Warbird Information Exchange

Hey everybody...

I am sitting here watching the Sleuth channel (yeah, I'm bored on my week off) and the old PI show "Simon & Simon" is on (1983) and the episode is about an old WWII B-25 pilot who is trying to clear his record (I think, I caught it 1/2 way through).

Anyhow, there are some GREAT flying sequences near the end... flying with a helicopter and such... all these PI shows from the 80's had helicopters it seems.

The B-25 and pilots weren't credited at the end, but I am wondering if anyone knows who's plane it was. It was a plain OD B-25 with grey underside... no markings. It also had cheek packets, but no guns in them. I guessed it might be Tallichets plane, but I didn't think it had cheek guns.

Anyone?

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Ryan Keough
Stow, MA

Planes of Fame "Betty Grable" right???

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Don't touch my junk!!

Jack is correct! "Betty Grable" OD and no top turret.
I seem to recall that the character played by Pat Hingle recognized the B-25 was his old one by the way it wobbleed everytime just before touch down. I didn't know airplanes developed that type of characteristics!
I've been wanting to see that show for a while and have never caught it in re-runs.
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

I had completely forgotten about that show!

How about Forever Young. I love that movie...

There was also a Highway to Heaven episode where an old B-25 pilot mournes the loss of his pilot son KIA in VN. When he finally dies, he and his son fly the B-25 to Heaven.

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Don't touch my junk!!

Ryan,
2 minutes from your post to my answer.
Do I get a award for that since Dan got one?

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Don't touch my junk!!

In another Simon and Simon episode, there is a scene at the airport where STILLETO is parked on the ramp.

Man..we used to watch the show religiously..my little sister was nuts for Jameson Parker.

I think I remember the B-25 episode..didn't the Vet who steals the plane confirm it was his by finding an old bottle of Scotch he'd stashed under the seat 45 years earlier? In fact, I seem to remember he used said liquor to clean off the rapainting and uncover the original nose art after he landed. Seems like he broke off the "wobble pump" handle while trying to lower the gear. Come to think of it, a think the vet in question may have been the Simons' dad or uncle or something.

Don't know if it was the same episode, but there was a scene where the brothers' mom finds an old box of model planes in the garage they'd supposedly built as kids (including a Monogram 1/48 B-26, which had only been out for a couple of years.) After they leave the garage, Gerald Macraney comes back in, grabs the Marauder, and "flies" it out the door making airplane noises.


SN

Can't remember the name of the show, but it was one with Andy Griffith(I think) if I remember right, where they had a salvage operation. They end up finding a Doolittle Raider bird and flying it out.

Jeez, goofy memories when you talk TV shows

"Salvage One"
They salvaged stuff off the moon also.
In the Navy I was referred to has "A fountain of usless facts and information".
Glad to to I can still live up the that!

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Don't touch my junk!!

Have a look atthe original TV Guide ad for the episode.

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/ ... altvg3.jpg

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It's you and me against the world.

We attack at dawn.

I remember that one quite well. They find the B-35 being guarded by a Japanese soldier played by good old "Stock Oriental" actor Mako (who of course is unaware the war is over.) He supposedly "maintained" the aircraft by turning the props through once a month..so naturally it was still perfectly airworthy. Even as a 13-year-old viewer, that seemed a bit far-fetched to me.

There were some scenes where the salvage crew is learing to fly a B-25 using "Executive Sweet," then owned by Challenge Publications. I don't know what Mitchell was used for the supposed Doolittle Raider, but it had a pin-up nose art and the name "Shangri La Lil" (probably painted on just for the show.)


SN

I remember as a kid in the early 80's watching episodes of "Airwolf" where the helicopter would always get in a dogfight with a Corsair, P-51, and even a B-25. It was kind of corny but still cool to a 12 year old kid.

John

Question.....if they could salvage stuff off of the moon, why didn't they bring back the B-32?

warning....... old tv re-runs are hazardous to your mental health!! i'd rather be lobotomized than watch old polyester tv

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!