Warbird Information Exchange

My dad flew with Dean Ortner back in the day!

A26--

I've got a decent shot of the front end of old N757Z, taken July 1982, when the nose was on the ground behind Walt's F-86L Sabre. It was one of the first things I saw there, being right at the front of the property. I've long intended to get most of my Walt pix scanned to CD; you've now given me one more reason to do so...once I do I'd be most pleased to email the DC-7 nose shot to you. (Or, alternatively, I could get a print made and snailmail it. Incidentally I also have a shot of the A-26 N919P surrounded by wonderful airplane clutter--given your forum name I'm thinking that might be of interest too?)

Cheers

Steve T

Steve T

Thanks for the kind offer, yes the Invader is of great interest to me

I've sent you a PM

Hello Tom,
Do you know anything about Jerry Knight? When Dean blew the engine in N33714 at DUJ I helped Jerry off and on with the engine removal. We used to sit in the Behind the Moon airport restaurant and talk, drink coffee and talk Warbirds. Thanks.

Jake Fendermen

i got most of the info for my air classics article from ortner's #1 wrench turner tom sawyer. he never mentioned this detail to me. with the scope of the ortner operation he couldn't have mentioned everything. jake, enlighten me please!!!

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

As I remember Jerry worked off and on for Dean form time to time. I remember him being very sad and for very good reason. Dean told me on the QT that Jerry's wife had committed suicide and Jerry was blaming himself. It was miserably cold when they began the engine change by the Brockway Glass hanger and I would talk with Jerry at the cafe when he came in to get warmed up. I remember the name Tom Sawyer, but I don't know if I met him. Dean came in one weekend from Wakeman with several guys in a C-337, but I don't remember meeting all of them. They had a heck of time with that engine change. It was an 18-W that blew and he replaced it with a 34-W that was different in many ways requiring many mods and adaptions. Jake

jake, never heard the name jerry. when i was compiling info for the article i had more than a few doors slammed in my face, from andy ortner's daughter & others. they must have stepped on a few toes when they ran their gig here in wakeman. i emphatically told everyone that i was interviewing that their story would be nothing other than aviation history, & the article would stick to only that, & i kept my word. i heard plenty of innuendo though, but i won't speak of it on this forum.

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

jake, a little refresher.... tom sawyer has a face like beef jerky, a heart of gold, a voice like george bush senior, & practically identical, & a memory bigger than the pacific ocean. he wrenched plenty in the cold assed ohio winter out doors.

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

Hi Tom.
In your second article (I think) there is a picture of N33714 in the corner part of the Brockway Glass ramp. The engine change is in progress and parts are all over the ramp. In the picture there is a picture of one of the men working on the plane. I thought it was Jerry, but it may be Tom or someone else. It's been 34 years. OBTW....I was the one that towed the Corsair into that spot using the Brockway Glass Hobart power unit. I was working for Crown Airways at the time. Jake

I do have a photo I took in about 1982 when the DC7 fuselage was not in any pile that I remember but in a line that ran along begining of the collection area. I will do my best to dig through my slides and find it for you.

Mike

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http://silverplate1945.smugmug.com/AVIATION

Was that the Crown Airways that flew Shorts between Franklin/Youngstown and PIT. I worked YNG Approach.

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http://silverplate1945.smugmug.com/AVIATION

Yep, that's the same carrier, but at a much later date. I was one of the first 3 agents and they started with a BE-99 then picked up a Dash 200 Otter. (N915SA). I left there in November of 73 for greener pastures taking my T-6G with me. Jake

I got to YNG in 1978 and they were flying the Twin Otters. It was a couple years later they got Shorts, what dogs they were. Flew into Franklin a couple of times in a King Air just for a ride. It was based there, do not remember the owner or reg number. Take care. Mike

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http://silverplate1945.smugmug.com/AVIATION

Very nice racer55, thank you!
Has anyone seen the P-47 fuselage?

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http://www.warbird-hangar.com links and gallery &
http://www.yakkes.com Yakkes Foundation, Yak-52

Mennie--

The Jug fuselage was certainly still there in the 80s when I visited (I took a photo of it); from what I know it is still at Walt's.

S.