Warbird Information Exchange

Sometimes, we just have to pull out a picture of the K before we started taking her apart and remind ourselves that she will go back together!!!! Ahhhhh!! .................(pregnant pause for effect) ... Party on, Garth!! Party on Wayne. And if you remember what that was about, welcome to my world. The other JR

Say, Duck Drivin Lady Pilot, you sure have been quiet lately. Highly unusual and most irregular for you. What's up? Since the guys were showing their old pin ups, I half way expected you to show us what you use to pin up on your walls??? Then I thought better of asking because it probably was a donkey that you pinned the tail on?? Things were a lot different back in the day, huh? That reminds me of a story that Randy told me just today that brought back memories of when I lived in Montana. When I was there, nearly everybody who knew the score carried a .44 sidearm or bigger if going into the wild due to the Grizzly bear danger. This was particularly true as the bears coming out of hibernation were very eager to start catching up on their calories. Anyway, Randy told me about the fella who only carried a .22 Baretta for protection and how it saved his life one day when a Griz rushed him and his brother in law while out on the trail near Horseshoe Lake. Seems the fella shot the brother in law in the leg with the .22 and then walked off at a leisurely pace with no problems. I betcha I had you right up to the last line, huh Duckie? JR PS, Since the Montana Air National Guard used to fly A-26's, Great Falls and Helena will be on our tour list and how can we pass up Billings where she used to live for so many years. I would bet there are some folks there who would like to see how different she will look now.

O.K. now a time for you to answer a question. Maybe win a Shetland for yourself. What is the reason for the armament placard listings?

Here's the placard clearly on the O-2. It's hangin' pretty high in the hanger. I cannot remember ever having seent he placards on any of our original 8 aircraft at NKP, but they coud have been there. The ones later clearly had the red box on camo painted on.
We'll be going back tomorrow to try to finish up. You just can't begin to see everything in one day. We were there 7 1/2 hours today. They have changed some things around. 676 has been moved back farther in the hanger. It is now beside a Super Connie and A-37. Probably more fitting than being beside/under the BUFF. 676 actually has the engines and props from 671 that was at Florence. The landing gear from 671 went to Florida and is now part of 666.

_________________
Randy Ryman
Project Big Eagle
NKP Thailand 1966
http://www.coastcomp.com/av/florence/florandy.htm

To Whom do you wish to address your question?? JR

Well, Randy, the O2 has a few placards that I can make out. Looks like a yellow "ground here" on the nose for refueling purposes and the black dashed line close to it appears to have some letters associated with it. This was the towing limit indicator that some hotshot ramp ape would hopefully respect and not wreck the nose gear. Everybody else could eyeball it and stay safe. The munitions placard clearly shows on the side. And if you don't mind if I answer OBGF's question, this was to confirm to the crew what the ordnance loadout was on the airplane. It was usually placed close to the cockpit entrance so it could be clearly seen. This appeared on the 26's later than your time at NKP, Randy. The loadout on the AFM aircraft would indicate a later period.. say, 68-69 since it has daisy cutters which were not used in the early phase. It should have a munitions placard. There are pics of 26's at NKP with these placards. We are thinking that our K needs this placard so our crew chief can write things on it kinda like the Lady O2 Pilot has on her airplane... who incidentally has been promising me a picture, but HAS NOT DELIVERED YET. Some people are such slackers!! JR

Ask, and ye shall receive! This one is on the OV-10, indicating 4ea. LAU 68 launchers with WP (white phosphorus, or "Willie Pete"),
and 230 gallons in the centerline tank. So 0-2 lady is off the hook now, right! Need any pics of anything else, let me know. I took a couple hundred today, probably same amount tomorrow.

_________________
Randy Ryman
Project Big Eagle
NKP Thailand 1966
http://www.coastcomp.com/av/florence/florandy.htm

Well, gee Randy, that is a great pic of the munitions load panel and I really do appreciate it, but you see there is more to this story than just the placard. The Lady Duck Driver is definitely NOT off the hook even though your gentlemanly offer to help her out will assist in the basic layout of the thing. It is what's written on HER panel that gets everybody's attention!! She has a great crew chief, you see?? Well, no you don't see yet, but am trying to coax her into posting it here. Wink Wink... JR

Au Contraire, Randy........I'm not off the hook.....only because my armament panel has very special messages on it........that can correctly monitor the mood (and ammunition) of the day. Those pesky Special Kay people just wanna copy and hope to get theirs in international aviation magazines also The Other JR is very correct.....I have not delivered.......however, I have two excuses of which he is aware and is overlooking. My plane decided is would break itself very well......which then rendered my brain INOP last Friday so said picture and measurements were not taken. And then I came down with something almost verging on the flu which has rendered the rest of me INOP all week. A slacker but with reasonable excuses !!!!

_________________

Talk about posting at the same time, JR...LOLOLOL........and yes I will post it as soon as I feel it's safe to go to the hangar to get the pictures.

_________________

Good morning!! I bet that is the first time that has happened!! ... posting at the same time, I mean. I think you have been to the hangar before, so that just leaves the fact that you are a bit under the weather to explain your reluctance to appear before the small twice motored airplane and beg it to fix itself?? I don't think that works somehow. Is it really the fact that it needs TLC that keeps you away or is it like a horse with a broken leg and you have to contemplate shooting it? Well, that would not be advisable. Could compound the problems with the engine and whatever. But on the other hand, you could claim it was battle damage... think about the authenticity it would garner??? Why do I have the feeling I lost you somewhere after "good morning" and you have disregarded everything afterwards?? Going now... the other JR

OK, think I'll bow out of the placard debate. Probably a good thing that we didn't have them on the 26's on Big Eagle at NKP, or someone may have been offended! When I was at Hurlburt Field, we used to write on the side of the bombs we delivered, "We aim to please--Please AIM!" Surprisingly, as far as I know, we never got a complaint about it. I guess that's what was called, "The good 'ole days." Nobody gave a sh** if it was PC or not, it was just all in fun.

_________________
Randy Ryman
Project Big Eagle
NKP Thailand 1966
http://www.coastcomp.com/av/florence/florandy.htm

All in fun, Randy Not to worry. <and just a ps...mine is definitely not PC>

_________________

Only partially correct on the function of the Placard. The crew would have paperwork (Form 768 I think) showing ordnance including internal load that they could not visually check. The main function was to show the Fire Department (and EOD) what was carried in case of an emergency. Written in grease pencil don't quite understand how long they could read it in case of fire.

Oh my bad, I forgot all about that. I rode the fire truck one time when the driver thought he was Barney Oldfield and I about got roasted. This was way back when I had mush for brains and didn't know any better. Mission fixation I think they call it. Shouldn't let amateurs play with stuff like that. I certainly came away with a new respect for firemen in general and crash crews in particular. You can bet that we will request the fire trucks standing by for our first and maybe even our second flight of the K. Maybe they will give us the welcome back to the world water arch! We will be sure to let everybody know how it goes!! Now, a question for you, OBGF.. what the heck does Obergrafeter mean? My German is a little rusty, but it doesn't translate very well for this ol Texas boy. I get the ober and graf parts... eter, not so much. Enlighten me if you will. Ja?? Danke, the other JR