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Re: FHC B-25 paint scheme

Thu Jun 02, 2011 7:22 pm

airnutz wrote:
spookythecat wrote:I believe it's the paint scheme of an aircraft Arthur Spielberg (Steven's father) flew on.

Steven's dad is Arnold Spielberg who flew for a short time(2 missions) with the 490th BS, 341st BG, 10th AF....As a radioman/gunner, until they found he could fix the radios, among other things so they grounded him.

An interview with Arnold from 2006, the part where he gets to India/Burma is about half way down the page...With some details of the "Burma Bridge Busters" technique...
http://oralhistory.rutgers.edu/Intervie ... rnold.html


OOPS! I meant Arnold. :rolleyes:

Re: FHC B-25 paint scheme

Fri Jun 03, 2011 4:18 am

spookythecat wrote:
airnutz wrote:
spookythecat wrote:I believe it's the paint scheme of an aircraft Arthur Spielberg (Steven's father) flew on.

Steven's dad is Arnold Spielberg who flew for a short time(2 missions) with the 490th BS, 341st BG, 10th AF....As a radioman/gunner, until they found he could fix the radios, among other things so they grounded him.

An interview with Arnold from 2006, the part where he gets to India/Burma is about half way down the page...With some details of the "Burma Bridge Busters" technique...
http://oralhistory.rutgers.edu/Intervie ... rnold.html


OOPS! I meant Arnold. :rolleyes:

No worries Spooky, I didn't know to look till you mentioned it. I was checking for any new stuff about the Lake Dianchi P-40 last month and remembered a Spielberg connection with your mention! The Rutgers interview came up and here we are! Ain't WIX wunnerfull, wunnerful? :wink:

Do you KNOW if Arnold flew any(or his 2) missions on 810? Given his role..they were ALL his birds, but in his bio it was obvious he copped a ride every now and then.. :D

Re: FHC B-25 paint scheme

Fri Jun 03, 2011 6:50 am

airnutz wrote:
Do you KNOW if Arnold flew any(or his 2) missions on 810? Given his role..they were ALL his birds, but in his bio it was obvious he copped a ride every now and then.. :D



Just sent an email to the ROHA director asking if Mr. Spielberg had shared any pictures or more detailed info. His interview was about a year before I joined them.

Re: FHC B-25 paint scheme

Fri Jun 03, 2011 7:43 am

The panel is actually a DV window in the clear and removable in flight or on ground . Many aircraft of the era had those. [Look at DC-3's eg.]

{DV = Direct View/vision]

Re: FHC B-25 paint scheme

Fri Jun 03, 2011 9:16 am

rwdfresno wrote:(as you likely know but I like to hear myself sound important lol)

Ha ha. Thanks to all for adding these little bits 'n' pieces, they are greatly appreciated! I thought I knew a thing or two about B-25s once, but that was before I joined WIX. :shock:

Re: FHC B-25 paint scheme

Fri Jun 03, 2011 3:09 pm

Invader26 wrote:The panel is actually a DV window in the clear and removable in flight or on ground . Many aircraft of the era had those. [Look at DC-3's eg.]

{DV = Direct View/vision]


Yes, that would be the top panel I believe. I think the previous posters are still accurate as they were responding to the original question regarding the lower panel which is where the external metal piece comes into play. Both of these panels and the remaining portion of the pilot's windscreen were eventually simplified in many cases back to the B-25 - B-25D single panel during post war upgrades.

Ryan

Re: FHC B-25 paint scheme

Fri Jun 03, 2011 5:16 pm

My B-25 had the DV windscreen . I think it looks best. The piece of armour plate screwed in below the DV window.

I don't think any B-25's are flying with that done. Looks the part.

Re: FHC B-25 paint scheme

Fri Jun 03, 2011 5:47 pm

Invader26 wrote:My B-25 had the DV windscreen . I think it looks best. The piece of armour plate screwed in below the DV window.

I don't think any B-25's are flying with that done. Looks the part.


I think you are right. I haven't seen a flying example with the armor. In fact most of the "top tier" flying restorations don't have the 3 piece windscreen, clear or otherwise. Seems like it would cause a bit of a blind spot on approach, but maybe not, I've never flown a B-25 from the left seat, or landed a B-25 but it gives the appearance of a bit of a hindrance.

The only examples I can recall seeing the windscreen armor on were the Air Zoo example and the New England Air Museum examples. Both H models with the Air Zoo example being dressed up like a J. Of course both are static.

Ryan

Re: FHC B-25 paint scheme

Fri Jun 03, 2011 8:06 pm

Nevermind....

Re: FHC B-25 paint scheme

Fri Jun 03, 2011 9:19 pm

How along was this B-25 in rebuild/restoration?
Nose art no Nose Art, either way, she is beautiful. :supz: I wonder how often or if she will be flown again.

Re: FHC B-25 paint scheme

Fri Jun 03, 2011 10:18 pm

FHC flies everything they have with two notable exceptions due to rarity. They don't fly the Ki-43 nor the DORA, the F6F is i/w to return to flight status after lots of years as a static bird and the Butcher Bird should be test flying locally in the next week I'd wager. The 2 seat A6M is elsewhere on KPAE hopefully also getting readied for flight. And, of course, P.A. also has the airworthy Mig-29 to upset the luddites in Mukilteo.

And with HFF across the field having B-25D 'GRUMPY' we can expect some 'interesting' flying weekends this Summer, last year between FHC's P-47 and HFF's F7F, & F8F one Saturday was R-2800 day and it was sweet!

Re: FHC B-25 paint scheme

Sat Jun 04, 2011 7:47 am

The DV window is a non problem when flying and in actual fact I experienced major smoke in the cockpit after an engine failure on my aircraft and we were going to pull the window if it got worse. Opening the side windows only draws more smoke in....

Re: FHC B-25 paint scheme

Sat Jun 04, 2011 11:37 am

The Inspector wrote:FHC flies everything they have with two notable exceptions due to rarity. They don't fly the Ki-43 nor the DORA

Cool - does that mean the Me163 will be air tested soon? :shock:

Re: FHC B-25 paint scheme

Sat Jun 04, 2011 11:43 am

Mike wrote:
The Inspector wrote:FHC flies everything they have with two notable exceptions due to rarity. They don't fly the Ki-43 nor the DORA

Cool - does that mean the Me163 will be air tested soon? :shock:



T-stoff? Check.

C-stoff? Check.

Flieger?

Flieger...?


Bueller?

Re: FHC B-25 paint scheme

Sat Jun 04, 2011 4:22 pm

Mike, as soon as you finish your cross country in their Fi-103 you're #1 for 163 training!! :supz:

Maybe you could start by becoming the gunner on one of the Fleigerkannon 88's they have (and shoot too) Black powder and coffee creamer-
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