F-89 Scorpion in Texas park

[SpaceRanger1]

About 40 years ago, there was an F-89 in a small park in Childress, TX (on US 287 between Wichita Falls and Amarillo). I recall seeing it several times, and at one point took several slides of it. Where is it now? The park was on the north side of US 287 as you entered Childress from the east, but there are no signs of it now on Google Earth.

[Pat Carry]

If it wasnt scrapped, it has to be one of the survivors on this list http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_F-89_Scorpion Perhaps its the one now on display at Dyess AFB?

[gale_dono]

This was weirdly easy to find, usually it takes a few minutes of scanning around to find stuff like this. Confirmation it was there in 1966, at least.

"Jet Plane To Be Moved Here Monday The F89 jet, the Scorpion will definitely be moved to Childress Monday, it was announced today by CofC-BCD Manager Jeff Henderson. The jet will be placed in Fair Park. It is coming from the Amarillo Air Force Base and is being brought here by the Childress Jaycees"

quoted from:
http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/43967120/

Assuming this event went as reported, it was placed there December 5, 1960.

[SpaceRanger1]

That confirms it was in Childress. That's not where I remember seeing it, but it was a long time ago. It was gone by 1996, the earliest Google Earth image date.

Thanks for the info.

[Stoney]

I saw it at Amarillo AFB in 1955 when I was selling ice cream up and down the flight line from bike with a cooler on the front during the summer. Wondered where it went.

[SpaceRanger1]

If it wasnt scrapped, it has to be one of the survivors on this list http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_F-89_Scorpion Perhaps its the one now on display at Dyess AFB?

Today I spoke with Richard Warner, the curator of the Dyess Heritage Museum, who informed me that the Dyess F-89 came from the Minnesota ANG.

The Air Force Museum may know, as all the ex-USAF display aircraft are technically its property.

[JohnB]

The Air Force Museum may know, as all the ex-USAF display aircraft are technically its property.

Remember back in the old days, things were looser.
The AF gave planes to groups (like the ill-fated F-94 on Pike's peak given to the AFA) and even Revell gave one away in a contest. In other words, once sold/given away the AF didn't much care, so it could have met a bad end.

I'm still trying to find out what happened to the F-94 in a Duluth City Park, ...no answers yet (yes, I've contacted the city parks dept and they don't know where it went)..

[TAdan]

even Revell gave one away in a contest.

Ok, now you've got my attention! I'd love to hear more about that if anyone has more info.

[mike furline]

Not sure if this will help or not? F-89's in Texas.
http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.s ... 7j264951j5

[JohnB]

even Revell gave one away in a contest.

Ok, now you've got my attention! I'd love to hear more about that if anyone has more info.

All I can recall is an ad, circa 1965, in my brother's Boy's Life.
It showed a F-86 (A,E,F or H) and said it would be given to the winner's school or park.

[mike furline]

even Revell gave one away in a contest.

Ok, now you've got my attention! I'd love to hear more about that if anyone has more info.

All I can recall is an ad, circa 1965, in my brother's Boy's Life.
It showed a F-86 (A,E,F or H) and said it would be given to the winner's school or park.

This thread references the contest, http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread ... ay-in-1967

[JohnB]

Thanks for the link.
The posters there seem to think it was a radar-nose 86, so I may be wrong on it being a non-radar model.

[BOF]

The F-89 at Childress was F-89H 54-0298. It was donated in Feb 1960 from Amarillo AFB TX ( Officially from The 3320 TTW although I've seen it reported as The Amarillo Technical Training Center from 1959). I'm pretty sure this is the F-89 reported at the Linear Air Park, Dyess AFB.

Rgds

Barry Fryer

[The Inspector]

If it wasnt scrapped, it has to be one of the survivors on this list http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_F-89_Scorpion Perhaps its the one now on display at Dyess AFB?

One change to the list, F-89J 532453 has moved along with the Heritage flight Museum from KBLI to it's new home at KBVS in Mt. Vernon, WA.
When it stops raining/sleeting and warms up a bit we'll tackle putting it back together.

[Dan K]

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