Warbird Information Exchange

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on this site are the responsibility of the poster and do not reflect the views of the management.
It is currently Sun Mar 29, 2026 4:10 pm

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Classic Wings Magazine WWII Naval Aviation Research Pacific Luftwaffe Resource Center
When Hollywood Ruled The Skies - Volumes 1 through 4 by Bruce Oriss


Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 42 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3
Author Message
PostPosted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 9:50 am 
Offline
2000+ Post Club
2000+ Post Club
User avatar

Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2006 9:42 pm
Posts: 2708
Location: NP, NJ, USA
warbird1 wrote:
Pogmusic wrote:
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. :shock: 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!)

_________________
Share your story: Rutgers Oral History Archive http://oralhistory.rutgers.edu/


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 10:10 am 
Offline

Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2007 6:50 pm
Posts: 378
Location: Northern VA, USA
Pogmusic wrote:
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.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 10:30 am 
Offline
1000+ Posts!
1000+ Posts!
User avatar

Joined: Sun Nov 15, 2009 12:57 pm
Posts: 1273
Location: Lacombe, Alberta, Canada
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

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


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 10:43 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Mon May 11, 2009 11:36 am
Posts: 571
Location: Shalimar, FL
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.

_________________
Cheers!

Lance Jones


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 3:45 pm 
Offline

Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2007 6:50 pm
Posts: 378
Location: Northern VA, USA
Dan Jones wrote:
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 )


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 5:45 pm 
Offline

Joined: Wed Dec 15, 2004 10:20 pm
Posts: 435
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.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 6:33 pm 
Offline

Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 3:45 pm
Posts: 197
Location: Denver, Colorado
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


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 6:56 pm 
Offline
1000+ Posts!
1000+ Posts!
User avatar

Joined: Sun Dec 03, 2006 7:43 pm
Posts: 1454
Location: Colorado
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


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 12:07 pm 
Offline
1000+ Posts!
1000+ Posts!
User avatar

Joined: Sun Dec 03, 2006 7:43 pm
Posts: 1454
Location: Colorado
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


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 12:43 pm 
Offline

Joined: Wed Dec 15, 2004 10:20 pm
Posts: 435
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.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 1:44 pm 
Offline
Long Time Member
Long Time Member
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 1:54 am
Posts: 5236
Location: Stratford, CT.
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

_________________
Keep Em' Flying,
Christopher Soltis

Dedicated to the preservation and education of The Sikorsky Memorial Airport

CASC Blog Page: http://ctair-space.blogspot.com/
Warbird Wear: https://www.redbubble.com/people/warbirdwear/shop

Chicks Dig Warbirds.......right?


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 5:09 pm 
Offline
1000+ Posts!
1000+ Posts!
User avatar

Joined: Sun Dec 03, 2006 7:43 pm
Posts: 1454
Location: Colorado
Warbird Kid wrote:
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


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 42 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 81 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group