Doolittle Raid B-25's

[TAdan]

Just had an interesting conversation with a member of the Doolittle Association. They recently had a brief at the USAF Museum by outgoing Gen Metcalf about bringing back the Valadavostok B-25. It has been located in a scrap yard and the AF is working on getting either a C-5 or AN-124 to bring it back to Dover AFB. It would then go down to Kissemee Fl for restoration. Evidently they're going to have to pay a large chunk of change to get it... If they agree to it. Maybe THAT's why the START treaty is stalled?????

That sounds too good to be true. I'll believe it when I see the info released from an official source. I hope it's true, however!

I agree and I also hope it is true. If so it has to be one of the most significant American warbird finds ever. If not it is one heck of a big fish story.

Just to play Devils Advocate I'll toss this one out there... I hope it is not just another lend lease B-25... (Although any B-25 is a good find too!)

[Garth]

According to my source, the A/C is in pieces at a scrap yard outside a Russian Air Base. The AF is negotiating with the Russians to get it out. The stumbling block is the USAF doesn't have the funding to do it. Maybe they ought to try the way the NM of NA does it with their wreck recoveries.

Hope springs eternal, but my BS-meter is pegged over this.

Given that this would be a Holy Grail recovery, there are all sorts of "creative financing" options available to NMUSAF that could be executed to raise funding in the $100-150 million range pretty quickly (worse case, imho, assuming that the Russians have reached an insane level of gouging confidence to propose 2-3X what they are going to charge us to ferry astronauts up to and back from the ISS).

For example, trade Paul Allen the B-25D that's in the museum along with naming rights to the WWII hangar and a nice big plaque in front of the restored/displayed 40-2242 thanking him profusely for his generosity in helping to bring such a priceless aviation artifact home.

[Dan Jones]

There's no way... but do I ever hope I'm wrong. Besides being in pieces, any idea as to it's condition/completeness? This sure stinks of a big $ con, but...

Dan

[Pogmusic]

I know this wreaks of BS. However, Gen. Metcalf briefed the Raiders Association on this prior to his departure. I too am skeptical; but, hope does spring eternal.

[Garth]

This sure stinks of a big $ con, but...

Dan

"Hello? My name Peggy. You call about Dooleetle Meeeechil? Ok. Please hold."

( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Md43_fjl ... re=related )

[george]

Doubt if the head of the AF museum would have said what he did without knowing. That leads to the next thought: think of what else might be in that scrapyard with all the aircraft we supplied them.

[dbrown]

I have a piece of plane #3 (40-2270) "Whiskey Pete" so that plan has been located as well. My cousin's uncle was killed on the mission (Factor).

BUFFIE

[rwdfresno]

This is a very interesting development. I definitely am skeptical, but at that the same time very curious. If there is truth to this I would imagine te truth will surface very quickly. There are several on this board with connections to the Doolittle Raider Association.

Ryan

[rwdfresno]

Happy Christmas Eve folks,

Sorry to be the Grinch but unfortunatley, according to "sources," of which there is more than one, of which I consider to be very credible and in the "know," there will not be a B-25B 40-2242 under the Christmas tree this year.

I haven't been able to substantiate the Russian scrap yard B-25B through any of my sources. While I would LOVE for someone to provide evidence otherwise, I think that this story is not accurate.

Thanks, Ryan

[george]

Google earth shows an abandoned air base a ways from and NE of Vladivostok, just WSW of a small place called Emar. Just NW of an old large hanger, along the SW side of an abandoned runway that runs NW-SE, appears to be an old scrapyard. May be another scrapyard at the southernmost part of the old base.

[Warbird Kid]

Don't know if this is relevant but, There is a B-25 at the Monio Museum in Moscow. While I've heard this plane to be D/C model but I wonder... Here's a pic.
http://jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6203240&nseq=80

[rwdfresno]

Don't know if this is relevant but, There is a B-25 at the Monio Museum in Moscow. While I've heard this plane to be D/C model but I wonder... Here's a pic.
http://jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6203240&nseq=80

I have heard that aircraft most commonly refered to as B-25D 43-3355. Certainly some creative license was taken during the "restoration" but it has some remaining C//D traits such as the exhaust.

Ryan