Warbird Information Exchange

I was Googling the other night and found this http://www.rin.org.uk/pooled/articles/BF_NEWSART/view.asp?Q=BF_NEWSART_92277 This article was released back in Feb. this year. Does anyone know what going on with this new group of folks planning on recovering more P-38 from Greenland? Thanks

Shay

Your Kidding me right?
No one here has heard anything about subsiquent expidentions to Greenland to recover other P-38s? Last November I was in Middlesboro KY the day after Thanksgiving and i stopped by to see Glacier Girl. While there I was talking to Bob Cardin. I asked him, Do you think any more P-38s will come out of Greenland? His response was, "I don't think so, because it's already been done. There wouldn't be as much publicity and support as there was for the first P-38." I understand and appreciate his committment but I don't agree. I think that with the Warbird market growing like it has been and remaining restorable P-38s dwindling makes The Lost Squadron a more than viable source. Especially the venerable F-model. Bob also mentioned money figures. Stating that G.G. was restored for between 7 and 8 million dollars and that the 3 month long expidition to recover her, cost $650,000. If you compare P-38s coming from Greenland to those coming from the South Pacific. Yes they might require more significant restoration but they are completely unmolested. Also dealing with the USAF with regards to Greenland has to be significantly less "red tape" than dealing with certain governments and corruption in the south Pacific. $650,000 seems reasonable for a 3 month expedition and in the end to walk out with a P-38. Where as in Papua New Guinea you could, due to corruption, spend more than $650.000 and in the end still not have an aircraft. I would be very surprised if no other Lightnings ever came out of Greenland. Ahh what a site it would be all the Lightnings were pulled out, restored and flew once again in formation. Perhaps even one day finish their flight. But heres to hopeing.

Shay

Shay,
Take a look at this website for more information on the German team's goals. It hasn't been updated since March 2004. Click on the British flag in the lower left corner to get an English version. I haven't heard anything newer.

http://www.lostsquadron.de/

Dennis

Thanks Dennis
That's the group. I think it's really awesome that they plan to recover the remaining P-38s. I hope they finally work out the sponsor problems before they have to push back the expedition dates again. Would be nice to see them accomplish all their goal successfully without incident. I wish them the best of luck. Maybe one day I'll get my wish and see the Lost Squadron fly together again.

Shay

that cant be true, he most likely pocketed 7 mil of sponsors money.

you can build a brand new p-38 for around 2 mill even in a western country.

and gg was really well preserved

homer
I'm just relaying what he told me. Perhaps the process that allowed them to reuse 85% of the original Aluminum, costs more than manufacturing new parts. Also maybe that figure is an itemization of everything from the rebuilding the airframe, engines (twice I think), demilling weapons, employee salaries to renting the hangar space. I guess only Roy Schoffner knows exactly where the money went.

Shay

well it sounds way off the mark..

Personally, if I were Bob Cardin, I would take action against the person who made that statement.

LOL

AWWW...homer...and you have done so well at being good, lately.....

_________________
He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

Yes Shay, I have followed the G Girl through the whole project. I
remember the whole crumpled and crushed...although pristine mess.
I was astounded that they were able to use 85% of the original material.
What REALLY impressed me, was not only were the craftsmen able
to utilize the full skills of the metalworking art to coax all of the bends
and wrinkles into a smooth skin of 85%...but that they made it "return to
specs", of the original structure! The stretching and shrinking back of
panels to original!....Amazing!


PS.
please don't tell me she's 3ft longer and 8ft wider than stock '38 ????

_________________
He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

got a problem with my opinion?

for 8 million bucks you could build 5 p-38's, theres no way it cost 8million and if they took 8 million in sponsor cash it was obviously wasted.

you can get a lot more aircraft in the sky than one p-38 for that cash.

There was a Danish crowd looking to recover as well, they had the paperwork but were also looking for sponsors to supply choppers etc. , guess they didn't get them.
Has anyone tried to locate the two B-17s after the failed attempt ..the 'Sooner' and another I can't remember the name of ?

Dave

No prob here, homer...I maintain even strain....

I wonder how much it would cost...if at all possible???...For someone to
"trackdown" all available NOS 1940's sheetmetal, forgings, major/ minor mechanical systems..with the "provenance" of having passed through
hands of the original builders and originated from the same plant of
it's birth? I'm short one Time Machine, and a lot shorter on bux!
There are no $$$ possible...now..to make that happen.

_________________
He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

i live just north of sydney and my offers still open