Warbird Information Exchange

Hi all

Today there was an airshow of sorts at Wangarratta including the display and landing of an FA18 - something I didn't think could land there . Also in Todays pics is the "Time capsule" A20 "Big Nig" a wonderful machine which arrived only last week for restoration to flight status. The condition is nothing short of amazing and it is anticipated that a high degree of original material will be included in the final restoration to airworthy status of this great Veteran aircraft. Also present was the original pilot of Murrays P40N -5-CU USAAF BuNo42-105915 Lt Robert Warren.







http://image60.webshots.com/160/2/5/81/ ... Jag_ph.jpg
I visited Wangarratta 4 weeks ago and have now posted some pictures of all the new work being done there including the P38, P39 . P40 . Kingfishers and A20s etc have a look - very interesting and great work

http://community.webshots.com/user/setter126007
Regards
John Parker


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Air Vice Marshall
Sunshine State Air Farce

AWESOME!!!!

Can I get the serial numbers of the aircraft currently there (especially the A-20s)?

Thanks...

A20 G-25-DO USAAC URTF BuNo43-9436 "Big Nig"

A20 Recovered from PNG parts of XXXXX were utilised by Dennis Doggett and his RAAF crew in the restoration of two static Bostons and was one of the 10 Boston wrecks from PNG in the 1980s to allow for two restorations. Most of the leftover spares are now being passed on to Murray Griffiths of Wangarratta based Precision Aerospace Productions to allow for up to 4 airworthy restorations for Australian and US based collections. History:Delivered to USAAF as 42-86615, 19??.- Allocated to 417th BG/675th BS.-- Forced landing Saidor, PNG, Apr. 16, 1944.
RAAF Museum, RAF Wagga, NSW, Nov. 21, 1984-1991.- Recovered from Yamai, Saidor.- Static Restoration project, started 1988. Serial #: 42-86615 Construction #: ? Civil Registration: None Model: A-20G Name: None Status: Under Restoration Last info: 1991

Recovered from PNG parts were utilised by Dennis Doggett and his RAAF crew in the restoration of two static Bostons and was one of the 10 Boston wrecks from PNG in the 1980s to allow for two restorations. Most of the leftover spares are now being passed on to Murray Griffiths of Wangarratta based Precision Aerospace Productions to allow for up to 4 airworthy restorations for Australian and US based collections. History:Delivered to USAAF as 43-9686, 19??.- Allocated to 417th BG.-- Forced landing Wabusarik, PNG, 1944.RAAF Museum, RAF Wagga, NSW, Nov. 26, 1984-1991.- Recovered from Wabusarik.- Static Restoration project, started 1988. Serial #: 43-9686Construction #: ?Civil Registration: NoneModel: A-20GName: None Status: Under RestorationLast info: 1991

Recovered from PNG parts were utilised by Dennis Doggett and his RAAF crew in the restoration of two static Bostons and was one of the 10 Boston wrecks from PNG in the 1980s to allow for two restorations. Most of the leftover spares are now being passed on to Murray Griffiths of Wangarratta based Precision Aerospace Productions to allow for up to 4 airworthy restorations for Australian and US based collections. History:Delivered to USAAF as 43-9401, 19??.- Allocated to 417th BG/675th BS.- Forced landing Saidor, PNG, Apr. 16, 1944.RAAF Museum, RAF Wagga, NSW, Nov. 22, 1984-1991.- Recovered from Yamai, Saidor.- Static Restoration project, started 1988. Serial #: 43-9401Construction #: ?Civil Registration: NoneModel: A- 20GName: NoneStatus: Under RestorationLast info: 1991

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Air Vice Marshall
Sunshine State Air Farce

Hello John,

Thanks for the photos. Terrific !!!

One thing we should also congratulate them for is that they are not trying to hide the initial condition of the planes they are going to restore/rebuild. This will avoid the perpetual debate about original/restored/rebuilt/new/ ...

For the P-38, i read in another post that info should be kept safe for planned future recoveries (which is understandable even if sometimes frustrating !); but as there are already some present in the shop at present, do we have any info where/when they were recovered and their identity ?

For the P-39 i'm amazed to see in your photos the very poor condition of the airframes to be rebuilt when there are several structurally complete P-39 readily available for sale at present. Any idea why ? Is it purely financial (cost less to built from almost scratch than to restore) or maybe for a better reason (at least for me !) that they are palnes with a interesting combat history ?

Laurent

That P-39 wreck is from Russia and usualy left outside,Shaun drags it in now and again to get a measurement copy a skin or remove a fitting.
The P-38 Pod is in suprisingly good condition i honestly think a lot of it shoulden't be dismanteled. The centre section looks straight but it will be checked when a jig is built around it.

I seem to remember when they were recovering one of the Bostons it got away from them in the helicopter ride (engine fell off, making he load unbalanced) and they had to jetison it into the forest. Anyone know more details about this?

Cheers,
Richard

WOW..................

Speachless

Just out of curiosity, what's with the white aluminium skins on the Tony ?

Is this cheap aluminium used for pattern only or is this a new kind of protective process for AC aluminum alloys ?

You are right Mick, she ( or he ? ) looks great.

Where will the engines for the Kawasaki's be coming from ?

Its hard already to get a German version running......

Unless you plan on running a different power plant ?

Tks for the pics Setter

Speachless

Just out of curiosity, what's with the white aluminium skins on the Tony ?

The white is a plactic peel off protection layer

Is this cheap aluminium used for pattern only or is this a new kind of protective process for AC aluminum alloys ?

See above - it is really just ordinary(expensive ) aircraft ally

You are right Mick, she ( or he ? ) looks great.

Micks answer

Where will the engines for the Kawasaki's be coming from ?

I asked the same question and was told that they should be OK for engines - I didn't want to push it further.


Its hard already to get a German version running......

Yes and the german one was really only an inspiration for the Japanese - not much is interchangeable i believe - still they didn't look worried about it and I don't think it would have gone this far without an answer.


Unless you plan on running a different power plant ?

No I don't think so

Tks for the pics Setter

You are welcome

Regards
John P

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Air Vice Marshall
Sunshine State Air Farce

P-38 s/n?

My list shows that the A-20s that the RAAF Museum has/had are the following:

A-20G-25-DO 42-9436--Big Nig
A-20G-20-DO 42-86615
A-20G-20-DO 42-86772
A-20G-20-DO 42-86786
A-20G-25-DO 43-9401--fuselage only
A-20G-30-DO 43-9491--fuselage only
A-20G-30-DO 43-9628--Lady Constance
A-20G-30-DO 43-9629

Where are they now? (with the exception of Big Nig)

I didn't include the DB-7 or Hell'n Pelican.

Is the 'Pelican going to PNG?

I don't recall ever hearing of 43-9686.

setter, i viewed all 74 pics, & i must say you guys are quite ambitious!! you've got more than got your work cut out for you. incredible quantity of finds, & all mostly rarer types, too cool!! i salute your museum's enthusiasm & professionalism. regards, tom

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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!!

Hi

Some tidying up



Tom

Thanks for that - they have the capability to get it done and it is going ahead nicely - it won't happen overnight but there is very good progress every time I go there - There are some shots of the A20 Big Nig in the other album.

Wolverine



Some of the A20 stuff has already passed on to Europe and the US so when the remainder goes to Wangarratta I will sort out which serial is which and post them - The numbers are correct though it is just that some are only partial aircraft.

Hell n pelikan will eventually go to PNG - it is currently in store at Amberley RAAF base where it was restored - There is a possability it may move soon to be temporarily displayed somewhere else. It needs a building in PNG before it can go there .

Wolverine I will try to get all the P38 Serials for you.

Kindest regards
John P

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Air Vice Marshall
Sunshine State Air Farce

Shouldn't you have been somewhere else?

Nice pics btw. Lots of good work going on there, which will hopefully benefit collections on several continents.

Mike

Slight hassel here about getting away - it will happen - just delayed - . Sorry but I don't think I missed much except a shorted out lens by the sound of things

Regards
john p

_________________
Air Vice Marshall
Sunshine State Air Farce

Thanks...

Good pictures by the way.

I have another question.

What's happening to the Kingfisher (or is there more than one) and the Vengeance (or is there more than one of these as well).

What are the S/n's

Thanks...

Sorry if I'm burdening you too much. I'm trying to build a database of surviving WW2 aircraft.