BW-372 @ 11/28/04

[Owen Miller]

Today, as part of NMNA's annual model contest, there was a
tour of the restoration facility on the weekend which is un-
usual. The Buffalo is pretty much just resting presently. Most
of the attention is going to repairing the Ivan damaged planes
There has been considerable progress on the Bermuda since I
was there last.

The Buffalo is uncrated resting in a jig with the gear extended.
I was able to shoot some photos. When I get them developed
and printed I'll scan them and post a link to them here. I was
able to get some shots that were impossible last time because
she was still crated up. However things are VERY crowded in
the hanger and I was unable to get some shots I'd have liked.
I was able to get some of her battle damage and there was a
story that one of the rounds was still in a fuel tank.

Blue skies,
Owen

[STURMVOGEL 262]

Any new's about rare plane's is good new's to me .
BW-372, What a story in how it ended at NMNA , Well at least she will be well looked after I suppose .
The Buffalo did very well in the hand's of the Finn's , The pilot Lt. Lauri Pekuri in BW-372 bagged two Russian Hurricane's before being shot down himself.
The Tubby Buff's had a fantastic Kill/loss ratio with the Finn's , But seemed tottaly unliked or wanted by anyone else .
Maybe one day someone will find enough bit's or use a wreck as a pattern aircraft to make a flyer again .
AS it seem's so many aircraft are now poping up , That I never thought would ever be in seen flying again , Just maybe the same could happen with the little Tubby Buff .
Looking forward to your Pic's Owen ,
Cheer's Mate , Tally Ho! Phil .

[Juke]

Hi !


That one is in Pensacola museum right ?

Lauri Pekuri was also shot down in a Me 109 and was in Spalernaja prison for about a year.

He was also first supersonic finn flying a Folland Gnat.

Finns gained 33/1 killratio with " pearl of the skies " as it was called.


regards,

Juke

[Owen Miller]

Yes, that the one.

[STURMVOGEL 262]

Thank's for that extra info Juke .
How did the Finn's Do it with the Buffalo's when no one else could , Just bloody amazing I reckon .
Cheer's all , Tally Ho! Phil (rock on dude's).

[Juke]

My " Godfathers " daddy teached those dudes to fly'em real good man.
Also finns learned the lesson hard way when major deal of FAF Gloster Gladiator II:s were shot down by I-16s and I-153:s while taking off in Ruokolahti/ Immola at the early moments of the WINTER WAR.

rgds,

Juke

[STURMVOGEL 262]

I guess he must have been a pretty good pilot himself oldaddy .
You have sparked a bit of interest in me , So I will hit my book's again just for fun this time .
From the first time through I remember first the Finn's got hammered pretty bad first off , But came back with a vengence .
Amazing result's from really just a small Airforce against the Russian juganought , And even in outclassed aircraft .
Cheer's Juke , Tally Ho! all , Phil .

[STURMVOGEL 262]

Juke if you want to see allsort's of Buff pic's .
Drop over to the Flypast Forum.(hope it survived the crash )
There's a thread I started on Buffalo Pic's .
Might be back a few page's, but I think you might like one or two of the pic's Mate 8 ) .
Cheer's all , Tally Ho! Phil .(sort of cross migration )

[Juke]

Okei..what is the URL to Flypast Forum ?


rgds,

Juke


PS: The enblem on left is the " Farting Elk " painted on FAF Fokker D XXI planes during Winter War.

[STURMVOGEL 262]

Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums-Historic Aviation http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?

Give that a try Juke , Cheer's , Tally Ho! Phil .( link almost work's, when you get there pick Historic in the box)

[Juke]

Stormbird !

Excellent coverage of Lauri's BW-372 there. Unfortunately doesn't seem to be progressing much. Had they delivered to Fiinland after discovery the plane would at least be museum artifact if not a flyin specimen !!!

I think it was the money that mattered there. The root of all evil.

Seriously I am little bit concerned if that is ever gonna be ready ?

Clacier Girl was also a miserable sight first, but possibly better preserved under the ice than BW-372 in a lake in Karelia !

Regards,

Juke


PS: Did y asee the farting elk also in a tail of a Brewter back in the UK Brewster link ?

[STURMVOGEL 262]

Yes .
Strange thing's happened when BW-372 was found and pulled from the lake .
And sorry but the U.S Navy were most definitaly involved in some really shady deal's with this one Mate .
Drop over to flypast anytime Juke .
It's a case now of me being on Here and there as well .
Cheer's all , Tally Ho! Phil .(p.s. yep I seen the Elk )