Warbird Information Exchange

Hey everyone, years ago when I was involved with Air heritage there was some conversation that the real Snooks 2nd was under restoration at Air Heritage. But the Buffalo museum with the P-39 states that it has the real one. Just wondering if any of you guys have ever heard of it, or if it was just some hangar gossip. I have been to the P-39 in NY that is painted as Snooks. It is in a cool little museum.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

There is a P-39 in the Niagra, NY area. Niagra air museum?

Yeah, I have seen that one as well. I think it is named after a girl if I remember right.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

I'm also somewhat interested in this subject. I've heard the claims made by the museum here in the Buff (Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park) that their Cobra was Shomo's mount, but have never taken any time to do some research.

I hardly ever go downtown, and so haven't seen this bird lately. However, I heard through a friend that the airplane has been repainted in a split scheme, one side remaining as 'Snooks 2nd' and the other being repainted in Soviet markings. I do not know if this is true, although the info came from a mutual acquaintance of ours who holds a position at the museum. This fella also related the disturbing news that, during the process of re-hanging the P-39 from the ceiling... it was dropped...


Fade to Black...

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FOUND the elusive DT-built B-24! Woo-hoo!!!

That is not good. I would hope that if it is the real Shomo aircraft that it would be painted as only his aircraft. Very interesting.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Not sure thats the same P-39 I saw. I remember seeing a picture in an Air Classic mag and the P-39 was on the ground, not hanging. Hmmm...

There are/were two P-39s in museums here in WNY. The one you're thinking of is 'Galloping Gertie'...


Marty McGuire photo


The one we're talking about is 'Snooks 2nd'...


Marty McGuire photo


'Galloping Gertie' is actually part of the NASM collection, and was on loan to the Niagara Aerospace Museum. There were rumblings that the NASM was going to take it back, especially after some shady activity on the part of the NAM... I dunno if it's still here or not.


Fade to Black...

Thanks Steve-O,

Thats the one I was thinking of.

What P-39 was being restored by Air Heritage in Beaver Falls, Pa?

That is still there as well. It is one of the tallichet birds.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Boy, somebody sure has a heavy left foot! Just look at that left rudder deflection!
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

Thinking the same thing....

Snooks 2nd...at least the cockpit section with the USAAF printed stencil was at Air Heritage and moved to MAPS. (It may still be there, I don't know. Last time I saw the P-39 hulks they were sitting outside on the loading dock.) When it arrived from AH, I confrimed that it was Snooks by serial number. However, there is no way to confirm if this was the only Snooks part, or if the airframe was Snooks, so it is very possible at parts of Snooks are in the Air Heritage, MAPS, and Buffalo P-39s. Stranger things have happened...

Jim

Anyone know if those P-39 sections are still at MAPS. Hard to believe a MOH mount aircraft is out there and not restored.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

They are gone as of 2 years ago unless they stashed them somewhere out of the way.

Jim

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