Warbird Information Exchange

Here is gut-wrenching photo circa 1946. Close to 1000 naval aircraft in the process of being scrapped in Hawaii. I cannot tell if this site is the extreme eastern end of MCAS Ewa or the western end of NS Pearl Harbor. Can anyone help? SB2C's, PBJ's, OS2U's, TBM's, J2F's...

Interesting photo!

My Dad landed PBJ-1J, BuNo64949 at Barbers Point on November 5, 1945 after departing Malabang on October 23. He heard later that the PBJ's were towed to a parking area where there nose wheels were retracted so they could be "stacked" more closely for storage. He then heard that many were loaded on barges, towed to sea, and dumped. All hearsay.

The PBJ's in this photo - if indeed they are because they do not appear to be painted tri-color - look as though their outer wings have been removed for closer storage.

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Craig

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Craig:

Disposing of unwanted naval aircraft by 'deep sixing' them was quite common. On the lagoon side of Roi-Namur Island (Kwajalein Atoll) there are at least 100 USMC aircraft laying there including the complete squadron of VMB-613's PBJ's. A number of engine-less R5C's and piles of single engine carrier types remain there as well. Off of Brisbane, Australia SCUBA divers have reported piles of aircraft dumped there including F4U, F6F, TBM, et.al. all in Royal Navy markings. All still property of the USN!

The website http://www.VMB-613.com has a subsection titled "Disposition of Aircraft" that you may find of interest.


John

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http://www.fuselagecodes.com

Somewhere on this forum I mentioned an article I read the US Navy magazine Proceedings. A man related a story about how he was ordered to dispose of some Martin B-10's. Based in Hawaii, the aircraft were loaded on a barge(s) and towed out to sea. Holes were chopped in the fuselage and wings and the aircraft were pushed overboard.

Thanks for posting the photograph.

Interesting photo. I can say I have ever seen that one before. It seems hard to imagine all of the planes in the photo being dumped at sea. I wonder if any found their way back to the mainland as aluminum ingots?

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

Interesting question. I propose that the photo was taken just East of MCAS Ewa and looks almost due east, so East of Ewa, more in the Wesetern Area of Pearl/Iroquios Point area. I was not aware of this massive a parking area for aircraft around here. The main scrap yard would seem to be known as Eva Beach today. Air craft could have been easily towed from MCAS Ewa to this area. I think we see the main entrance to Pearl Harbor running directly horizontally across the photo from the 10 o'clock postion to the 2 o'clock, so again think we are a bit east of MCAS Ewa proper, or Barbers Point. Main part of Pearl Harbor and West Lock off camera to the left. Hickam is across the channel and is the black airfield in upper right, one o'clock.

The main road running from 10'oclock to 4/ o'clock is perhaps N road in modern day Eva Beach (switching names to 12th on the Naval Reservation) And the diagonal road starting at 10 o'clock running toward the channel is Bravo road.

I'm by no means a photo intepreter, so offered with caution.

Wonder if that explains this photo I found on eBay a while back?

We could always use a few more B-10s... anyone for some deep-sea fishing?

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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)

wow!! I've never seen that pic!!

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

Dave:

Thank you so much for enlightening us all with your report of the scrapping and of course the "Israel Connection" for the armaments scavenged there. I have placed your informative PDF file into my computer!!

Thanks again,
John Voss

BTW, Didn't you used live near Travis AFB?? Send PM note.


www.fuselagecodes.com

Dave,

Interesting story about Hawaii's "boneyard" and the connection to the Jewish State. If you're familiar with the ongoing Duck Hunt in Greenland, that Grumman Duck was from the CGC Northland. The CGC Northland was later transferred to the Jewish State and renamed Jewish State. It was renamed a couple of times later on.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USCGC_Northland_(WPG-49)

http://rhulgeopolitics.wordpress.com/20 ... aeli-hero/

John