Grissom B-17 Restoration update Sept 2010 part 2

[Steve Nelson]

the tornado passed over the runway on the South side of the field missing all of the active aircraft, and museum aircraft.

Yikes! Glad everything and everybody is OK. I was just reading an old Air Classics article about the tornado that trashed the Bradley Air Museum back in 1979..we don't need a repeat of that! I was worried about whether that storm system caused any problems in Reading. We had a bunch of twisters touch down here in southern Michigan Saturday night..one of which tore the roof off the church where Mandie and I got married one year ago this weekend!

SN

[mustangdriver]

Today I am meeting with some people that could possibly give us a grant. This would be a huge victory for the museum and the aircraft. We would love to see all ideas for any 305th Bomb Group paint schemes. It would be cool to have some WIX input on the paint scheme. The reason we want to pick a scheme now, is because we want to market shirts that would go toward funding the project. these shirts would carry the nose art on the back and the 305th Bomb Group logo on the front breast with the words Can Do, along with some aircraft info. All ideas are welcome.

[mustangdriver]

Just had an inspection of the nose. Yikes. The nose is going to have to be rebuilt all the way up to the cheek windows. Corrossion is really bad in this area. It is going to be a real battle.

[groundpounder]

So what kind of recourse do you have when this type of situation arises? I would imagine that this is not the only corroded area on this aircraft. Is there a danger of the museum pulling the plug on the whole restoration if too much damage is discovered? What becomes of the aircraft then? These repairs aren't gonna come cheaply. On the other hand, this may be a wakeup call for the caretakers some of the other poorley maintained (outdoor) B-17's out there. Not trying to be negative, i admire what you are doing and i wish i could be a part of an effort such as yours, but i am curious as to how deep the pockets are on a project like this.

[mustangdriver]

The B-17 is hopefully getting a grant which would take care of alot of it. Our main focus is corrosion control, paint, and fixing up the waist. The nose and forward lower areas near the front hatch are the worst. I'm not sure if that's due to the time it spent with the tail elevated, or due to the insulation holding in moisture. So far the museum is on board with a full static restoration and making it the center point of the collection. Even planning to extend the building to house it. There are a few that keep insisting it's too much work or that it's the NMUSAF's so why should we work on it. But we keep pressing forward with the 305th motto "Can Do". The grant will dictate what all we can do. We have most of the money for the paint. We can use any support we can get, and keep looking for the shirts we are designing.
You are right for museums that have B-17's outside.

[groundpounder]

I got the impression at first that this was more of a "grass roots" type of endeavor, but now that you have clarified, it sounds like with a bit of luck things are gonna roll right along. PM me when you get the shirts up and i will definately buy a couple ! Good luck to you and your crew !

[red two]

Mustang driver, have you thought about the paint scheme of Reich in Ruins? that's pretty catchy name. cheers.

[Clifford Bossie]

There were a lot of F-89s broken up at Socorro, NM - I know civilians asking for parts have beeen met with a resounding NO but would an NMUSAF affiliated museum have access?

And whatever did happen to that F-89 (51-5776) in Casa Grande, AZ?

I was hoping you would get an answer to that missing Casa Grande Scorpion. And was not aware of F-89s at Socorro, knew a bunch of F-86Ds and Ls at one time.

Any news on F-89 parts Chris?

It is good to see that B-17 get some TLC!

[Chris Brame]

This thread had the images of F-89s but apparently it's all long gone:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7227&start=15

For that matter I still would like to find out what happened to that overall silver gate guardian Scorpion used in the movie "Telefon"...

[Clifford Bossie]

This thread had the images of F-89s but apparently it's all long gone:

http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.o ... 7&start=15

For that matter I still would like to find out what happened to that overall silver gate guardian Scorpion used in the movie "Telefon"...

Wasn't the one in Telefon the one that is on display (or at least was) at Great Falls? 53-2547.

Update: Just found this: http://www.120fw.ang.af.mil/shared/medi ... 01-071.pdf

[mustangdriver]

Working on getting someone to check into the F-89. I think we could get the parts for a static from the NMUSAF. First off let me say that I really love the folks at Grissom but there are a few that just want to not go forward. "Just slap paint on it and cut the grass. it is not ours, it's the Air Force Museum's." That is a very dangerous way to see things for many reasons.

I like that idea for the B-17 name. I am going to research it. Anyone have a picture?

[mustangdriver]

Update on the grant. The grant is for local museums. They have $200,000 to give out. They want a price list for everything you would use the money for. We just submitted a price list for over $50,000. They told us if we request it all we wouldn't get it, to try for $50,000. That would give us a huge leap to start this restoration.

[red two]

I saw a picture of it on the 305th bomb group website, its od green B-17G there are also alot of other pics of different nose art but most are B-17F's

[mustangdriver]

Well, there is a new route being discussed by the museum board. This is just an idea by them, and I want to get some feed back. My opinion must stay out of it all together for this. There is talk of wanting to take off some of the fake G parts that are made out of fiber glass and back date the airplane to an F model and paint it as the 305th Bomb Group's "Old Bill" If you watched the documentary Memphis Belle this plane is at the end of the film shot to pieces. many died on board and several more were hit. Only 2 crewmembers were not hit. They want to do this as a memorial to the men of that plane, and ot the men of the 305th. What are your thoughts of this. Remember that she is pretty gutted and many of the parts that show it off as a G are just replica bolted on parts. This was not my idea, but I want to get feedback for this idea.

[groundpounder]

I say go for it , if they have the ability to do a good job replicating an F model. Whats all involved ? Remove the chin turret, Different nose glass (?), Different upper turret dome, some different window, dome, and cheek gun arrangements in the nose area, old style rear gunners compartment, non- staggered waist gunner hatches (?), just for cosmetics. But weren't later F models basically G models anyway ? The rest would be electrical and performance related, which would be a non-factor. My guess would be that the chin turret just gets pulled off and the aircraft gets painted. Not too bad though.