Warbird Information Exchange

Last month, I was in Douglas, GA working on the B-17 that Don Brooks recovered from Canada during the summer. I've posted pictures of the clean-up on www.marengometalworks.com under Current Projects.

Chuck Giese

Chuck
Your are lucky guy. Sweet pictures. Keep up the good work and keep us posted on progress. Thanks.

Shay

I think I met one of your team at the Victory Air Museum some years ago while talking one day with Earl Reinert. Looks like you are making good progress with your Illinois B-17 project. Keep up the good work!

I just realized that Douglas is less than 1 hour from my house in Valdosta!!

I just emailed Mr Brooks to see if he could use my volunteer help. Perhaps I'll be able to give the WIX more frequent updates since I'm right in the neighborhood.

Chuck, what happened to the tail section , I haven,t seen any pictures of that?

The tail section broke off about at the right waist window, and has not been located. The speculation is that after the plane sunk in the spring, a subsequent year's ice formation snagged the tail and ripped it off of the fuselage.

Thanks for the update & pics. My boss, Pat Epps flew the C-47 when Don went up there to look for this airplane. They brought back some great underwater pics of the aircraft. It sure is good that this project is taking place. Wish we had more Pat Epps, & Don Brooks in our aviation community.
Best Regards
Robbie Stuart

Chuck, A very nice set of photos! How are things coming along with the Desert Rat. I would like to come out there and have a look one of these days. Is that possible?

GREAT PHOTOS!!IT NICE TO SEE THE CONDITION AFTER ALL THOSE YEARS! IM A BIT FAMILIAR WITH SUBMARINES AS WELL,THE STEEL PARTS IN THE A-25 WERE THE SAME JUST GLOBS OF RUST.HOW DID THE ALUMINIUM PARTS FAIR? I SEE WERE DISSIMILAR METALS WERE I CONTACT.IS IT GOING TO BE AN AIRWOTHY SHIP OR STATIC?OR JUST TOO SOON TO TELL?ITS GREAT TO SEE MORE PROJECTS SURFACING AND THE INTRESTS BEHIND THEM!GOOD LUCK AND KEEP US POSTED THANKS MIKE

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IF YOU CAN FIND IT WE CAN FIX IT

We're progressing steadily. We've been working mainly on the waist section. The cargo door opening is out, the new ribs are in and we're starting to skin the left side.

Yes, it's possible to visit. Best times are the Desert Rat volunteer workdays on Tuesday evenings and Saturdays. Other times can be arranged since Mike and I are usually out there most days. Best to call ahead, especially this time of year.

I'll admit it, I'm a picture Wh0re, any pictures of Desert Rat?





I'm not sure if Whore is allowed to be here?

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www.tailhookstudio.com

[quote="TimApNy"] any pictures of Desert Rat?

I'm working on those updates to the web site now. I'll have some pics of the Desert Rat later tonight, along with some that I took of the Liberty Belle's first flight.

Most of the thicker Al parts were not affected by either dissimilar metals or the mussels. Most of the rust you see in the pictures brushes right off, there's very little to no corrosion under it.

Don Brooks' intention when he recovered it was to restore it to airworthy status. It looks to be a good project to start with to meet that goal, keeping in mind that it's still being cleaned out and evaluated.

Chuck, Glad to hear things seem to be working out well on the project. I was disapointed when I found out you were flying the old girl out instead of trucking it, though. Being up here in Maine I was hoping to catch a glimpse (and some Photos! ) on its way through Bangor . Thanks for the update and good luck!
Don

Wow... look at the condition. Amazing..... This thing was better under water than left up open to the elements.

Original fuel cells. These fear much worst in open air.....





Condition of the rubber tire.



Overall skin condition.