Warbird Information Exchange

Coming up for auction in the SoCal high desert on May 3rd:









Anybody know what it came from? Over to the experts...

_________________

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)

As you have guessed not a drop tank. It’s prominent air intake and belly tray that is removable indicates it’s alternate use. Unsure what it is, but clearly something somewhat different...

I am leaning to something with the OV-1. It’s close to the configuration for a photoflash pod, but different in details. Fins and shape suggest Mohawk also....

Looks to me like it originally was a bomb but later turned into something else.

A drop tank converted to crop dusting.

_________________
Better is the enemy of Good.

I'm in the high desert, location of auction? Mtn's in the first pic look like N of Mojave

_________________
Those who possess real knowledge are rare.

Those who can set that knowledge into motion in the physical world are rarer still.

The few who possess real knowledge and can set it into motion of their own hands are the rarest of all.

Location wasn't listed yet - maybe around Victorville.

_________________

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)

Chemtrail spreader.

C2j

Look at the bomb on this web page:

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_su ... 50043.aspx

Same shape and fin size. small flat nose

Note welded aluminum seams, large access panel on bottom, vents and lack of fusing.

The aft fins and vents have a look similar to the Aero family of tanks made by Douglas and seen on the Skyraider, A4, etc. I don't have any photos handy but I wonder if it could be one of those buddy stores that contained a refueling drogue and associated equipment? Don't know that - just a guess.

Ken

_________________
"Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves."

Vulcan cannon pod for F-4's that did not have an internal gun.

Luggage carrier

I agree with Ken that this looks much like a Douglas external fuel tank, specifically the Aero 1C low drag 150 gallon fuel tank, or at least started life as one, then was repurposed as a baggage pod or a camera pod. The twin oval cut outs near the tail fins are pretty distinctive for the Aero 1C tanks and their larger 300 gallon tanks. A camera could have put into the reprofiled nose and the bulge visible in the first photo. It was fairly common to turn external fuel tanks into camera pods for release trials etc., and would not be surprised to see one in a California salvage yard given the proximity to Pt. Mugu, Edwards, China lake, etc.

Result: High bid $600, listed as no sale.
https://bid.bidfastandlast.com/ui/aucti ... 67/3457979

_________________

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)

So what was for auction? The trailer or the “drop tank” or both. Only describes the trailer, nothing about the tank. Looking at the pictures of the other “ collectables “ there are things resting on the described item, some have a lot . Scrolled through the items but not all and found no mention of the tank only