Pieces of Gentile's Shangri La Survive

[Shay]

After looking at this picture. Is it crazy to think that the nose panels were saved and are sitting in storage or someone's living room or personal collection? In previous discussions it has been said that 44-6913 was parted out after the accident. It would seem logical to me that skin with the scroll of aerial victories would have been cut from the airframe.

Any thoughts?

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[gary1954]

Hurts to look at that airframe, given that today, she would be back in the air already (after probably a 10 year rebuild)

[John Dupre]

That victory scroll covers several different skin panels, frames and intercostals. I bet it was condidered too much work to cut off. Gentile was on his way home and his commander was furious with him for the accident and probably wanted the wreck out of sight and mind as quickly as possible. Now the removeable cowling panels with the checkerboard motif and name would be another story. They were probably put into a serviceable used parts pool and may have been repainted and installed on other aircraft. Even if they were saved by the end of the war they were probably forgotten and disposed of. I wonder if there has been a dig in the dumps of that base?

[Django]

Wouldn't it be something if a dig occurred on the site of that base and they found pieces Shangri La? Maybe pose the question to Simon?

[the330thbg]

That base would be Debden and a dig would be fantastic!

Is there any video of his 'stunt'? Did he prang a fence or something? Does anyone know what happened? I know he was 'stunting' in front of a press corps.., which is why I was hoping for more shots of the incident.

[Robbie Stuart]

I may be wrong, but I think I remember Hacker having some information on this subject. Chime in Randy.

[Dan K]

There's this from Wade's site. Scroll about half way down for crash info. Good stuff.

http://wademeyersart.tripod.com/id40.html

[the330thbg]

There's this from Wade's site. Scroll about half way down for crash info. Good stuff.

http://wademeyersart.tripod.com/id40.html

That was exactly what i was looking for!

Thanks

I love his quote when his groundcrew drove up on the accident!!!

LMAO!

[JohnB]

With his fame and combat record, who knows, the USAAF may have prerserved the aircraft if it were returned to the states.