cleveland oh - p- 51 fiberglass repro wrecked in storm

[tom d. friedman]

we've had 1 heck of a day with the weather today. the 100th bomb group restaurant located across the field from cleveland hopkins int. airport has a repro fiberglass p-51 on a stick. the 40 + mph winds ripped the entire wings & canopy off!!! not pretty!!

[The Inspector]

Quick Tom, go take lots of pictures and put them on Evil Bay listed as 'P-51 exploded views' for big bux!

[Locobuster]

Tom, was that the one that used to be painted up like a 55th FG bird that used to be on the ground surrounded by fake barbed wire back in the 90's?

[tom d. friedman]

thats the one, but i never payed attention to it's unit markings. the restaurant had to be moved / rebuilt west of it's original location due to runway expansion.

[agent86]

Now they have a P-51 with "Battle Damage"

[Locobuster]

I remember them talking about the move when I was there in 1997, too bad the old bird didn't hold up very well when the weather hit.

[tom d. friedman]

i can believe your reply. it took years to iron out the details of the move / tearing down the original location / the new location etc. owner dave talichette was still alive then. i can only imagine the headaches he endured. have not been to the new location, but still looks cool from the outside.

[agent86]

i can believe your reply. it took years to iron out the details of the move / tearing down the original location / the new location etc. owner dave talichette was still alive then. i can only imagine the headaches he endured. have not been to the new location, but still looks cool from the outside.

exactly when did Mr. Talichette die?do you know? he was another warbird hero of mine(for many years).

[sknight]

exactly when did Mr. Talichette die?do you know? he was another warbird hero of mine(for many years).

Oct. 31, 2007

[Woodsy Airfield]

For anyone interested, a photo of the - now bent wing bird - is printed in the April 6, 2011 Cleveland Plain Dealer.....