VFW Post aircraft

ALOHADAVE · **Posted:** Sat Nov 14, 2015 10:21 am

As recently reported by N.P.R., over 2000 Veterans of Foreign Wars posts have closed their doors in recent years as members died and funds dried up.
I know that many posts have/had aircraft on static display.

This subject is brought up to WIX members to be on the look out for abandoned/ neglected aircraft at now closed VFW posts. I know of at least one jet left behind at a post in Mississippi (what became of it?) and I'm sure there are others out there.

What's at your nearby VFW post?
Is there a long term plan for military artifacts at the posts?

cooper9411 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 14, 2015 2:15 pm

The aircraft are still "owned " by the NMUSAF so everything has to go through them. The F-86 that was in Mississippi went to Louisiana or was supposed to go there.

Nathan · **Posted:** Sun Nov 15, 2015 2:25 pm

Is there a list of ones that have closed? In my area there are VFW/American Legion posts in just about every village and town. But most have some form of artillery for display. Our VFW has a Huey. The Legion in Lopez Pa has a MGM-13 MACE rocket. That's all in my area.

ALOHADAVE · **Posted:** Sun Nov 15, 2015 8:42 pm

There is no list of the ones that have closed, but many have closed. Leaving behind military relics. A local VFW near me in Michigan turned in a number of WWII rifles that the Government didn't know they had.

ALOHADAVE · **Posted:** Sun Nov 15, 2015 8:42 pm

There is no list of the ones that have closed, but many have closed. Leaving behind military relics. A local VFW near me in Michigan turned in a number of WWII rifles that the Government didn't know they had.

Tulio · **Joined:** Mon May 03, 2004 1:05 am **Posts:** 3236

I don't remember his name, but there is this guy from the UK, who has published a book listing many, if not all, of those aircraft on display at VFW posts.

Saludos,

Tulio

ALOHADAVE · **Posted:** Sun Nov 15, 2015 10:43 pm

A good source of info is
aerial visuals web site
http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/Locator.php

Roger Cain · **Posted:** Wed Nov 18, 2015 11:18 pm

There used to be a list on the web of all the aircraft displayed at the various VFW Posts, mostly helicopters and tanks.

Roger Cain · **Posted:** Wed Nov 18, 2015 11:21 pm

Found the helo list, needed to just look a bit harder: http://warbirdsandairshows.com/armydisplayhelicopters.htm

CoastieJohn · **Joined:** Fri Feb 11, 2011 5:37 pm **Posts:** 1380

I checked out that above website to see what CG planes were sitting static out there. I noticed there were more B-17's and B-29's sitting around than I would have guessed.

Scott Rose · **Posted:** Fri Nov 20, 2015 11:31 am

ALOHADAVE wrote:

As recently reported by N.P.R., over 2000 Veterans of Foreign Wars posts have closed their doors in recent years as members died and funds dried up.
I know that many posts have/had aircraft on static display.

This subject is brought up to WIX members to be on the look out for abandoned/ neglected aircraft at now closed VFW posts. I know of at least one jet left behind at a post in Mississippi (what became of it?) and I'm sure there are others out there.

What's at your nearby VFW post?
Is there a long term plan for military artifacts at the posts?

Something I noticed while tracking the history of these aircraft is that the not many VFW/Amvet posts in the northeast sport any sort of aircraft on display.

p51 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 20, 2015 3:10 pm

Not just airplanes, I think the greatest issue would be the artillery and tracked/wheeled vehicles at these posts, which are far more common than aircraft due to their size and ease of maintenance (a tank or howitzer, for example, will last a lot longer outdoors than an airframe will, given the same lack of maintenance you'd expect in such a case).
I had no idea that many of these posts have closed. I think it isn't just aging vets as it is the shift away from 'halls' for groups to congregate among, as the nature of fraternal organizations and clubs has shifted away from where they were in my youth. People aren't joining shriner or moose lodges anywhere near like the previous generations (even among sons of previous members, something that used to be almost a given thing), either.
You know what's happening to most of the portable 'war trophy' items from these closed halls; they're going to the kids or pals of the member to turned out the lights the final time in the hall.

Elwyn · **Posted:** Sun Nov 22, 2015 9:37 am

This one was in front of the El Reno,Ok VFW at one time. This photo is probably late 70's or early 80's though. Edit- I'll be darned. Just checked Aerial Visuals and they show it still there! VFW Post 382.

Roger Cain · **Posted:** Sun Nov 22, 2015 7:17 pm

I doubt it, but hope it still looks that good.

Elwyn wrote:

This one was in front of the El Reno,Ok VFW at one time. This photo is probably late 70's or early 80's though. Edit- I'll be darned. Just checked Aerial Visuals and they show it still there! VFW Post 382.

Tulio · **Joined:** Mon May 03, 2004 1:05 am **Posts:** 3236

Last time I was in El Reno was around 2003, and the airplane looked decidedly worse for wear. I know that it had at some time been refurbished, but Oklahoma weather has taken its toll on it.

Saludos,

Tulio

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