Sandbar Mitchell

CoastieJohn · **Joined:** Fri Feb 11, 2011 5:37 pm **Posts:** 1380

Haven't seen any posts on this in a bit. Figured I'd see what the latest is. Some good pics from the disassembly phase and PR front. Didn't know a short documentary was made about this. A few of the pics from the restoration page.

http://www.sandbarmitchell.org/restoration.html

warbird_patrick · **Posted:** Tue Aug 12, 2014 6:05 pm

Hello CoastieJohn,

Make sure you join our FB page for the most resent updates: www.facebook.com/sandbarmitchell. We update the restoration tab once a month. Currently are plans are to have the spars disassembled to just the spar caps and removed from the center section by the end of the year. Currently the left side is completely apart and the right side is ready for the upper skin to be removed. Once apart the rebuilding of the bomb bay section of the fuselage will start. The museum just post some pretty big news today on FB. The Warbirds Of Glory Museum is excited to announce the acquisition of a long forgotten B-25J. Abandoned in Nome, Alaksa during WWII, B-25J 44-28898 was one of many B-25s delivered to USSR under Roosevelt’s Lend/Lease program. The USA ferried the aircraft as far as Fairbanks where the official handoff would occur. The Russians then prepared it for the long journey from Fairbanks to the USSR, with a stop in Nome and then across the Bering Straits into Siberia.

However a landing accident in Nome ended her trip. Without a repair facility at Nome, the Russians removed useful parts for spars and abandoned her remains. For 70 years she waited for a rescue. Fortunately, the Nome Aviation & Military Museum recovered her and donated her to our museum.

We need your help to return her to our Michigan restoration shop where parts will be used to restore Sandbar Mitchell. Eventually, this forgotten Mitchell bomber will be made available to somebody else to restore to flying or static condition.

If you can provide a sponsorship or donation to help with this recovery project, please contact Patrick Mihalek at 810-360-9713.

CoastieJohn · **Joined:** Fri Feb 11, 2011 5:37 pm **Posts:** 1380

Greetings Patrick,

I do not do Facebook. Never had a desire. I have a question if you don't mind. Is the 44-28898 a better option for rebuild than the SM?

Thanks....John

warbird_patrick · **Posted:** Tue Aug 12, 2014 6:43 pm

Hello John,

You do not need to be a FB member to view our FB updates just follow the link. It is just easier to post quick updates. SBM all things considering is in amazingly great shape. Once the bomb bay is rebuilt re-assembly of the spars will take place. We are still on time for our 10 year goal of flying. The Russian Mitchell is also a great candidate for restoration but ultimately will take more work. We hope that it will come in handy for getting some of the funding for SBM.

CoastieJohn · **Joined:** Fri Feb 11, 2011 5:37 pm **Posts:** 1380

Patrick,

Is this Russian Mitchell in storage or out on the tundra?

John

warbird_patrick · **Posted:** Tue Aug 12, 2014 7:36 pm

John,

It is in a protected area. We hope to bring it home next year when funds permit.

warbird_patrick · **Posted:** Tue Aug 12, 2014 10:02 pm

Also the documentary on the recovery of SBM is part of a new television series called The Restorers. We are featured as episode 2. You currently can watch our episode in the IMAX theater at the USAF Museum in Dayton, OH the complete month of August.

Patrick

cooper9411 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 12, 2014 10:57 pm

Kudos to you. Adam and his crew do an outstanding job, such professionals.

PbyCat-Guy · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2014 7:15 pm

Do you guys need volunteers, even to sweep the floor and take out the trash? I'd love to be involved in any way

warbird_patrick · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2014 8:47 pm

PbyCat-Guy, we always need help! Just give me a call and we will get you over. We will also be planing the trip to Nome which will involve another recovery team!

Patrick

cooper9411 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2014 9:24 pm

Patrick there is a good possibility I could be of assistance in the recovery project if need be. :drink3:

warbird_patrick · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2014 10:27 pm

Ill Keep you all in mind! Are plan will be an application process just like we did with Sandbar Mitchell. The recovery of the Russian Mitchell will be mainly disassembling the airframe to its sub assemblies, packing all the loose parts and putting it into shipping containers.

Patrick

cooper9411 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 14, 2014 5:59 am

warbird_patrick wrote:

Ill Keep you all in mind! Are plan will be an application process just like we did with Sandbar Mitchell. The recovery of the Russian Mitchell will be mainly disassembling the airframe to its sub assemblies, packing all the loose parts and putting it into shipping containers.

Patrick

OK. And the hard part is what? :lol:

Fouga23 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 14, 2014 9:53 am

So, seeing you already have a cockpit and centre section, what can the Russian parts contribute to the project?

warbird_patrick · **Posted:** Thu Aug 14, 2014 12:56 pm

Fouga23, we have more then just a cockpit and center section. Currently we have 95% of a full airframe for SBM. We need to get our original verticals from Aero Trader and we will be set. The Russian B-25 will yield some parts needed but will be another project that will be available in the future. We have been collecting B-25 parts for many years now and have a pretty large inventory of spares.

Patrick

Warbird Information Exchange

Sandbar Mitchell

Who is online