Worlds only USMC Mitchell PBJ-1J Restoration CAF's Semper Fi

Dan Newcomb · **Posted:** Wed Jul 30, 2008 12:30 pm

I’m the guy that usually takes the pictures so consequently I don’t have many of “yours truly” in action. I wanted a couple shots of me working on China Doll and Jeff’s son Kevin took these. I will be very glad to get back down to working at a lower elevation. I have a morbid fear of heights unless I’m flying in an airplane when it doesn’t bother me for some reason. Also, I dodged a bullet yesterday. I was safely on the ground at 11:42 AM when the 5.4 magnitude temblor hit. The Doll bounced around a little but never came out of the jacks. Had I been up on top when it hit things might have been interesting.

As to when we will finish this job I am not sure. We still have a couple of good days of work left to do but…

Ken is still not able to work. Jeff is leaving for a month. Marc has a full flying schedule and some other commitments and we won’t have Scott around for a couple of weeks. But not having Scott around is really good news! Yes I said GOOD news! Scottie goes back to work flying 747’s on Sunday!

Until next time,

Dan

CAPFlyer · **Posted:** Wed Jul 30, 2008 1:23 pm

Glad to hear work is progressing on the "Doll" Dan. Sorry you also weren't able to come out to the Summer Staff Conference. Met several other of your wing's members and was good to get to meet some people from the Left Coast of CAF operations.

Hope to see you and the "Doll" at AirSho!

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Wed Jul 30, 2008 1:24 pm

Thanks for the update, Dan. Glad to hear that the quake didn't tear anything up there.

Scott

b17engineer · **Posted:** Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:25 pm

Dan,

Any word on when the PBJ work will get started again?

RICK

Django · **Posted:** Tue Nov 11, 2008 6:50 pm

Any updates?

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Tue Nov 11, 2008 8:43 pm

Yeah! Whats the Blue Bomber up to now? :wink:

Dan Newcomb · **Posted:** Wed Nov 19, 2008 11:43 am

Hello folks!

We finally finished with the C-46 structural repairs and have resumed work on the PBJ! That job took us almost a year! We all hated to stop working on the bomber but our first priority is to keep planes in the air. Unfortunately we never seem to have enough mechanics to do the work. It took us most of a day to get China Doll back out on the ramp and then reorganize the hangar.

We are currently replacing most of the hydraulics in the bomber. We have also resumed working on the cable runs. Work continues on Joe’s SNJ restoration and it is just about ready to fly. We also hope to get the Spit back in the air in a few months. We might be broke and under staffed but we keep cranking.

You know I’ve been doing this for a few years now and I must admit sometimes that what ever I am working on ceases to be an airplane. It becomes a “project”. It becomes a “thing”. And then like on Monday, you pull that thing, in this case the Zero, out to the ramp and the prop starts to turn, and the fire and smoke belches out of the stacks and you fall in love all over again.

It’s good to be back on the PBJ! It has been a while so here are a bunch of photos.

Dan

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Wed Nov 19, 2008 11:51 am

Great to see the update, Dan!

Scott

Django · **Posted:** Wed Nov 19, 2008 1:28 pm

Glad to see you can get back on the bomber!

Alan Brooks · **Posted:** Thu Nov 20, 2008 2:34 pm

Great job Dan! I was worried about ya! No return on the emails, man I thought you had done something better than Scott, that you had fallen off the face of the earth! :lol:

Question, how did you get Peppito to look like he's actually laughing! I always thought he had a wrench in one hand and a Louisville Slugger in the other!!!!!!! :shock:

Seriously, great job..... Can't wait to see the five CAF B-25's and ONE, CAF PBJ in the air.... altogether! Alan

Oh yeah..... I really, really want to see the Spit back in the air!!!

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Thu Nov 20, 2008 2:41 pm

deleted

cadet77 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 02, 2008 10:52 pm

Great work Dan,

While looking for some info on the APS-3 radar for Pooner, I found the following site on VMB613 and the PBJ-1 Mitchells that they flew:

http://www.vmb613.com/index.htm

Good history, photos and video.

Semper Fi,

Larry

TAdan · **Posted:** Sat Jan 10, 2009 12:39 pm

I saw the PBJ on TV yesterday! I was watching the Military Channel and the show was about restored B-25's. They visited AeroTrader and also the SoCal CAF PBJ Project. It was a thrill to see the project on television.

Steve Thomas formerly of This Old House was the host. I am glad to see he didnt sell out like Bob Villa... :lol:

mentormarc · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2009 11:44 pm

Can't let Dan have all the fun but I am sure he will be posting a number of pics before too long. Lots has been going on over the past couple of weeks and its all good stuff.

First, the hydraulic system is coming together really well. Selector valves for the flaps, gear, and cowl flaps are being overhauled. New tubing is being installed throughout the aircraft and soon we will be doing the actuators.

The team has been cleaning up and reorganizing the entire area as we are going to bring back the outboard wing panels on next Tuesday. Dan and Jeff will be the rebuild team.

Lots of good things happening

Marc

mentormarc · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2009 11:45 pm

Can't let Dan have all the fun but I am sure he will be posting a number of pics before too long. Lots has been going on over the past couple of weeks and its all good stuff.

First, the hydraulic system is coming together really well. Selector valves for the flaps, gear, and cowl flaps are being overhauled. New tubing is being installed throughout the aircraft and soon we will be doing the actuators.

The team has been cleaning up and reorganizing the entire area as we are going to bring back the outboard wing panels on next Tuesday. Dan and Jeff will be the rebuild team.

Lots of good things happening

Marc

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