Warbird Information Exchange

(Some details slightly modified out of consideration for other party involved)
While the Collins aircraft were showing up (http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=28651) I was talking to a guy and he mentioned that he'd had a cousin or something that flew P-51s in the CBI. He said that his relative had been shot down in China. Said that he'd gone (along with some others?) there and was shown the crash site, given some pieces of the plane, etc... Sounded pretty interesting. Also said that they were taken what seemed to them an hour or so (didn't know how far because they were basically not able to see out the windows) outside of Beijing. Anyway, he said it seemed like they were going on a small, narrow road which then became broader and straighter and when they were allowed to see out, they were taken to a place where the hillside opened up into a large hangar / storage place / museum of sorts. Said that there were 3 P-51s in Chinese markings that looked like they'd just been parked from a war, and some Migs, and he said that there was apparently an F-86 there that their "guides" claimed was from a US pilot who'd defected, as well as other "treasures". There was just enough to the story to think that perhaps there was some truth to it, however, it just sounded almost too fantastic to be true.
Any thoughts?

Ryan

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

"...they were taken to a place where the hillside opened up into a large hangar / storage place / museum of sorts...."

There is a museum in China that fits that description. bdk's probably the best guy to add more.

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

There was at least one and probably several Chinese air bases with hangars cut out of mountains. The ChiComs ended up with lots of P-51 Mustangs and operated them for many years after the end of the civil war in 1949. There is even talk that they trained as escorts for the Soviet Tu-4 copy of the B-29! As for the F-86 apparently the Nationalists and ChiComs used to trade defecting pilots and airplanes fairly regularly. The ChiComs were defecting for a better life and the Nationalists were generally considered ChiCom agents just waiting for the right moment to "defect". Probably a little of both on each side. It is possible that an
F-86 lost in Korea could have been rebuilt with pieces from other wrecks.

So I don't think it is too fantastic a story.

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"I can't understand it, I cut it twice and it's still too short!" Robert F. Dupre' 1923-2010 Go With God.

Been there twice (Oct. 1999 & Jun. 2007), they didn't sell T-Shirts though. Bought a rocket instead.

http://www.china.org.cn/english/kuaixun/72761.htm

I think that Mike Henniger may have it shown on his locator as well. I have the coords at home if Mike doesn't have them on his site if you want to see it from above on Google Earth.

The story is true although embellished somewhat. Even if you look out the windows of a bus there isn't much to see. During harvesting season the farmers use the paved roads to lay out their crops (to dry I guess) so it makes the travel that much more difficult. Every time I've been there the place was almost vacant, except for the employees.

This might be the place...
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - China Aviation Museum

Mike

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Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
http://www.facebook.com/AerialVisuals

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