Warbird Information Exchange

Found an interesting photo embedded in an auction on Ebay.

P-51A, 43-6178 Now with Kermit Weeks
https://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/s ... al/43-6178

P-43A, 40-2903
Air Corps Ferrying Command, Hensley Field, Grand Prairie, TX; Accident 13May42 in collision with P-43A 42-2910 landing at Hensley Field;

P-63A, 42-68870 (Appears to have post 1947 Star & Bar insignia.)
Reported as seen in use as an instructional airframe at a trade school, Seymour, IN from 1953-1960

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45-47=-2

That's got to be the P-43 that Earl Reinert almost rescued in the early '60s - it got scrapped just before he could get it (he got the engine mount/firewall and landing gear). Now we have an ID on it. If you have a link to the auction I'd like to put in a bid, unless you're buying it.
Edit: Found it. $499.77 , geez. Screengrab time!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/116718578849

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

I don't recall seeing a P-39 or 63 with post-'47 markings.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

Looking at his other listings, he appears to have a rather.....inflated view of their worth. But no price is too high if you can find someone to pay it. (Publicity still of a Shelby GT350, single page press release and an envelope=$400. Aaah, no.

OK, did some work on the photos:






Earl and what was left of the P-43, besides the landing gear (IIRC the pieces still exist with another collector):


Found the newspaper listing; from the Indianapolis Star-Tribune, September 6, 1953, page 34:

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

But wait, there's more! On the same page, listed above the fighters, were three B-24s at the former NAS Bunker Hill:


I ran the serials through Baugher:

Anyone have more info on them?

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)