Warbird Information Exchange

Any news or updates?

Last I had heard the forward fuselage was on display at Planes of Fame in Chino and the rest of the airframe was in storage at the MARC hanger in Chino.

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Thanks. Does anyone know how much was "lost", i.e. stolen, when she was in crates while the legal issues were being sorted out?

For what it's worth, I'm not aware of any changes to the status of the airplane (fuselage displayed, rest of airframe stored at Chino). I had the opportunity to talk to Fred Hagen at some length last year and that material went into the 4th edition of Final Cut where I tried to document the history and controversy about the airplane as best and as farily as possible.

I also have not heard of any parts going missing when it was stored at Lae; the airplane appears to be pretty much in the same shape and completeness at Chino as it was when it arrived at Lae out of the swamp in 2006.

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Scott Thompson
Aero Vintage Books
http://www.aerovintage.com
WIX Subscriber Since July 2017

February 2011.

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Defending Stearmans on WIX since Jeff started badmouthing them back in 2005.

Trade it to the airforce for a gate guard B-17 and let them have at it.

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Hang The Expense

The Pacific Air Museum Ford Is. Oahu HI Curator told me they would like to get Swamp Ghost for their museum. It would make a nice "in situ" display to go with their Niihau Japanese Zero wreck display.

I think a full restoration to flight status would be more suited for this particular aircraft. Now don't get me wrong I enjoy seeing these crashed wreck dioramas. I think the POF Betty and Lady be Good are two idea examples for this type of display, but to me this B-17 just seems more suited to be airborne. I equate her to the Pacific version of Glacier Girl, with the only exception that Swamp Ghost actually has combat experience. Early wartime aircraft lost, epic recoveries involved for both planes, large amount of history, and both seem to have captured some attention of the general public. Im telling you the complete story for this B-17 would be to see her restored to fly, and then flown often. From there you'd operate her for a few years with some extensive touring throughout the country, then "retire" her to Ford Island where she'd become the centerpiece of the collection there, and continue to operate, giving rides around Hawaii. I tell you I'd visit Hawaii just to see her!

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Keep Em' Flying,
Christopher Soltis
Dedicated to the preservation and education of The Sikorsky Memorial Airport

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