Re: C-47 #43-48716, Official Restoration Thread
Tue Jun 04, 2013 9:00 am
Typos happened...you have to be aware of them and vet every piece of info. I once had a Discharge document that showed the veteran as having served with the 504th Parachute Regiment of the 84th Airborne Division...go figure.
Regarding Radio Operator Harold E.Harris, I am working this:
HAROLD E(dward). HARRIS
B: Feb. 17, 1907 Akron Summit County Ohio, USA
D: Mar. 20, 1988 Akron Summit County Ohio, USA
Yes....he would have been 37 in 1944....but it happened.
Patrick extracted "Lockbourne, Ohio" as his residence of record from the wartime lists. Lockbourne is south of Columbus, OH, and was the site of Lockbourne AAB...later called Rickenbacker AFB. (Now closed). Site of the Legends Airshow a few years ago.
Unfortunately his ASN does not show up in NARA...but his number beginning 35 indicates he was drafted (3) and was from Ohio (5).
He is buried in Greenlawn Memorial Park in Akron.
I leave it to you to check his obituary which appeared in the Akron Beacon-Journal on 21 and 22 MAR 1988. That is where you will find corroborating information reference his military service---presuming my initial search is viable. You can purchase an obituary online through ObitArchives.com with a credit card.
I would advise CAUTION in contacting this family as the widow of this individual passed away LAST MONTH.
They have two sons in their 60's both living in Ohio. The minister conducting her services was her brother-in-law so that might be an avenue of approach to the sons. (He would be their uncle--probably through the mother's married sister).
FYI there was another Harold E. Harris from this same corner of Ohio (New Lexington)....but he served in the Pacific. I believe I can exclude him as a separate individual as the name of his relative who memorialized him on the WW2 site does not reference to the Harris family we are looking at.
At the moment I would advise getting the obit to confirm this is the right Harold.
Regarding Radio Operator Harold E.Harris, I am working this:
HAROLD E(dward). HARRIS
B: Feb. 17, 1907 Akron Summit County Ohio, USA
D: Mar. 20, 1988 Akron Summit County Ohio, USA
Yes....he would have been 37 in 1944....but it happened.
Patrick extracted "Lockbourne, Ohio" as his residence of record from the wartime lists. Lockbourne is south of Columbus, OH, and was the site of Lockbourne AAB...later called Rickenbacker AFB. (Now closed). Site of the Legends Airshow a few years ago.
Unfortunately his ASN does not show up in NARA...but his number beginning 35 indicates he was drafted (3) and was from Ohio (5).
He is buried in Greenlawn Memorial Park in Akron.
I leave it to you to check his obituary which appeared in the Akron Beacon-Journal on 21 and 22 MAR 1988. That is where you will find corroborating information reference his military service---presuming my initial search is viable. You can purchase an obituary online through ObitArchives.com with a credit card.
I would advise CAUTION in contacting this family as the widow of this individual passed away LAST MONTH.
They have two sons in their 60's both living in Ohio. The minister conducting her services was her brother-in-law so that might be an avenue of approach to the sons. (He would be their uncle--probably through the mother's married sister).
FYI there was another Harold E. Harris from this same corner of Ohio (New Lexington)....but he served in the Pacific. I believe I can exclude him as a separate individual as the name of his relative who memorialized him on the WW2 site does not reference to the Harris family we are looking at.
At the moment I would advise getting the obit to confirm this is the right Harold.
Re: C-47 #43-48716, Official Restoration Thread
Sun Jun 09, 2013 8:13 am
You guys ready for Xmas? 
Re: C-47 #43-48716, Official Restoration Thread
Mon Jun 10, 2013 12:31 am
Mark Allen M wrote:You guys ready for Xmas?
ok, spill!
Whatcha talkin bout Willis?
Edit: TELL ME YOU HAVE PICTURES OF OUR PLANE IN SERVICE!?!?!?!
Re: C-47 #43-48716, Official Restoration Thread
Mon Jun 10, 2013 9:23 am
Keep an eye out ....
Regards Mr. Willis
Regards Mr. Willis
Re: C-47 #43-48716, Official Restoration Thread
Mon Jun 10, 2013 9:53 am
Mark Allen M wrote:Keep an eye out ....
Regards Mr. Willis
So, it's gonna be HO cubed right?
Re: C-47 #43-48716, Official Restoration Thread
Mon Jun 10, 2013 4:27 pm
Just got a message on Facebook today from Ed's Daughter.
Unfortunately, Ed had what appeared to be a stroke yesterday. I don't know his specific condition however.
Hopefully, he will recover quickly and fully.
Unfortunately, Ed had what appeared to be a stroke yesterday. I don't know his specific condition however.
Hopefully, he will recover quickly and fully.
Re: C-47 #43-48716, Official Restoration Thread
Tue Jun 11, 2013 2:34 pm
Unfortunately, I just got word this morning that Captain Edward Wilson Frome passed away early in the morning.
I'm really disappointed we weren't able to get the plane ready for him to see it in time.
I'm really disappointed we weren't able to get the plane ready for him to see it in time.
Re: C-47 #43-48716, Official Restoration Thread
Tue Jun 11, 2013 9:09 pm
Man...Moment....Machine. You got to talk to him....he is in your head....now you have a mission to fulfill.
Carry On.
Blue Skies Captain Frome.
Carry On.
Blue Skies Captain Frome.
Re: C-47 #43-48716, Official Restoration Thread
Wed Jun 12, 2013 2:29 am
Sad news..
May he rest in Peace.
May he rest in Peace.
Re: C-47 #43-48716, Official Restoration Thread
Fri Jun 28, 2013 11:04 pm
I haven’t had the time lately to really focus on the plane, but finally have some free time so I will do an update.
First I have one correction to make. Previously I said the FAA accepted our maintenance program, but I later found out we are still working on it and have not even submitted it yet. Work is still continuing on the MX plan for the FAA. I believe it is getting close for submittal, however I have not talked specifically to the guy working on it so that is just a WAG.
Otherwise, work has progressed on the plane. We have removed the Right elevator and have removed the fabric from it to be replaced. In doing so, we found some corrosion that will need to be treated and we are stripping the elevator of its paint to be repainted. The debate continues on whether or not we will be replacing the fabric on the other elevator and rudder. I personally would like to see that done, especially now that we have found our first bit of corrosion, but I ultimately don’t have that authority. The ailerons were recently replaced before we got it, so they should be good to go.
Stripping of the paint is coming along. We ordered a new stripper, which the review I did of it can be found here: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=50148
I’m planning on staying late one night next week and hopefully, I will be able to get the entire upper surface of the plane covered in stripper so that it can be removed that following day.
We had ordered seals for our right main gear's hydraulic cylinder as it had been leaking. However, once we got them in, we discovered they were not even close to being what we needed. This was about three weeks ago and we have been searching since. I believe today, we finally found someone who had the correct seals and they were ordered.
Since Mr. Frome’s passing, his daughter and son have both been going through his things. I received a scanned copy of a personal log of his, but haven’t been able to go through it and compare it to the war diary. I briefly looked through it when It was received, but it’s going to take a little more digging and decoding.
His daughter has all of his photos and will be going through them tomorrow (Saturday), so hopefully she will find a picture of our plane in there during the war.
I have been doing some research on the bases our plane flew to and was able to create a complete list of all 48 bases she flew to during the war.
First I have one correction to make. Previously I said the FAA accepted our maintenance program, but I later found out we are still working on it and have not even submitted it yet. Work is still continuing on the MX plan for the FAA. I believe it is getting close for submittal, however I have not talked specifically to the guy working on it so that is just a WAG.
Otherwise, work has progressed on the plane. We have removed the Right elevator and have removed the fabric from it to be replaced. In doing so, we found some corrosion that will need to be treated and we are stripping the elevator of its paint to be repainted. The debate continues on whether or not we will be replacing the fabric on the other elevator and rudder. I personally would like to see that done, especially now that we have found our first bit of corrosion, but I ultimately don’t have that authority. The ailerons were recently replaced before we got it, so they should be good to go.
Stripping of the paint is coming along. We ordered a new stripper, which the review I did of it can be found here: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=50148
I’m planning on staying late one night next week and hopefully, I will be able to get the entire upper surface of the plane covered in stripper so that it can be removed that following day.
We had ordered seals for our right main gear's hydraulic cylinder as it had been leaking. However, once we got them in, we discovered they were not even close to being what we needed. This was about three weeks ago and we have been searching since. I believe today, we finally found someone who had the correct seals and they were ordered.
Since Mr. Frome’s passing, his daughter and son have both been going through his things. I received a scanned copy of a personal log of his, but haven’t been able to go through it and compare it to the war diary. I briefly looked through it when It was received, but it’s going to take a little more digging and decoding.
His daughter has all of his photos and will be going through them tomorrow (Saturday), so hopefully she will find a picture of our plane in there during the war.
I have been doing some research on the bases our plane flew to and was able to create a complete list of all 48 bases she flew to during the war.
Re: C-47 #43-48716, Official Restoration Thread
Tue Jul 02, 2013 12:41 pm
Hi guys,
Just signed up ater being pointed toward this thread.
I've been working on a book about the 435th TCG on the Rhine mission (Burp Gun Corner), so it is very interesting to learn that one of the tow planes is still on this planet.
Already a lot is known, as I see while srolling through the previous posts. But wanted to add a little part of the flight roster of the 435th TCG that will be part of the book. Below is the Varsity crew and the names of the glider pilots including the glider numbers. The gliders were chalk numbers 9 and 10.
Capt. Edward W. Frome (P) 43-43322 9 2nd Lt. Charles T. Nuesseler (P)
2nd Lt. Jesse T. Slusher (CP) 2nd Lt. Francis M. Moore (CP)
S/Sgt. Harold E. Harris
T/Sgt. Dennis T. O’Connor 43-40168 10 F/O Ignatius J. Colotta (P)
2nd Lt. Edward J. Hamel (CP)
Hope you like this as well. I notice Dave's remark on the middle initial for O'Coner, as you see, I have it as T as well. Blame it on the same sources used.
Hans
www.airbornetroopcarrier.com
Just signed up ater being pointed toward this thread.
I've been working on a book about the 435th TCG on the Rhine mission (Burp Gun Corner), so it is very interesting to learn that one of the tow planes is still on this planet.
Already a lot is known, as I see while srolling through the previous posts. But wanted to add a little part of the flight roster of the 435th TCG that will be part of the book. Below is the Varsity crew and the names of the glider pilots including the glider numbers. The gliders were chalk numbers 9 and 10.
Capt. Edward W. Frome (P) 43-43322 9 2nd Lt. Charles T. Nuesseler (P)
2nd Lt. Jesse T. Slusher (CP) 2nd Lt. Francis M. Moore (CP)
S/Sgt. Harold E. Harris
T/Sgt. Dennis T. O’Connor 43-40168 10 F/O Ignatius J. Colotta (P)
2nd Lt. Edward J. Hamel (CP)
Hope you like this as well. I notice Dave's remark on the middle initial for O'Coner, as you see, I have it as T as well. Blame it on the same sources used.
Hans
www.airbornetroopcarrier.com
Re: C-47 #43-48716, Official Restoration Thread
Tue Jul 02, 2013 12:52 pm
Any new photos to share from the restoration?! 
Re: C-47 #43-48716, Official Restoration Thread
Wed Jul 03, 2013 12:17 am
Warbird Kid wrote:Any new photos to share from the restoration?!
Just a few of the test patches I did with the new stripper and the paint sprayer. The sprayer allowed for a much more even application which I think made a lot of difference.
The paint was all lifted from the surface, but some remained after lifting the plastic sheeting due to it just not addhering to the plastic firmly enough. Either way, using this stuff, saves so much time, its rediculous, in a good way. If all goes to plan, I will have the entire plane stripped Next Thursday and Friday. I plan on applying it Thursday and peeling it on Friday morning.
Then I'm off on a long overdue week long vacation to South Carolina, with a stop at the Fighter Factory and Military Aviation Museum on the way down. Its been over two years since I have had a vacation!
Hopefully, this Friday I will be at the museum and will be able to take some more photos.
Application
About a half an hour after application and covering
The Next Morning....
Removal
AFter Being Cleaned up
Dont worry about the windows. We will be replacing them anyways as they were etched on the inside from the Spraying, so we didnt bother masking them.
Re: C-47 #43-48716, Official Restoration Thread
Wed Jul 03, 2013 2:55 am
Metal looks in great condition!
Re: C-47 #43-48716, Official Restoration Thread
Wed Jul 03, 2013 4:56 pm
Paint stripper, one of the best things ever invented. 