Warbird Information Exchange

Originally posted by Mark Allen. Images restored 11-03-2018. Scott WRG Editor

Sorry, poor thread title once again but it's what came to mind. A few of these guys are still with us either restored and flying or sitting in a museum. Either way it's nice we still have a few left in obvious better condition. I've got a big bunch of these. Information and dates sketchy on some though. Sources, SDASM archives, NMNA archives, Bill Larkin collection.

Part 1


Image 01: FG-1D Corsair of NARTU Seattle, WA, crashed into Lake Washington, WA.


Image 02: SB2C-5 pictured at Naval Assembly and Repair Facility, NAS Norfolk, VA.


Image 03: XTBF-3 of Naval Air Training Center (NATC), on the ground.


Image 04: SNJ-4 Willows, CA, March 1969


Image 05: Grumman F6F-3 with a boat load of (alleged) patched bullet holes?


Image 06: Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat from VF-21 at NAS North Island, CA. It was recovered off the coast of San Diego 1972


Image 07: F6F-3 Hellcat VF-21 that had ditched in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, CA, January 25, 1944. It was raised by the salvage team of the USS White Sands in October 1970


Image 08: F6F-3 Hellcat VF-21 that had ditched in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, CA, January 25, 1944. It was raised by the salvage team of the USS White Sands in October 1970


Image 09: It was raised by the salvage team of the USS White Sands in October 1970, and placed at NAS North Island, CA.

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"Patches? we don't need no stinking Patches!!!"

Part 2


Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat. Another one with patched up bullet holes. At least that's what it states.


Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat. Another one with patched up bullet holes.

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Part 3


FM-2 of War Assets Administration Surplus on the ground at Modesto, CA. 1948


Weathered Corsair


North American F-6K-15-NT 44-12810 at Napa, California, in August 1947


Vultee BT-15 42-1859 Surplus at Buchanan Field in July 1946

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Part 4


N3N N45297 (B Larkin collection)


Bell P-59A 44-22614 At Hancock College of Aeronautics, Santa Maria, California in August 1949 (B Larkin collection)


Curtiss P-40N NL-1011N Ex AAF 42-105191 and RCAF 856 at Hayward Airport, CA, in July 1948 (B Larkin collection)


Grumman FM-2 Wildcat (NMNA archives)

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Those are awesome pics Mark.You got more?

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Hang The Expense

I wanna play too. These two shots of a Swiss cheese B-17E or F were from a photo album sold on eBay:


Only info was it was at a training base in Alabama...

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

Sure!

Part 5


A-26C 44-34642 Tucson, AZ April 1969


Bell RP-63A-9-BE 42-69501


TA-20K 44-731


Curtiss C-46A N69095 At Hayward, CA, in August 1954.


Douglas BTD-1 (04971) At NAS Alameda in November 1947. Used by NACA for ice research tests

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Zero Surprise!!...

The FG-1 on the flatbed was most likely getting ready for it's trip to John Lanes outfit in Jerome ID. It was involved in a mid air with another reserve FG-1 from NARB Sand Point, a neighbor who's house looked out over Lake Washington made a paint dot on the window she saw it crash from (I recall it was a woman, but it's been a long time ago) as a 'just in case'.
The MoF got permission to hunt for the wreck from the anchor clankers in the five sided clown college in Virginia, an article about the hunt ran in both (at the time) Seattle dailys. She called them and they came out, she showed them the paint dot and they came back with 2 way radios and a boat, using simplified triangulation, the wreck was found and lifted. It spent some time @ KPAE at the restoration facility while Lake Washingtons mud was slowly removed and washed away.
When the airplane got to spud junction and was inspected by Johns crew, he called and asked what level they wanted it restored to, including flying it back when done. Being an airplane museum the very thought of actually flying one of their airplanes caused many sleepless nights. so they settled on a first class cosmetic restoration 'but it's too corroded to fly again..' "listen, there are Corsairs out racing that are more corroded than this one is is"

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

Thanks Bill, I knew you would have a story on that one.

M

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Zero Surprise!!...

Long gone. Per Baugher:

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

She was an F model and the way to tell is the remains of the single gun mount in the nose.What the hell happened to that plane?

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Hang The Expense

Got any post war photos from NAF Litchfield Park Arizona showing worn out and desert sun bleached warbirds?

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Daviemax
Researcher of Post-War B-17 History
Maintains database of B-17s used from 46- on.

This one is still around too. It is Bud Granley's SNJ-4 Bu 27851 N97TR.

Correct you are sir!


Weathered and torn B-25


Battered, waethered and neglected Egyptian PBY, this is actually when it looked good.


the Germans captured about two dozen of these from a Piper assembly plant in Denmark during the occupation.


North American BT-14 AC40-1147 sold surplus after the war as NL37604 Torrance California in 1948

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