b17engineer wrote:
Blackwing,
Unfortunately, I think all of the remaining airframes (with the possible exception of the USAF museum example) have been modified from their former bomber configuration.
RICK
Good point Rick...with the possible exception of Kermit's bird. If you look at
JDK's photo you'll notice the sheetmetal on the nose appears to "fill in" a
a greenhouse. Not the Exec nose most of the other machines have.
JDK, were the wings of Kermit's bird nearby? If I forget correctly one of the
Florida Dragons was reduced to a fuselage. Just seeking a clarification...
Another point, IIRC Howard Hughes was responsible for saving most of the
B-23/UC-67's post WW2. He may not have flown them all, but he purchased most of
the survivors for possible use for his airline needs postwar. If I won the Lotto,
I'd love to have the fmr Mike Bogue bird and preserve her as a Hughes Exec bird since she carries her own provenance. I'd grab the CAF bird for my B-23 reconstruction to bomber with a greenhouse nose...she'd be a essentialy be a replica ..considering all the new metal..but she'd be sweet!!! If Kermit's is a more original B-23, that bird would be the core of my intent.
Someone asked, basically, "What color scheme, and what significant duty did
the Dragon perform which could attract a sponsor at ICAS. I guess that would
fall hand-in-hand with an old CAF wives-tale about the CG-4A plans. The
old CAF "green 'n grey" color scheme of a B-23 re-enacting the 1'st CG-4 test
of the USAAF M-80 Air Cargo Glider Snatch Apparatus at Wright Field in 1942 would surely
get everyones attention!!!!
It has been asked quite a few times, but never answered... The B-18 Bolo
was a bomber adaptation built upon DC-2 wings. The B-23 was a modified
B-18 fuse mated to DC-3 wings...it has been said. So, how extensive of a job
would it be to mate the relatively common DC-3 center section and outer
wing panels to resurrect the B-23/C-67 orphans with issues???
Thanks folks!!!..
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To each his own I suppose but the B-23 has a lot more interest in my opinion as a Warbird for who they shuffled around as opposed to what bombing campaigns the were involved in. If you really are serious about making an offer on the aircraft I suggest contacting the CAF board directly because the general policy with the CAF is basically what Taylor stated, and the only way to get around that is to make your case to the board. Making further comments about the how poorly the aircraft is taken care of etc is unlikely to bare fruit, but that is just my opinion and isn't worth the paper it is written on. Anyway, good luck in your search, you will make some poor ol hulk of aluminum very happy. I wish they all could be!
