Warbird Information Exchange

There have been numerous posts here about Mercer Field in Calhoun, GA; I stopped there last week on my way to Warner-Robins, Pensacola, and Cape Canaveral and took a few more shots.

The H-34 debris is gone from last year, the F-84 continues to rot, and an access panel door on the T-29 is open. Here are a few pictures:

F-84 first---













T-33 next










and the T-29---









open window--

Why are these aircraft being tortured?

Robbie

Yeah, these just get harder and harder to look at.

I appreciate you posting the pictures though.

Gary

Honestly, who owns those aircraft? They on loan from NMUSAF? I've had my eye on that F-84F for awhile now for rescue.

The Crusader that was there could not be restored by the Evergreen Aviation folks because the corrosion and vandalism damage was just too bad. The navy told them to scrap it. Can't help but wonder if the F-84 is in the same state.

Sad, sad, sad... Looks like someone has unlatched the cowlings on the T-29.

I can't help but wonder what the future of these poor birds are as they sit there dying?

I just know that F-84F looks rather terminal. It would be doing a lot better in my shop than in that field. I've been batting emails back and forth this morning with the loan manager for the National Museum of Naval Aviation to see if it's a Navy loan or NMUSAF. Hopefully she can dig up some info for us.

Just got a reply from the National Museum of Naval Aviation who gave me a point of contact for National Museum of the United States Air Force to follow up on the F-84F. Guess it's definitely a NMUSAF aircraft.

If there is anything I can do to help with your efforts, let me know. I'm by there all the time.

My e-mail is kboatright1@comcast.net

Two extreme post going at the same time. All the good news about the B-36 at Pima in one thread. Then to see these poor planes [going back to dust] on this thread. It's a wacky world.

This one is apparently a long time coming. Just doing my part to see what can be done for one in this thread.

I was at least one of the people who notified the Museum of Naval Aviation about the F-8 that was there. I emailed them pictures showing the vandalism, holes from corrosion in the upper wing center section, etc. I got the guy who runs the Gunfighters website ( a former F-8 pilot) involved as well. It took months to overcome the inertia. After all that trouble the poor old thing was scrapped. <dirty words> . Now I wonder if the navy retains ownership of the Convair and why on earth would they let anything go to Mercer for a slow and ugly death.

I did notify the Air Force museum regarding the F-84 and the F-86 that I asssume is now gone but never heard anything back from them regarding those airplanes.

Best of luck with the F-84.

Where did the Sabre Dog go? To a better home I hope?

The Mercer "airfield" borders right beside the I-75 highway and is very valuable commercial property. The owner had the bright idea years ago to turn the little grass strip into a "museum" and has saved a fortune in taxes over the years with this strategy.
Most of the USAF airplanes came from the Georgia ANG at Dobbins, the F-8 was a former NAS Atlanta airplane too.
Crying shame the F-8 wasn't just sold, I am sure there would have been plenty of people interested. The fuselage was actually in pretty good shape. In my opinion it could have been made into a decent static display airplane.

Regarding the F-8, the Evergreen people told the navy that the amount of damage due to corrosion was worse than what they at first thought and so the cost of restoration to a static display would be higher than originally thought as well. The navy said forget it, just scrap it. <more dirty words>.