Extremely rare recovered aircraft: Restore or display as is?

Fri Sep 11, 2009 9:15 am

Stan stokes offers this painting of the rescue at www.stanstokesart.com

The next four photos are from the NMUSAF web site:

Although she was damaged during the Fisher mission, the damage shown occured on a subsequent mission. Sadly, I believe both pilots were killed in this mishap. She was certainly repaired in theatre and flew in green camo, as evidenced by the Great Planes - Skyraider episode.

Back at Dayton. Looks like the birds have perched on her top blade a bit much. The bottom blade shows the Playboy bunny in the red band.

How she appeared more recently:

Of note - the Hill AFB Museum recently put an A-1E on display painted to resemble '649, although it obviously isn't. I'm sure somewhere on the display it says "The Movie '649".

Fri Sep 11, 2009 10:20 am

From the Hill AFB Museum web site, "The plane is painted to closely resemble the A-1E flown by Major Bernard Francis Fisher on his mission of March 10, 1966 in the A Shau valley of Vietnam, for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor." That is more than anything that I had ever seen the DT crew do to make sure people knew what they were looking at.

Fri Sep 11, 2009 10:34 am

Matt Gunsch wrote:it depends, some as recovered displays are very well done, such as the Betty in Chino, others have gone too far and restored the plane, then are showing it as crashed, the B-17E My Gal Sal is a example. Others Like Glacier Girl is able to be seen all over the country, vs in a static museum, where not as many can see it.

I agree with Matt in parts and disagree in others. I think that some recovered airframes are more important as a display in the recoverd status because that is how the aircraft is know, and too much history would be lost in making it a complete or restored airframe such as Lady Be Good or the Betty in Chino. I think that a P-38 like Glacier girl needs to be in the air because that is what is so special about Glacier GIrl. Is that it was able to be brought back into the air. I think that she should be kept airworthy as long as possible. However I disagree that more people see Glacier Girl thatn see the P-38's in the NMUSAF or NASM. Galceir Girl is part of a private collection and you MAY be able to make an arrangement to see it. Down the road it may be in a location that allows the public to see it, but we are talking about right now. The P-38's in the two national museum are seen by thousands every day. This is a key reason why static museums are important.
Also the B-17E Our Gal Sal was a complete wreck not even really identifiable as A B-17. These guys put alot of work in on her, and when complete will look just as she did when she came to rest in the snow. I applaud them for their efforts. I have been there and can say that it and the Belle will be the two most accurate restored B-17's. Period.

Fri Sep 11, 2009 9:58 pm

The answer is, the owner of the plane decides if the plane flys or sets. Who else decides? Is the author implying the gummint should seize the rare aircraft? Do we live in Cuba or America?

Sat Sep 12, 2009 12:13 am

I think any airplane should have the option of flying. Rather its the only one flying or not.

Sat Sep 12, 2009 4:03 am

The most prominent example for me personally is the FW190 D-13, "yellow10", whilst I appreciate how rare it is....
.... it's right up there as one of THE best Luftwaffe fighters of WW2 and there's only one, and we should ground it...
It would be farken sensational to see it flying under Jumo power.

Can't really answer it tbh, would probably have to flip a coin to decide it, LOL