Warbird Information Exchange

Thanks to all!
I write to you folks with mixed emotions. I am the fellow that was involved in a little disagreement with the Navy (NHC) over a corsair these past 5 years. First and foremost I wish to publicly thank Congressman Walter Jones of North Carolina for his compassionate and powerful leadership in bringing the Navy (NHC!) to relent in their claim of ownership of an aircraft they abandonded in 1944. Without Congressional involvement (HR-4200 signed into law 10/28/04) I would be 2 to 3 years awaiting my day in court to prove ownership. Second, I thank my attorney, Boyd Ratchye of Bassford Remele in Minneapolis. Having high quality legal counsel solidly backing you is a major reassurance when being sued by the U.S. Government.
Sadly, the same legislation that conveyed clear title of the corsair to me also contains a new law allowing the government (NHC!!!) to retain ownership of all submerged military craft. I learned of it after it was added in the Senate/House conference. It was my intent to strengthen the position of civil preservation of historic aircraft by my actions in this matter. I can only hope that I have not erroded it.
I want to thank all of you for your support of my suit. Now the greater task of amending/changing law lies ahead. Quite clearly this new law serves only to protect bureaucratic (NHC!!!!!!!!!!!!) jobs. It will not allow aircraft to be preserved for future generations of Americans to honor those valiant men and women of our armed services! This new law mandates the destruction of our history and it must be changed!
Lex
Corsair parts Wanted/Needed

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An ego is no match for gravity.

I congradulate you sir and wish you the best in your future encounters with the beaucratic nightmare. As a Canadian I doubt there is much I can do to help you, but I thought I would at least give you my thanks for efforts to the cause. So thanks!

Regards

Mike

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Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
http://www.facebook.com/AerialVisuals

Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.

Hi Lex:

Doesn't it mean that the warbird community is winning? I would say so, because it appears that the NHC is on the defensive. Usually defensive means losing right? Another question, how many people in the NHC? I'd venture a guess of no more than 20. How many people own warplanes? How many people in the EAA? Over 15,000 at least. FOr the people, by the people the buggers can't win. 20 defensive bureaucrats trying to save their job vs upwards of 15,000. Boston Tea-Party Time? Let's lay right into them.

Congratulations on your victory sir and welcome to the board.

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It's you and me against the world.

We attack at dawn.

Ditto, Lex...welcome to the WIX! You already have many admirers amongst the posters and lurkers at this site.

Like I was telling the wife, anybody that bends metal on an old Vought design in a town called Princeton can't be all bad!

Now, you wouldn't happen to have any chunks of TBU/TBY lying around, would you?

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

Hi Rob:

I'd say a petition from the EAA with all of the members signatures sent straight to President Bush.

Congratulations on your victory over a ridiculous and restrictive legal situation and welcome to the forum.

Unfortunately it seems that everyone has managed to fall foul of exactly the sort of tactic our aussie politicians seem to have made an art form of.

That of using something as a smokescreen to hide their real intent. In this case the good news of them loosing one airframe so they could hide the bad news of their gaining possible control over hundreds which will now probably end up rotting away because of govt shortsightedness and ineptitude.

Lex,
Great to have you with us, and many many hearty congratulations on your victory over the ownership of your corsair. It was a great day for America. Sadly "They who cannot be named" have used that victory to score some cheap points themselves. However, I am sure no one here has anything but unreserved congratulations for you Lex. I wish you all the best with getting the old Brewster ship-shape again!

Cheers,
Richard

Congratulations on your well deserved and hard earned victory. Hopefully, yours will be the first of many victories over the NHC's tyrannical policy.