BTD-1 Destroyer is now part of the Hixson Museum of Flight

[Warbirdnerd]

The only BTD-1 Destroyer aircraft in existence has made its way to Richard B. Russell Regional Airport to be part of the Hixson Museum of Flight exhibit that has moved to Rome.

According to Hixson Museum of Flight Board Member Peter O’Hare, the BTD-1 Destroyer was manufactured in 1944 by Douglas Aircraft Corp. as a torpedo bomber during World War II, however because the war ended in 1945, these planes never saw combat.

This particular plane has the unique title of being the first and the last Destroyer to be built on the assembly line. It was the first prototype to be built and, after it was completed, the Navy wanted to modify the design for future Destroyers so it was held on the side while the rest of the planes were built.

After the war ended, the Navy canceled production of the plane after Douglas Aircraft had built 28 planes including the prototype. The navy decided that the planes would be used for test flights so they had to modify the prototype — making it the last of the BTD-1 Destroyers to emerge from the assembly line.

The Destroyer joins the museum’s group of planes from various points in the nation’s history, including a T-28 Alpha that was sold to Honduras and used in the country’s 100 Hour War in 1969 against El Salvador.

Most of the planes at the museum still fly and appear in air shows across the southeast, including the Wings Over North Georgia Air Show set for Oct. 3-4.

Richard B. Russell Regional Airport Manager Mike Mathews said he’s pleased to have the Destroyer and the entire museum based at the facility.

“We’re thankful they came to us. This is a piece of true history here and we hope it brings people and aviation business here,” said Mathews.

O’Hare said he hopes the Destroyer can be fully restored, but he’s not sure if it will be possible for the plane to fly.

“We really depend on volunteers to help us restore planes. Anyone can volunteer and you don’t have to have any special training. We’ll teach you as we go,” said O’Hare.

Museum staffer Christine Lewis said they want to open the museum’s doors to the public as soon as they can, but first they must finish the “beautification” process which, she said, will hopefully be done in about a month.

Because the museum operates on private donations, the staff has set up a fundraiser at GoFundMe.com/hixsonbtd1 to help cover the costs of the Destroyer restoration project.

Anyone donating $100 donation will receive a Museum of Flight patch and be entered in a drawing to win a copy of the book, “Naval Fighters Number Thirty Douglas XSB2D-1 &BTD-1 Destroyer” by Bob Kowalski. Those who donate $500 will have their names engraved on a metal plate that will be placed in the torpedo bombers area of the plane.

Found it here:
http://www.northwestgeorgianews.com/rom ... mode=story

[tom roberts]

Is this the one that was in Elmira and before that Florence

[Noha307]

Is this the one that was in Elmira and before that Florence

It has to be, it's the only one left.

O’Hare said he hopes the Destroyer can be fully restored, but he’s not sure if it will be possible for the plane to fly.

Also on that note, I really hope it doesn't. Seeing as it's the sole survivor, I think it would be downright irresponsible to do so. It's one of my real favorites, so I'd hate to see it destroyed.

What is the "Hixon Museum of Flight" by the way? I've never heard of it before.

Thanks to Warbirdnerd for posting the article. It was interesting to finally learn some history about this particular airframe.

[Chris Brame]

Does the museum have title to the Destroyer, or is it still owned by the Navy?

[marine air]

Typical shoddy 21st century reporting. Who was the manufacturer? Douglass? Naval Aircraft Factory?

[marine air]

Typical shoddy 21st century reporting. Who was the manufacturer? Douglass? Naval Aircraft Factory?

[Jesse C.]

Typical shoddy 21st century reporting. Who was the manufacturer? Douglass? Naval Aircraft Factory?

From the Internets...

The Douglas BTD Destroyer was an American dive bomber developed for the United States Navy during World War II.
Top speed: 334 mph
Wingspan: 45' 0"
Length: 39'
Introduced: 1944
Retired: 1945
Engine type: Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone
First flight: April 8, 1943

[quemerford]

Typical shoddy 21st century reporting. Who was the manufacturer? Douglass? Naval Aircraft Factory?

Don't get your drift: the article doesn't mention 'Douglass' or NAF. Douglas as they mention a few times, sounds correct to me.

[marine air]

I see "Douglas" at the beginning. THanks. I can speculate on why it wasn't successful with the Navy. 1) It was a bad design or 2) Those R-3350 engines were very lousy during WW II on the B-29's and B-32's. Lots of problems early on. Flying a single engine R-3350 powered airplane from a carrier in the mid 1940's would have been a suicide mission.

[Nathan]

This is built by Douglas. But they scrapped the BTD in favor of the BT2D! The BT2D formed into the AD Skyraider.

I wished I had known the BTD had been for sale. I would have bought it! Only 45mins from me. I've watched it being working on from 1997 till 2001. After that not much work got done on it. The Wing of Eagles is a nice place to visit but they have basically thrown out any interest in their airplanes. I volunteered back in May and worked with the Curator. Nice guy, he is 85 years old and has no interest in any of the airplanes. He wants to turn the place into the subject of space exploration. The airplanes there are just an afterthought anymore. Only two volunteers work on up keeping the airplanes and they even expressed their displeasure of the direction the museum is going. Half of the airplanes have been sitting outside for 8 years and they are starting to take on a ton of corrosion and weather beating. Including outside: B-26 Invader, A-7 Corsair, the BTD(now moved), F-14, F-15, and a really rare RB-57A! The hangar has enough room to fit 3 more airplanes inside, but yet they still sit outside.

[Nathan]

This is built by Douglas. But they scrapped the BTD in favor of the BT2D! The BT2D formed into the AD Skyraider.

I wished I had known the BTD had been for sale. I would have bought it! Only 45mins from me. I've watched it being working on from 1997 till 2001. After that not much work got done on it. The Wing of Eagles is a nice place to visit but they have basically thrown out any interest in their airplanes. I volunteered back in May and worked with the Curator. Nice guy, he is 85 years old and has no interest in any of the airplanes. He wants to turn the place into the subject of space exploration. The airplanes there are just an afterthought anymore. Only two volunteers work on up keeping the airplanes and they even expressed their displeasure of the direction the museum is going. Half of the airplanes have been sitting outside for 8 years and they are starting to take on a ton of corrosion and weather beating. Including outside: B-26 Invader, A-7 Corsair, the BTD(now moved), F-14, F-15, and a really rare RB-57A! The hangar has enough room to fit 3 more airplanes inside, but yet they still sit outside.