This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
Wed Oct 30, 2013 8:52 am
N10V as the Generals plane in Catch 22, also had a couch in the bombbay for ... Had a full collecter ring and sometimes start the ground on fire if over primed.
Wed Oct 30, 2013 9:06 am
NEAM Dog Daize back in the day at Mercer county airport, NJ (TTN)
Wed Oct 30, 2013 9:10 am
Wow, I have to say, its amazing to stand near an aircraft and have no idea the wild and crazy life it has led. Kinda reminds me of standing near 909 and hearing people tell other people that "this one saw no action". Maybe it didn't see combat over Europe but many of these aircraft saw plenty of "action"!! Or the vets who live a quiet life now, you never know the story until you ask. That's why I like this forum so much, collectively just about anything you can think to ask, someone has the answer.
Wed Oct 30, 2013 9:30 am
The B-25 was donated very early in the EAA's history, say late 1960's or early 70's. It was on outside display with the EAA's Ford Tri-motor and a couple other aircraft when a tornado came through and damaged the 25 and flipped the trimotor on it's back. They were in storage for years and the Tri-motor was restored using a donor tri-motor. Sometime in the 1980s interest increased in restoring the B-25 to flying condition. Mr. Paul Poberezny was a WW II veteran and also a genius at raising money, and donations. so in the past the EAA had a flyable Lockheed 12, DC-3, T-28, P-51D, B-25, P-64, A-26, Corsair , B-17G, and P-38. Plus countless donations of antiques, homebuilts and modern light aircraft, engines, and parts. They even had a flyable Bearcat donated for about 20 years before the donor "undonated " it and took it back.
There was ferocious resistance between the EAA divisions on the cost to keep the warbirds annualled , flying, insured, and staffed. YOu can fly a 100 homebuilts for one B-17.
The P-64 had already had a gear up landing, I think by EAA'r Vern Jobst, so it was parked because of it's rarity. The Cavalier P-51 had been continuously funded and Paul had to let others fly it to keep the program from being de-funded. About that time Vern Jobst, an airline pilot, totaled a Goose landing on the lake up there with the gear down. He also totaled the EAA's Lockheed 12 in the pattern as it ran out of fuel. The DC-3 were sold as was Pauil's T-28A. The B-25 was being restored with volunteer talent and money. THis is about the time tht Connie Edwards donated the A-26, F4U, P-38, and HA-1109. All but the HA-1109 were flown in.
The EAA was beginning to look like the CAF! The B-17 ride program was initiated and actually broke even or made a little money. The B-25 was flying and training pilots to get it on the circuit also. Then there were gear problems with the B-25 and Paul had to land with one gear down and the other up. (same problem they had on P-64)
SO they decided not to fly the B-25 as it was not considered a profitable operation.
Also, when "Barbie III" was restored the H-model nose was thought to be the last one available. An authentic H nose would have to be scratch built.
Wed Oct 30, 2013 9:30 am
The B-25 was donated very early in the EAA's history, say late 1960's or early 70's. It was on outside display with the EAA's Ford Tri-motor and a couple other aircraft when a tornado came through and damaged the 25 and flipped the trimotor on it's back. They were in storage for years and the Tri-motor was restored using a donor tri-motor. Sometime in the 1980s interest increased in restoring the B-25 to flying condition. Mr. Paul Poberezny was a WW II veteran and also a genius at raising money, and donations. so in the past the EAA had a flyable Lockheed 12, DC-3, T-28, P-51D, B-25, P-64, A-26, Corsair , B-17G, and P-38. Plus countless donations of antiques, homebuilts and modern light aircraft, engines, and parts. They even had a flyable Bearcat donated for about 20 years before the donor "undonated " it and took it back.
There was ferocious resistance between the EAA divisions on the cost to keep the warbirds annualled , flying, insured, and staffed. YOu can fly a 100 homebuilts for one B-17.
The P-64 had already had a gear up landing, I think by EAA'r Vern Jobst, so it was parked because of it's rarity. The Cavalier P-51 had been continuously funded and Paul had to let others fly it to keep the program from being de-funded. About that time Vern Jobst, an airline pilot, totaled a Goose landing on the lake up there with the gear down. He also totaled the EAA's Lockheed 12 in the pattern as it ran out of fuel. The DC-3 were sold as was Pauil's T-28A. The B-25 was being restored with volunteer talent and money. THis is about the time tht Connie Edwards donated the A-26, F4U, P-38, and HA-1109. All but the HA-1109 were flown in.
The EAA was beginning to look like the CAF! The B-17 ride program was initiated and actually broke even or made a little money. The B-25 was flying and training pilots to get it on the circuit also. Then there were gear problems with the B-25 and Paul had to land with one gear down and the other up. (same problem they had on P-64)
SO they decided not to fly the B-25 as it was not considered a profitable operation.
Also, when "Barbie III" was restored the H-model nose was thought to be the last one available. An authentic H nose would have to be scratch built.
Wed Oct 30, 2013 2:41 pm
deleted
Wed Oct 30, 2013 4:56 pm
Cool thread!
I saw Barbie III at Geneseo a couple of weeks ago and that "H" model nose is darned impressive.
During the summer air show I had a chance to look inside the nose. The amount of structural difference is very significant. The cannon takes up most of the available space. It's a curious choice to convert to executive configuration.
I seem to recall that during the restoration of Barbie III that the "H" nose was found by someone. It was being used as the lid of a dumpster!!
Does that ring a bell with any of you guys?
Andy Scott
Wed Oct 30, 2013 5:42 pm
Steve Nelson wrote:k5083 wrote:Of the several gun nose B-25Js still around, I suspect some have not authentic J-model gun noses, but just gun barrels stuck on postwar transport noses.
I don't think I've ever seen a specifically designed civil transport nose for the B-25, just stock gun noses that were gutted with the barrel openings faired over..although I've seen a few with lengthened or pointy nose caps (and of course some postwar military Mitchells were fitted with radomes in the bomber nose, which made it a bit longer and pointier.) When the Air Zoo first acquired their Mitchell, it appeared to have a glass bomber nose with sheet metal covering. The shape was the same, and you could see lines of rivets following the original frames. I've always been told that when it was restored an original H-model nose couldn't be found (at least affordably) so a J gunship nose was substituted.
SN
I used to work for the late Doug Brown who owned 37L when it was at St. Simon Island, Georgia back in the 70's. I asked him about the nose which was full of avionics. He said that the nose was called a "Bendix Nose". It is a different shape as compared to a Bombardier version nose.
Wed Oct 30, 2013 5:50 pm
Stoney wrote:N10V as the Generals plane in Catch 22, also had a couch in the bombbay for ... Had a full collecter ring and sometimes start the ground on fire if over primed.

I've always wondered if the folks that outfitted 10Victor did 37Lima too, as she too had a couch in the bomb bay section as well as the air-stair door in the same location. Nice photo Stoney, thanks for sharing it with us.
Thu Oct 31, 2013 12:21 am
37L still has the airstair door, it's just been seale up. You can still see the outline from the outside, and the stairs are visible on the inside (which is largely empty.) I remember when she was sitting outdoors with the exec mods still intact, she had what appeared to be a built in RATO system.
I remember hearing once about (I think) one of the Bendix aircraft (Barbie III?) that was modified with an extra nose gear ahead of the original. The original nose gear could be retracted, and the extra was used for testing brake systems and such. I've probably butchered the facts here..anybody in the WIX Braintrust have any more specific or accurste info?
SN
Thu Oct 31, 2013 2:39 am
Great 1954 story on Barbara Hutton, Gary!
Thu Oct 31, 2013 9:06 am
DH82EH wrote:Cool thread!
I saw Barbie III at Geneseo a couple of weeks ago and that "H" model nose is darned impressive.
During the summer air show I had a chance to look inside the nose. The amount of structural difference is very significant. The cannon takes up most of the available space. It's a curious choice to convert to executive configuration.
I seem to recall that during the restoration of Barbie III that the "H" nose was found by someone. It was being used as the lid of a dumpster!!
Does that ring a bell with any of you guys?
Andy Scott
I read an article that said that also, apparently a surplus store found two of the upper halves and had heard about the restoration and called them and offered their choice of the two.
Thu Oct 31, 2013 11:16 am
bomberfan wrote:DH82EH wrote:Cool thread!
I saw Barbie III at Geneseo a couple of weeks ago and that "H" model nose is darned impressive.
During the summer air show I had a chance to look inside the nose. The amount of structural difference is very significant. The cannon takes up most of the available space. It's a curious choice to convert to executive configuration.
I seem to recall that during the restoration of Barbie III that the "H" nose was found by someone. It was being used as the lid of a dumpster!!
Does that ring a bell with any of you guys?
Andy Scott
I read an article that said that also, apparently a surplus store found two of the upper halves and had heard about the restoration and called them and offered their choice of the two.
It was WIX's own Taigh!
http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.o ... 2&start=96
Thu Oct 31, 2013 12:20 pm
Nice!
Yet another feather in Taighs cap.
I knew someone here would flesh out the details!
WIX rocks
Andy
Thu Oct 31, 2013 1:25 pm
I may haved missed it, but was'nt "Berlin Express" the Catch 22 one that was bought by a Famous (so famonus , that I forgot her name!, Carol???..) actress, for her actor boyfriend/hubby? that I read about in Air Classics a million years ago? or did I just woke up in Camp Crystal Lake!!

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