Warbird Information Exchange

WOW!!! Looks like they're doing a much nicer job than I am.

Thanks for the link,
Gary

Gary, I'm sure that given 4+ Years then Lil would be looking that good.

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Looks are one thing (to take nothing away from Hill AFB Museum's accomplishment with this B24), but, the CAF "Diamond Lil" actually flies, thanks to people like Gary and his volunteers (and their donors!).

they gotta be able to make THAT ONE fly!! looks great!!!!!!!

Any idea where this came from? The one shot of the cowling with the bent prop looks like there's battle damage...

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"Anyway, the throat feels a bit rough...the legs have gone...but I'm still able to chant, so let's get going."

Joe Strummer, 1999

Looks great, but what's up with that "green" on the fuselage?
Looks a little off to me.
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

Looks great, but what's up with that "green" on the fuselage?
Looks a little off to me.
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

I think that it is the correct shade for an early B-24D, but it has een finished in a gloss coat. Not accurate, but it looks nice.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

I think that it is the correct shade for an early B-24D, but it has een finished in a gloss coat. Not accurate, but it looks nice.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Was the aircraft intentionally destroyed after the crew was recovered or did the weather and the elements take the aircraft from more or less intact after the crash landing (as evidenced by the first photo at PacificWrecks) and the state it was when recovered by Hill?

Additionally, where did the PB4Y fuselage come from?

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Ryan Keough
Stow, MA

I thought that I read that the PB4Y fuselage came from greybull.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

from what I recall, the PB4Y fuselage was the former "Green Monster" which sat at Tom Reilly's place for some time after it was recovered from a forest (in Florida?). I seem to recall that it had been used as some form of dwelling and was about to be scrapped when someone was able to save it. I seem to recall it went through Jay Wisler's hands before going to Tom. I also recall that the fuselage was intended for use with the B-24 wreck that Tom recovered in Canada, which was eventually impounded at the border, and never returned to the US. Does anyone know the status of this Canadian wreck?

Cheers. Richard

The B-24 was recovered from a ww2 wreck site in Alaska, the Hill museum sells a video on the recovery that tells the whole story from the pilots view. Most of the damage was done from chop saws of another group that restored a B-24 and took what they wanted with no forethought of a future recovery/restoration or the current laws that now govern this type of recovery. More damage was done during the recovery effort. Chop saws are quik n easy for the recovery teams but a nightmare for the poor guy that has to put it all back together. It looks great and it shows the determination of what a small museum on a limited budget can get done. Many more airframes are out there but greed, nut cases, and corrupt officials are doing everything possible to stop the presevation of many of these historic items. Swamp ghost, many Japanese planes, lots of Navy a/c ect are being left to rot because of the fools who think they should be left as some sort of memorial or just plain refuse to allow the recovery/restoration of these rare artifacts. My hats off to those who go that extra mile to "get er done" than the world full of clowns that try their best to stop any effort to save these rare birds. Thanks Mike

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IF YOU CAN FIND IT WE CAN FIX IT

Mike is right on - it is my (limited) understanding that the interior of the plane is totally empty of any real "systems".

I would not exactly put the Hill AFB museum in the "little guys" catagory. They have full access to the facilities and sometimes the staff at Hill AFB for the work.

A few years ago I got lucky and had the chance to help sand down the F-105 to get her ready for a new coat of paint and I must say they do have a lot of connections and have done really well - I've heard some folks say it is one of the best AFB museums in the West collection wise.

Looks real good. The museum appears to have quite a collection judging by this one photo: http://www.hill.af.mil/museum/photos/hadleygallery.jpg

It's great to see more of this stuff moved inside. I was at the museum in the very early 90's when I was a kid, I have a picture of the B-17 sitting outside along with their B-29 and another aircraft or two.