Lexington's TBD Devastators and F4F to be Salvaged

[sandiego89]

The National Naval Aviation Museum I think qualifies. A TBD and (someday) an F2A would essentially complete the collection.

I hope they revisit getting a Mars there and the sole surviving Mariner from Pima. (And get the sole surviving Savage inside!)

[JohnH]

I haven’t asked my experts, but this is just a proposal so it’s not a done deal. I haven’t seen any official word it is approved. Fingers crossed. The Navy screwed Doug Champlin in 2000. If they hadn’t, we would already have restored TBDs.

https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2000/0 ... ken-plane/

[Thomas_Mac]

It would be something to see two of them in Pensacola; one conserved as is, and one fully restored. Could you imagine...

I'm not trying to start an argument here, but they need to go someplace that the general public will be able to appreciate them. How about the Lady Lex?

The National Naval Aviation Museum I think qualifies. A TBD and (someday) an F2A would essentially complete the collection.

I think what they are getting at is the Museum has been closed to general public for a few years now. I believe there was a shooting on the base and this has been policy since.

The National Naval Aviation Museum is open Monday through Sunday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. to current Department of Defense (DoD) ID cardholders. Access to NAS Pensacola is limited to Department of Defense (DoD) ID card holders (active duty service members, retirees, and their families). For Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC) holders please visit cnrse.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NAS-Pensacola/ for base access information. DoD ID card holders can escort guests, but must remain with them at all times.

[Dan Jones]

That's ridiculous. The world has to get back to normal.

[Warbirdnerd]

If you are interested, there will be an online presentation tonight at 7 Eastern on the project to recover F4Fs and TBDs from the Lexington…
https://vintageaviationnews.com/aviatio ... cific.html

[Richard W.]

The current policy wouldn't have prevented the 2019 mass murder, anyway.

The killer was a Saudi Air Force pilot training at the base.

https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/naval-air-station-pensacola-shooting-called-act-of-terrorism-011320

[JohnB]

I'll believe it when I see it.
Someone will come up with a reason why it shouldn't (as opposed to can't) be done.

[maradamx3]

The National Naval Aviation Museum I think qualifies. A TBD and (someday) an F2A would essentially complete the collection.

I hope they revisit getting a Mars there and the sole surviving Mariner from Pima. (And get the sole surviving Savage inside!)

The Philippine Mars is going to PIMA and hopefully nothing leaves PIMA for the NNAM. PIMA's doors are always open to the public.

[JohnB]

The security and access issues makes one appreciate the location of the NMUSAF.
On an air base and adjacent to (limited use) runways, but still accessible.

Kudos to whoever picked the location 55 years ago.