Warbird Information Exchange

Hi All,

I believe several years ago there was a small article about a couple of Betty airframes that were or had been shipped to the US to be restored. The aritcle was in Air Classics If I recall correctly, but I forget the date. If memory serves me correctly. There were three airframe hulks that were supposed to be shipped over here with the condition that one would be restored to static condition and then be sent back to where it was salvaged from (again, I forget exactly where). The other airframes were to be used as a "swap payment" for the restoration work for the first one.

Does anyone recall or know if this was true and if so has any progress been made on these airframes and where possibly they are located ? Agian, memory is fuzzy about the locations and dates, but I think they were sent to some place in the Dakotas, North or South Dakota I am not sure of. If anyone out there knows anything it would be great to hear about it.

Thanks,

Paul

Didn't the now closed Museum of Flying formerly located in Santa Monica,Ca have one or more Betty bombers?

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

The Betty from Santa Monica is now at the Planes of Fame in Chino. There was only 1 Betty recovered.

I have several shots of the Betty at Planes of Fame. I posted them on my webshots page.

http://community.webshots.com/album/170499503CRnhCR/2

I never heard of the others brought over, but that doesn't mean much.

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www.tailhookstudio.com

Hello,

There also is one active Betty rebuild in Japan. Collector Nobuo Harada has a restored rear fuselage section but is currently looking to recover other airframe sections/wrecks to complete her. Harada has the resources to do it properly as well.

Regards,

RW

Hey Tim, the Betty at POF looks to be in an amazingly complete and
somewhat intact condition. Does it appear that way when viewing it in
person?

_________________
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've seen it up close. As with all Japanese planes from that period, the metal is very thin. I did not see any corrosion, however the skin is wrinkled near where the tail came off.

The internals looked pretty good; to me it looks like the plane could fly again if it were reskinned, and new stringers were applied.

Also, the rudder pedals were still in good shape as were most of the castings. My vote is "make it happen".

My suggestion is that if you want to se this happen, donate money!

Chino Airshow is only two weeks away BTW.

Trade for a T-6, better not say any more Ed Maloney might laugh..

Hell yeaah!!! May 14 Shafter also looks like a winner (they have some good sponsors and good airplanes lined up, then a week later Chino also....May is gonna rock!

John