr. Steve Hinton is their pilot, and makes use of a portable radio for communications.
The next plane that Barb took me to see was a B-17. Well actually pieces of a B-17 that have been restored so far. The majority of the vertical tail was on a display, along with the outboard section of one of the wings, and aft section of the fuselage (it looked to be the part just forward of the tail gunner), and a ball turret. This one had been used by Kenting Aviation in Canada as CF-ICB and later was used as a meat hauler. I was told that all of the bulkheads had been removed, and it was taking quite a bit of work to restore. The components that I viewed were impressive and looked as if they we ready to go to the Boeing Field production line back in the 1940s! This one of course was built at Boeing Field just south of Seattle, so it has come full circle. Quite appropriate I must say.
Next was the Ki-43. All that I know is that it was another PNG recovery. I don’t know much about it.
And last but not least was their Grumman F6F Hellcat. I forget where they airframe was obtained from. It looked to be in very good condition, and there was a C/R marking, but I have forgotten what it is. I know I got it in one of my pictures. Apparently it will be going into the restoration shops when others are completed, to undergo a complete teardown and rebuild. All of the FHC machines are restored with this level of attention, and all are original (no replicas).
The Po-2 was out for some work and wasn’t on display. As well there are about 10 other airframes undergoing restoration, and that didn’t include the newly acquired P-61. If I get the chance I will certainly have reason to go back.
They have what I consider to be a fair photo policy. You can take all the pictures that you want, but you need to be in the photo. This wasn’t a big problem for me as I was using a tripod anyway, and the shutter delay came in very handy. I got to take all of the pictures I wanted to so I was happy, and they were happy that I complied. I have been asked not to post the pictures are release them to any publications. It sounds like they are planning some publicity in the next year, something like preparation of a grand opening. Since Mr. Allen is going though all the trouble and expense to restore and preserve these fine airframes, I am more than willing to comply to his rules. Thanks to Mr. Allen for making these airframes available to the public!
Also while taking the pictures the docent with the sore throat came in, and I was introduced. His name is Art, and he told me he was a veteran of 50 combat missions in B-17s over Europe as both a tail and waist gunner. I was shaking the hand of another hero. It was an honor. I also got the chance to meet a second docent wearing a black Boeing leather jacket, but his name escapes me (I am really bad with names) Barb or Art… if you are reading this could you remind me of his name please!
I don’t have anything more to add. The volunteers at the FHC were the greatest people that you could possibly meet. They are also familiar with the Warbird Information Exchange so maybe we might hear from them here on WIX sometime.
Thanks to everyone at the FHC for the tour I was given today. It is very much appreciated.
Regards,
Mike Hennger
_________________ Mike R. Henniger Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer http://www.AerialVisuals.cahttp://www.facebook.com/AerialVisualsDo you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator. Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.
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