Warbird Information Exchange

It was another beautiful morning today in Palm Springs. Catherine and my Mom wanted to go shopping, so my Dad and looked at each other and headed back towards LA. I dropped my Dad off at a golf course near Riverside, and I continued on to the March Field Museum.

Driving up to the museum I was greeted by a view of a large display area of vintage USAF aircraft. Beyond the museum was the field and airport of March ARB with KC-135s and C-141s on the ramp, which is a nice backdrop for the museum.

Once inside the museum I was welcomed by some volunteers, and I paid my $7 admission (not bad compared to other museums). Inside there is a Stearman, BT-13, P-39 and P-59 on display. Once outside you are overwhelmed by a huge collection of former USAF aircraft starting with a parked formation of three F-4 aircraft. Not far away was the B-17 and B-29, and beyond them was the restoration hanger. Outside the restoration hanger work was being carried out on an F-104 and DC-3/C-47. I enquired, but apparently there were no projects underway inside the hanger which was off limits to the public.

There were simply too many airframes on display that could be summarized effectively here. The highlights for me were the line-up of the early jets including the F-84 and a pair of F-86s. Most aircraft are displayed out on the dirt display area with steel plates under the gear of the heavies (B-52, C-135, etc.). You might consider this is a crude way to display aircraft, but this is the desert after all! It appears they are starting to put in concrete walkways as resources permit, and they even have bleachers for view of aircraft operating out of March ARB. I made use of these stands to photograph a touch and go of a C-135 whose crew was apparently practicing. My Dad visited the museum a few years ago and got a number of pictures for me, but from this visit I can see that a number of the aircraft have been painted and that they take pride in their collection.

I was returning to the museum to get ready to leave when I was spotted by one of the volunteers that recognized me. I had been outside for about 2 hours, so I guess he figured I was more interested in the collections than the average person. He is 85 years old, and a veteran of WWII who flew A-20s in combat. His favorite mission was the low level attack missions. Anyway… we started chatting. He quizzed me on a few aircraft, and after I answered a few questions correctly he started giving me a few more questions of greater difficulty. I was having fun. He then proceeded to give me a tour of their indoor displays, and quizzing me. After about 45 minutes of chatting with this gentlemen we said our goodbyes, and I was off to pick-up my dad at the golf course.

I would definitely recommend you visit the March Field Museum if you are in the area. The collection is vast (compared to other museums of similar size and resources), and like the Palm Springs Air Museum, the volunteers really make the difference.

Catherine and I are off to the Yanks Air Museum on the way to LA tomorrow. I probably won’t get a chance to report on that visit until next week.

Regards,

Mike

BDK… If you are reading this I will give you a call on your cell once I get to the museum. I don’t have a cell myself.

_________________
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.

OK, I have to drop a few things off there myself, so let me know when you arrive there. Maybe Christen will let you use the phone.

Don't they have a P-38? According to this, they do. http://aeroweb.brooklyn.cuny.edu/museums/ca/mfm.htm

Tallichet used to keep a P-38 there, but now all March has is a fiberglass replica.

Had the opportunity to met Mike and his lovely wife Catherine today at Chino. WIX meeting! Mike is visiting just about every air museum in Southern California during his vacation, so we should be seeing dozens of good photos very soon.

It is interesting to me that I live here, yet Mike will be seeing some local air museums I've never even been to! I gues his wife is more understanding than mine.

I was told that the P-38 that was there was being restored by a volunteer group that worked on P-38s during the war. I was also told that the owner (which I guess is David Tallichet) was given an offer that couldn't be refused and the P-38 was sold. Who bought it? I am guessing the FHC, but that is just a guess. Anyway... the volunteer group was dissappointed they didn't have an airframe to work on, so they contacted the USAF Museum and got copies of P-38 drawings. They then replicated a P-38 using fibreglass. Their hanger was not open when I got there and I did not get a chance to see the replica.

Mike

_________________
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.

Yes she is! Of course it cost me a few long walks on the beach and a bus tour of star's homes in Hollywood, yada yada yada... and then there was the shopping... I think we came out about even.

Mike

_________________
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.

Catherine H is a bit of a star, and supports Mike's "perfectly normal warbird habit" ~hem~ to the hilt... As well as managing with Mike's 'strange' friends - who I'm proud to be one of!

_________________
James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

I DO know that there was a P-38 that was there. It was sold to the FHC, who sold it to TFC when FHC got Jandina III (P-38J) and the P-38F. TFC sold it to a guy up north who also owns a P-51 and a P-40. I picked up a Warbirds International at B&N and it said that the P-38 would be restored back to its F-5G standards. The P-38 was painted as Marge.

Hold on a sec, let me go get my notes....

Ok, I'm back. Here's what I have.

P-38L (F-5G) 44-27231/N79123 is now with Ron Fagen, MN, USA

My stupid USB drive isn't working now. Oh well, such is life. Go ahead and look the FHC P-38s up on the registry. The P-38F is going to Australia, I believe (75 Squadron perhaps?)

Yes she is a star! I am one luck guy. I know she is looks forward to meeting everyone again who has visited the Henniger Hilton, and is looking forward to WIX meets at airshows etc. When I count my blessings, Catherine's patience and understanding of my "warbird habit" is one of them!

Mike

_________________
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.