Gary ~ What's The Plan For Diamond Lil ? 2006 and Beyond!

[CWBuff]

Happiness is being owned by a cat...

She's lookin' swell Gary. I know what it's like to be pressured by deadlines... the kind of work you're doing is completely different, but the pressure is probably just the same. So I appreciate your taking the time to keep these updates coming our way, and I wish you smooth sailing over the next two weeks.


Fade to Black...

[MOlafsen]

400 members you say,if you got 8 hours out of each of them you would have 3200 extra hours of labour to meet the May 12 deadline!!! Maybe a name & shame list would be appropriate as I am sure they will come out of the woodwork when 927 is finished.Keep the GREAT work going,I am like most,I need at least 2 WIX FIXES a day just to see how its looking.Best Regards,Pete

Although I like your enthusiasm I think a lynch mob is not needed to handle this problem. Remember that many of those 400 members cannot make it to Midland because of age, money, health, or location, since we have members all over the world. Those of us that can make it out, like myself, just aren’t mechanically inclined and end up standing in the way more than anything else. So I decided to use my talents elsewhere in the squadron including being the recruitment officer. As with any operation though, you will find your one or two percent that have the ability and time but just don’t come out, there is nothing more you can do but move on.
That is why we are always looking for new members, people who can help in all aspects of the operation. Remember that it is not just winter maintenance where we need help. Our members also come out during the summer on tour stops selling PX, giving tours, working on newsletters, setting up stops, PR, working on getting gas, oil etc for those stops, the list goes on and on. Would we like it if all our 400 members came out? Yes but you will never have that, that is why we need to continue to recruit. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with the squadron please check out our website listed below and sign up. We need help in all aspects of the operation so no matter what your talents are we can use them. This will give everyone the chance to be a part of something special. We have a lot more work to do in order to see Ol’927 flying along with FiFi once again. So please think about becoming a member today!
To all the people out there who have helped Gary in this amazing transformation, I, as a squadron member, cannot thank you enough for what you have done. We are excited to see the enthusiasm from the warbird community, and can’t wait to hit the road. Gary already knows how I feel about his work and I think he appreciates all your moral boosters you have given him throughout this project.

Matthew Olafsen - Volunteer


http://www.cafb29b24.org/

[retroaviation]

Just a quick question though. What is the story of the black underbelly?

It was the requirement under Spec. 24114, "Camouflage Finishes for Aircraft," dated October 22, 1940, and those markings were to conform to Spec. 98-241-5-P and amendments, dated August 11, 1936.

This information was gathered from the book, USAAF Aircraft Markings and Camouflage, 1941-1947...The History of USAAF Aircraft Markings, Insignia, Camouflage, and Colors, by Robert D. Archer & Victor G. Archer.

I hope this helps answer your question.

Gary

[Scott Rose]

Oh, and by the way...

Left waist gun...




Thanks WIXers!!!

Gary

Thats amazing Gary

I'm glad we could help

[IAPA]

OZFURYFAN wrote :
"400 members you say,if you got 8 hours out of each of them you would have 3200 extra hours of labour to meet the May 12 deadline!!! Maybe a name & shame list would be appropriate as I am sure they will come out of the woodwork when 927 is finished.Keep the GREAT work going,I am like most,I need at least 2 WIX FIXES a day just to see how its looking.Best Regards,Pete"



No Mr. Pete I didn't came to Midland to give Gary an helping hand, and
Yes Mr. Pete I come out of the woodwork on May 12th when OL 927 will be finished. However, as long as you're not a CAF and B24/B29 Sqn member your comments about our squadron members are out of question.
I doubt if you would coming from Australia to do so, but giving comment is of course much easier.
As MOlafsen mentioned not all our members are able because of different reasons to come to Midland to give an helping hand, and we all know and appreciate more than we can say the fantastic work that Gary and all the other volunteers has done.

As far as I'm concerned I'm :
-living in Belgium,
-being member of the squadron for several years,`
-paying my CAF and SQN dues,
-comming every year for several weeks to the USA to volunteer with the Sqn on tour,
-cleaning the aircraft,
-giving tours in the aircraft,
-being part of the flight crew during passenger flights
-selling PX stuff while on tour
-trying to promote the CAF as much as possible in this part of the world,

and this all for free.

If you can say better, I'll shut up, if not, you better do

Keep 'em flying

[Fouga23]

More Belgians here then I thought We really need to get that Belgian wing started! Great to see the plaque on the gun. My mom will be glad to see her name there

[phil65]

I sorry but I think putting the names on the guns looks tacky
I gave money for Ol' 927 to help restore her to the way she may have looked in the 1940s. My name wasn't on her back then and I don't want my name on her now!

Philip Hartmann

Last edited by phil65 on Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[CWBuff]

Fade to Black...

[Nathan]

I sorry but I think putting the names on the guns looks tacky
I gave money for Ol' 927 to help restore her to the way she looked in the 1940s. My name wasn't on her back then and I don't want my name on her now!

Philip Hartmann

I guess it's too late for that Philip. Sorry.

[phil65]

I sorry but I think putting the names on the guns looks tacky
I gave money for Ol' 927 to help restore her to the way she looked in the 1940s. My name wasn't on her back then and I don't want my name on her now!

Philip Hartmann

I guess it's too late for that Philip. Sorry.

My name isn't on the guns, I gave after that project.
I just think putting ower names on her takes some of the spotlight away from the real heros.

[Chris Brame]

Oh great and mighty Gary!

Two questions:

First, for those of us online who can't make it to Texas for the unveiling, will there be a webcam available for it? Or maybe set up a time for the rest of us to log in at the WIX Hangar and see photos? That might set a record for the most Wixers online at one time!

Second, on a more personal level, thank you so much for putting my name on the plaque! If you recall, however, I wanted my donation listed as "in memory of Bernard Seglin". I'm not asking you to change the plaque, but if the CAF publishes a donors' list could they please put his name on it with my listing?

My thanks to you and the band of brothers (and sisters!) for your beautiful work on Ol' 927!

-Chris

[snjfxr]

Hey Matt, Well said and glad you are aboard finally to the WIX! I think everyone that is a member of this squadron gives what they can. Some more, some less but what they have time and money for. We all know, it's not easy to get to Midland and it's not easy to be a part of the tour if it's not in your neighborhood. What's important is we all love these airplanes enough to send our CAF dues and Our Squadron dues every year to be a part of something very special to our hearts. We make that a priority and if that's as much as we are capable of doing, that's ok in my book.
Thank's to all the B29/24 Squadron members
Dave

[Andy in West Oz]

Gary, I've just gone through this entire post having missed the start due to life outside of old aeroplanes for the past six months. You've certainly achieved an amazing amount in the time you've had before your deadlline. Your work is nothing short of inspirational. I have learnt a heck of alot just reading through the posts and studying your pics.

Surely this is the greatest thread to ever grace the net? '927 never looked better and it is due to your (and your team) efforts. Whenever any of us see '927 fly (or in my case for the time being, see pics of her!), we'll always remember what you have done and be full of admiration.

Wish I could have been there to help out. I'm sure my bead blasting and paint stripping skills (read slave labour!) could have come in handy.

All the best for the weekend of the 12th.

Cheers

Andy

[retroaviation]

phil65...I mentioned to several folks around here that when I put those plaques on the guns, it would upset some folks. I know how passionate people can get when it comes to having things as original as possible. I apologize if my decision to place those plaques on the guns disturbs you, however, I felt that it was a fairly subtle way of saying "thank you" to the folks that were kind enough to donate money to a project such as this. I understand your concerns, but for now, the plaques are staying on.

ChrisBrame, I sincerely apologize for missing your request for the plaque listing to be placed in the memory of Bernard Seglin. I don't have any excuses, other than I just missed and/or forgot it. You have my regrets.

On another note, I doubt that we'll have any type of web cam set up for the unveiling. I'll see about posting a picture of the nose art on WIX at some point soon after the event takes place.

And with that being said, I probably ought to start priming folks once again about this nose art.......IT'S NOT ORIGINAL, SO PLEASE DON'T FLAME ME OVER IT! I've said it over and over, but it bears repeating...this airplane HAD NO NOSE ART ORIGINALLY, but due to the way we operate the aircraft in order to support it for future flights, it was voted in that we had to come up with some nose art that was marketable to the vast majority of our guests while on tour (ie, the general public). So, for those of you who are like me and prefer originality, please keep this in mind after the unveiling before you send me your hate mail. The actual artwork is great and I think will eventually become something that everyone will ultimately accept.

Gary

[JDK]

First another tip of the hat to Gary & his helpers. It's not Gary alone, as he's the first to say, but he's sure the guy in the middle!

Secondly, just a point on the nose art and the plaques on the guns. Some of us get uncomfortable when we realise we aren't 'outside' history, but are part of it. Old 927 (The Glal formerly known as Lil ) has a history that encompasses the days of being an exec aircraft, a meat hauler and one of the Confederate Air Force's earliest 'heavies'.

As Gary's pointed out, her original 'armed' period was brief and not front line - no less real for all that, but no-one's pretending she's being returned to an original configuration and scheme that's exact for that aircraft - type yes, aircraft no.

Old 927's history is unfolding another chapter*, and some of that chapter's history is being written here, in this thread. We all hope the aircraft continues to fly for many more years and there will be a period when people look back on 'the good old days' of 2006 and 7 and when that favourite old nose-art was first revealed. (And back when Gary managed to keep his temper despite all the trials and was shortly-after bought an island by an appreciative CAF Gen Staff... ) Those plaques and that nose art are another important facet of Old 927's history, for now and the future.

Secondly, it's a fact that however much you tell people, it's only when some folks see names inscribed they realise that that aircraft is flying because of donations and volunteer labo(u)r - not because some rich guy makes it so. And then they might just join up.

Thirdly, it's not pretending to be a 1941 US bomber, it's a 2007 flying remembrance. That remembrance should extend to those who gave to help the restoration.

Regards,

*Ghastly cliché on hire.