Warbird Information Exchange

No question. But it doesn't stop others who simply don't know what they're singing future generations on for from doing it all over again. Case in point: http://ussranger.org/ The Navy has told them they waited too long and now the Ranger is going to be scrapped next year, but they're fighting it. Don't get me wrong, it'd be cool to visit a carrier again as it's been a while for me, especially as the display location for the Ranger would be pretty close for me to visit on a frequent basis. But I still feel they'd be setting up future generations with a terrible duty to keep the thing afloat.
Seriously, how can these groups not be aware of the crushing reality of maintaining a ship like this (a losing proposition from day one every single time) from hearing from other groups who are struggling to keep all the other museum ships from sinking at their berth?

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Life member, 91st BG Memorial Association
Owner, 1944 Willys MB #366014
Former REMF (US Army, O3)

The only way to preserve these ships is dry docking them or the creation of similar structures.

No doubt, the Laffey is a success story. Keep in mind, the Laffey is considerably smaller than Yorktown, especially when it comes to how much of the ship sits below water.

I followed the Forrest Sherman group for quite some time http://www.ussforrestsherman.org in their attempts to save their ship, only to see their plans come to naught, either by the Navy, or by politicians going back on their word (Mayor of Baltimore and now Governor of Maryland, Martin O' Malley). Even trying to save a smaller ship like a destroyer is a major undertaking.

It's sad a looking at how many "got away", such as the Cabot and the John Rodgers that were just out of grasp of being preserved as virtually original World War II era ships. Quite simply, until there is a maritime version of Paul Allen (or there is a political will to preserve our naval/maritime history that is currently lacking), we're probably also going to lose a few more that are already in our grasp.

Take all the low security prisoners in the jails around the different powers and get their orange jumpsuited asses a scraping and painting. Huge labor force just sitting around doing nothing


I deal in solutions to problems ...

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Andrew King
Air Museum Director with no Museum to Direct
Open to Suggestions

Almost all museum ships should be put in drydocks/ on land. There is just no future for them in water. It's time people start realising that.

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Magister Aviation
It's all in my book

True. I saw the Cabot when she was tied up in New Orleans in 1997. I had no idea she would be scrapped soon afterward. If there's to be true preservation, I'd rather see varied ship types preserved. Some get it. The USS Alabama museum got their sub out of the water a few years ago and she's doing much better on blocks on dry land now.
I've never seen this park in person, but the city of Omaha has a good setup for their ships: http://www.modelwarships.com/features/museums/freedompark.html

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Life member, 91st BG Memorial Association
Owner, 1944 Willys MB #366014
Former REMF (US Army, O3)

How do the organizations that support the USS Interpid and the USS Missouri come up with the necessary funds to put their ships in drydock to fix leaks in the hulls? That has to cost huge dollars.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

Somebody get the Cherrybomber a beer!

isnt that like saying all flying warbirds shouldn't be in the air either?

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" I am a nobody in aviation, but somebody to my family."

Not at all. An airplane doesn't spend every moment of its existence flying around and causing wear to the outside. Planes simply don't deteriorate while sitting around at the same rate that a ship will by sitting in the water. Wouldn't you rather an airplane get moved indoors as opposed to being outside in all weather if everyone knows it's never going to fly anywhere anyway?
Nobody is saying that ships that might be steamed up and taken on trips be permanently drydocked. But can anyone really see someone firing up a museum aircraft carrier or battleship (assuming the government would even allow you to do so) for a spin out in open water?

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Life member, 91st BG Memorial Association
Owner, 1944 Willys MB #366014
Former REMF (US Army, O3)

I I were to Hazard a guess and this is my opinion...
USS Interpid - Less than 2 miles from Wall Street and they know how to fund raise, they have a Space Shuttle for gods sake...
(I live 15 min from the USS Intrepid, I pass it 2-3 times a week on the west side highway... I just prefer being the champion for the underdogs at the CASC, must be the confederate in me from growing up down south)

USS Missouri - Sit's in Pearl Harbor and is a center piece of the first battlefield of WW2 for the USA ans signifies the end of the war. She sits at an active military base. They would never let the Mighty Mo sink in her berth. Look next to the dock at PAM they are building an amazingly incredible museum. Again, they know how to do fundraising out there.
(Again, I have visited Pearl & PAM and consider Mr. DeHoff a friend. He has done a tremendous job on that tiny little island. You have to visit it to appreciate it.)

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Andrew King
Air Museum Director with no Museum to Direct
Open to Suggestions

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but the Iowa class battleships (Missouri, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Iowa) are all museum ships now, but aren't a couple of them preserved with an eye to reactivation should the Navy ever need them again?

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Defending Stearmans on WIX since Jeff started badmouthing them back in 2005.

I believe they are all museums now. I thought the Wisconsin and the Iowa were left reactivate-able below decks but what would be the point.

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Andrew King
Air Museum Director with no Museum to Direct
Open to Suggestions

I think the principal role envisioned for them was offshore naval bombardment. It was said once when she was still at sea that, if required, New Jersey could reach as far inland as Damascus. That's probably abit of a stretch, but 25 miles is a fact, and still pretty impressive by any standard.

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Defending Stearmans on WIX since Jeff started badmouthing them back in 2005.

I believe they just opened up some of Wisconsin's innards to the public.