Warbird Information Exchange

My wife and I took the grandchildren to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago today. Much to my surprise the museum has moved the Sptifire and the Ju 87 from where they have been hanging way up by the ceiling to a much lower level. Now the planes are eye level w/ the 2nd floor/balcony. A very good move! Now you can get a great look at these 2 very significant planes.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

Patrick...That's good BUT...IT'S TOO BAD YOU CAN'T GET PICTURES OF THEM.

"Just funnin', son. Just funnin'"

Mudge the subtle

ps...you gotta' understand, most of the guys here are VISUALLY stimulated.
(Somehow that doesn't sound quite right. Oh well )

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Land of the free because of the brave

Here is one I got last time I was there. They were still hanging from the ceiling at that point.



Ryan

Aye, some decent pics of this Stuka would be great

Best ones I've been able to get..

It'd be nice to see her lowered to a more "photography freindly" location. Personally, I'd love to see the Stuka go somewhere like Dayton or the NASM, where she'd be more properly appreciated

[quote][/quote]

Best ones I've been able to get..

It'd be nice to see her lowered to a more "photography freindly" location. Personally, I'd love to see the Stuka go somewhere like Dayton or the NASM, where she'd be more properly appreciated. The neat thing about the Ju-87 is that it's 100% original, right down to the paint (well, OK, she did acquire T-6 wheels at some point.) It's got a bunch of damage to the underside..I'm not sure if it was hit by flak, or shot up on the ground.

SN

I know it sounds like I'm nit-picking but it just doesn't look right having the Stuka behind the Spit...me thinks it should be the other way around.

John

i know the ju 87 often flew with out wheel pants, especially in the desert & russian front to prevent sand or snow bulid up in the landing gear, but i feel having them present just makes a better historical impact when viewing it. come to think of it.......i've never seen any operational japanese vals without wheel pants. the only flyer that went up with out pants & "swinging in the breeze was howard hughes!!!

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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!!

I would love to see these in one of the national museums.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

I'm glad the Stuka and the Spitfire are in the museum in Chicago. I think more of the general public can see them there than in some of the museums that specialize in aircraft. As great as the Air Force museum in Dayton is, it is quite a bit off the beaten track, and probably seen more by nuts like us than the public. It is a ways out of town and they don't even let us fly in there even though there is a big runway right next to the buildings, away from the rest of the base. An early Spit is pretty rare and the Stuka even more so, if they were in a bigger museum with hundreds of planes they would lose some of their impact. It would be great to find the correct wheels, how about it some WI er in Germany or somewhere?

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

[quote="Steve Nelson"]...................................The neat thing about the Ju-87 is that it's 100% original, right down to the paint (well, OK, she did acquire T-6 wheels at some point.) It's got a bunch of damage to the underside..I'm not sure if it was hit by flak, or shot up on the ground.

SN

I recall reports many years ago that this Ju87 suffered damage, after it was preserved, when it fell from its suspensions.

I understand the bottom of the rudder was crushed when it fell..it spent some time with the EAA up in Hale's Corners in WI being repaired. The holes in the uderside appear to be high-speed shrapnel damage.

I've also always thought it a bit odd that the Ju-87 is displayed as "bouncing" the Spit.

As for the wheel pants, I've never seen pics of Stukas without them in North Africa, although as Tom mentioned they were often removed on the Eastern Front because of mud and snow. I assume the wheel pants from this one either just got misplaced over the years, or may have been damaged in the when it fell.

SN

Has I recall this Spit has 5 confirmed kills has ZP+H of 74 Squadron

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Don't touch my junk!!

What would be really nice is if these two planes would end up in a proposed air museum on former Meigs Field.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Meigs Field in my opinion would not be a good place for the aircraft. They would be seen by far fewer people than where they are at now.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!