Warbird Information Exchange

I was sent this from a friend that lives in Walterboro, SC. It appears that Spirt of Freedom was damaged by today's storms while parked at the Walterboro airport.

Wow. There are some more photos here.

https://www.counton2.com/news/local-new ... alterboro/

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Yes, unfortunately, nature did us dirty.

We have some folks on the ground assessing the situation, it appears to be just sheet metal damage and the wing spars appear to be ok.

As we learn more, I will share what I can.

It’s going to be costly.

Thanks for your support,

Kevin

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Kevin Kearney
Vice President
Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation


C-54D "Spirit of Freedom" 43-17228
C-97 "Angel of Deliverance" 52-2718 (painted as YC-97A 45-59595)
C-54E/R5D-4 "Spirit of Freedom" 44-9144 BuNo 90414 (wfu April/2020)
http://www.spiritoffreedom.org

Glad to hear it appears to be just sheet metal and paint. Keep us posted on the fund drive so we can donate!!

Man, that was some storm. Looks like the C-54 might've taken damage to the port flap; did she get blown into that wrecked hangar?

It's awful to see all those wrecked planes- while I'm sorry that the big Douglas got hurt, at least it sounds fixable. That Bonanza and the Cessna blown over the fence into the road? Not so much.

Lynn

Official Statement Regarding the C-54 Tornado Damage

To our loyal and dedicated support group: It is with a heavy heart we announce our Douglas C-54, the Spirit of Freedom" was severely damaged early in the morning of Monday April 13, 2020 by tornados that ravaged the Carolinas causing wide spread destruction and loss of life. Our Douglas C-54 was parked at the Walterboro, SC airport on December 18, 2019 for the installation of a new Stratus Transponder to comply with the FAA mandate for transponders meeting the ADS-B requirements by January 1, 2020. Thanks to Swamp Fox Avionics at the Walterboro Airport, our C-54 is now in compliance. It is too early to assess the extent of the tornado damage, however, photographs reveal the leading edge of the right outerwing and the rear left center wing flap area received substantial damage. Due to the many restrictions now in place regarding the Covid19 virus epidemic, it will take some time to reach a full evaluation. Our concerns and prayers go out to the families who lost loved ones due to the tornado outbreak. A sincere thank you to everyone for your continued support over the years to the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation to help keep the Douglas C-54 and our Boeing C-97 flying on their missions of history, education, and remembrance about the great Berlin Airlift of 1948 and 1949.

If you want to help, as some have asked, go to http://www.spiritoffreedom.org/donate.html

Thank you.

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Kevin Kearney
Vice President
Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation


C-54D "Spirit of Freedom" 43-17228
C-97 "Angel of Deliverance" 52-2718 (painted as YC-97A 45-59595)
C-54E/R5D-4 "Spirit of Freedom" 44-9144 BuNo 90414 (wfu April/2020)
http://www.spiritoffreedom.org

I'm sure Buffalo Airways will have the parts you guys need to get her flying again.

Why fix it? There are so many good air-frames being scrapped or near scrapping. Make this one a parts bird and save one of the other intact birds to live on.

Your joking right?

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" I am a nobody in aviation, but somebody to my family."