A20 Boston/Havoc pics from Wangaratta - wing jig pics

setter · **Posted:** Wed Dec 22, 2004 12:28 am

Hi
More Photos of the A20 Havoc/Boston restorations being undertaken at Murray Griffith’s Wangaratta Precision facility north of Melbourne Australia. I have posted 10 shots of the wing jig where the first of 4 airworthy machines are being rebuilt. One or two of the Havocs will be going back to the US and at least one will be flying with Murray. One of the wrecks recovered in the 1980’s and 90’s is the Famous “Big Nig” and it will make quite a controversial machine once completed.

Tony Andrews took these photos on his recent trip down under and kindly agreed to have me host them here – thanks Tony

The link is http://community.webshots.com/user/setter125
And look for the item titled Wangaratta A20 pics

Kindest regards
John Parker

Broken-Wrench · **Joined:** Sun Oct 24, 2004 12:37 pm **Posts:** 1197

I hope they are not going to use that wing Spar with all the corrosion on it. Wow it is deep! Look at the picture with the wing that is partially restored. And then look at the root. I would be a shame to attach all that good metal to junk or is it never going to fly again?

airmanual · **Joined:** Thu Nov 04, 2004 6:32 am **Posts:** 240

Hello John,

Why do you consider BIG Nig a controversial machine ?

Laurent

setter · **Posted:** Wed Dec 22, 2004 8:34 am

Hi

Yes Big Nig will be controversial here just because of the name - no coment - it is just the way it is - people give no latitude for historical authenticity.

Don't worry Broken Wrench they are making new spars - it's just there for dimensional accuracy in the jig. These guys don't take any risks.

They are all going to fly - the 4 of them are airworthy only.

Thanks for all your posts - I appreciate them

Kindest regards
John P

airmanual · **Joined:** Thu Nov 04, 2004 6:32 am **Posts:** 240

Ah bon ! Being French speaking with little knowledge of US slang, didn't realise it's nose art name was controversial. Does it means what i think it means ?

John, are the 4 A-20's under restoration all airframes recovered by the Air Force in the 80's and early 90's, or does it include other more recent recoveries ?

Laurent

aerovin · **Posted:** Wed Dec 22, 2004 9:50 am

One squadron of the 3rd BG named their airplanes after characters of writer Damon Runyon's plays and stories, one of which was "Big Nig." Despite its authenticity, it is going to be hard to fly an airplane around with that name on it. Maybe it should be.

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

http://image32.webshots.com/32/9/7/65/2 ... gub_fs.jpg

An classic example of intergranular corrosion on the inboard end of that spar. The rest of that wing looks quite nice!

Is there any schedule for completion? Will only the structure be completed there, or the entire restoration to airworthy?

TimAPNY · **Posted:** Wed Dec 22, 2004 11:07 am

bdk
The link isn't working for me

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

Follow Setter's Webshots link and go to the "Wangaratta A20 pics" and look at the last photo.

http://community.webshots.com/user/setter125-date

http://community.webshots.com/album/235378321HxSGIi

Makes me want to leave Chino! Well, not quite.

setter · **Posted:** Wed Dec 22, 2004 5:34 pm

Hi all

Thanks for the replies

1) the A20s will all fly and all the work up to and including first flight will be on site.

2) All the airframes are from the 80s and 90s recoveries although there is more up there so who knows what might have to be recovered later - I think they probably have enough to do what they need to for these 4 though.

3) Pleas let me know if you are having trouble with Webshots links as I hate to do all of this and then people can't see them - sort of defeats the purpose.

Regards
John P

DonL · **Posted:** Wed Dec 22, 2004 6:53 pm

Thanks for the great pics! Maybe I'll get to see a flying A-20 some day. Do they have an estimate on how long the restorations will take? Perhaps they could call Big Nig Big Nigel or Big Night instead. It would lose some of its historic authenticity but at least it wouldn't be as offensive to some. When you say there is more up there do you mean that there are more A-20 airframes somewhere? I'm assuming that you are referring to New Guinea.

setter · **Posted:** Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:59 pm

Hi
Big Nigel?

It just doesn't sound the same really!!!

My option is Big Cedric !!! - Now thats catchy!!

Yes there are a lot of A20 airframes in PNG even after the scrappers finished - I don't know how many but a fair few. Mostly scattered up the south coast plains after a very bad disaster where two squadrons got lost in bad weather on a raid and all had to crash land - most made it OK and walked out but all the aircraft were written off

Regards
John P

Broken-Wrench · **Joined:** Sun Oct 24, 2004 12:37 pm **Posts:** 1197

[quote="bdk"]http://image32.webshots.com/32/9/7/65/235390765FKHgub_fs.jpg

An classic example of intergranular corrosion on the inboard end of that spar. The rest of that wing looks quite nice!

It's bad but it doesn't compare to the B-52 in Orlando FL.

Broken-Wrench · **Joined:** Sun Oct 24, 2004 12:37 pm **Posts:** 1197

[quote="bdk"]http://image32.webshots.com/32/9/7/65/235390765FKHgub_fs.jpg

An classic example of intergranular corrosion on the inboard end of that spar. The rest of that wing looks quite nice!

It's bad but it doesn't compare to the B-52 in Orlando FL.

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

setter wrote:

3) Pleas let me know if you are having trouble with Webshots links as I hate to do all of this and then people can't see them - sort of defeats the purpose.

No, you're doing just fine. I linked directly to the photo (which Webshots doesn't like).

I almost like loking at the insides of planes more than the outsides!

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A20 Boston/Havoc pics from Wangaratta - wing jig pics

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