This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
Thu May 10, 2007 8:37 am
Duane and Ester survived the tornado in the basement of the car dealership. It took them about 45 minutes to dig theirselves out.
Duane and Ron lost 30 cars and trucks.
The place looks like a giant land fill on level ground. A striking contrast from the spring green of Kansas. Arrived about one hr after Bush had left. A young relative of Duanes(he told me he has been to Afghanistan and Iraq and although different it is worse than what he saw overseas) was working the bomb squad for the SS and they had a moment while at the airport when they went to Duanes hanger and the dog alerted on some fertilizer Duane had stored in the hanger. Ha!
Duanes place is just about 300 ft from the front door of the high school remains. The building walls (brick) collapsed outwards. Some parts were scattered a bit. Duane was due to arrive any minute with a box truck. While standing there i noticed across the intersection a debris truck grabbing a load and there was a new B-25 main wheel going into the dumpster. Luckily he was just topping off his load. Duane arrived and we hustled across the intersection and we pulled a new set of rudder pedals and a T-6 rudder and a wheel out of the mess. Back at Duanes we formed a human chain of about 12 people and eventually we emptied the basement of parts. Duane told me that he had sold a rear canopy section to someone and was wondering where it was. Laying on top of the debris where the front door was; was the canopy section. So if you know who ordered it pass it on that they should get it eventually and along with some aileron brackets were found and laid aside.
The building itself was about 60x100 ft and the whole thing is nearly packed with AC parts(the roof came off and joists are laying on top). We laid planks over the wall some we could access the insides. While on a trip to a johnny i find a new wing tip and four new bomb racks by the road.
We were supposed to have all trucks out of town by 6:00pm and we were wore out anyway. Everyones arms were like rubber. They are on the Fema heavy equipment list to get some debris and i beams and trusses removed so they can off load the parts. They didn't know when they will show up.
I would had to either camp out or drive about 70 miles back to Whichita
to get a room and then considering that they didn't know when they can get to the rest i decided to drive back to KCMO.
The whole town was a bustle of activity. Shot ladys from Red Cross pushing shopping carts around and giving out Tetnaus shots. Someone driving around in a golf cart passing out boxes of Pizza(had to take off my Ford hat or they said no pizza!). Guys pushing around shopping carts handing out water, sandwiches, gloves and trash bags.
The last i heard is that they will not continue as a Chevy dealer. There is a Chevy dealer about 12 miles away and they cannot see the logic to spending a million or so to build a new dealership when there is the same as no work in the county. Ron will most likely continue with program cars etc.
The people out at Greensburg are gettin wore out. It rained very heavy for two days after the tornado. Duane sure could use some more help. I think that there is about two more semi loads of parts to be moved. Duane has a lot more parts than he can imagine. The airport is open as far as i know. Duane is staging at his hanger. Should anyone be able to get out there they should pm me and i will give more pertinent facts. Communications all thru the area are still down so i don't have a contact number. I was told to continue with any mailing address you have.
Just be fore we started moving parts i was passing out gloves that i brought along and little did i know. I had just recriuted two Secret Service agents! We got about 3 hrs work out of them. One of them said he didn't know they were going to help recover stuff. I apologized and then they were sort of stuck with helping out or look pretty bad because there were five women in our human chain.
Questions?
Thu May 10, 2007 12:38 pm
Gog Love You for helping Duane.
Thu May 10, 2007 3:04 pm
Ben,
Thank you for the update on Dwane and also for going to lend a hand there.
Understood re: mailing address.
Saludos,
Tulio
Thu May 10, 2007 3:26 pm
Guys, I have done very little. The job is enormous. I just read that there are now 500 National Guard on scene. Duane will get the help he needs.
They did like the fried chicken i took with me! Thats my only clame to fame! lol
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