Wow- Neat story!
Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:15 pm
Neat Story:
Forgotten Warbird Found Outside Bozeman, Montana
By Chet Wilard, Associated Press Writer
3 hours 25 minutes ago
Bozeman- It seems odd to find it now, but an early WWII B-17 "Flying Fortress" has apparently been found in a long abandoned hangar of an airfield closed since WWII.
The former Whitworth Field, an Army Air Force installation, was only open for a few years early in the war, closing in 1943, when its duties were transferred to nearby Great Falls Army Air Field. After its closure, the land was transferred back to the landowners who had leased it to the government in 1940, for the creation of the airfield. The permanent buildings and runways were removed, save for two large maintenance hangars, one of which has been used for farm equipment storage since the war, and the other left "in reserve". The hangars were pretty well landlocked in the middle of a 200,00 acre farm following the removal of the road network within the base.
Tom Ellis, the owner of the land commented "Dad never bothered with that other hangar. It was just there, and he figured that one day he'd probably use it for some more tractor storage, or to start some business." The first hangar was used to store the various pieces of farm equipment used by the Ellis family.
"When Dad passed away, I just thought I'd see what I could make of the building. It took a few years- Dad passed on in 2002- but last week I went and cut the locks off the door. We never could find the key. That may be part of why Dad never bothered with it- We really did not have a need for the building. It was just there, in the middle of our farm."
And a surprise was in store for Tom Ellis- "When I cut those old locks, I had to kick the door a bit to get it open. You can imagine my surprise when I found there was actually an airplane in there! Dad would certainly have been amused- His brother was a tail gunner during the war. He passed away back in the 80's"
Whitworth Field was never a large installation- The few records available indicate it was mainly used as a way station for aircraft en route from the East Coast to the West Coast, and never had a complement of more than around two hundred men. It is speculated the aircraft, identified from photos as a B-17C, had been en route from one coast to the other, and developed engine trouble near Whitworth Field, probably in early 1942. Forms found in the aircraft indicate its last flight was in April, 1942, and that it was being left at Whitworth Field for repairs, the crew flying out with a cargo aircraft to their initial destination. As Whitworth Field was then in the process of closing down, it may have been intended to be recovered later, but simply forgotten with personnel transfers, and wartime confusion.
The Museum of the US Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, in Ohio, has expressed an interest in the aircraft, as have several aircraft restoration groups. Tom Ellis is not sure what he wants to do with it- "Well, I think it is mine- It's been sitting here, what- 66 years? I think I might just lock it right back up, and let it set there. But then again, might be fun to see if it will fly- but I don't think I'd try that without some fresh gas. And that stuff is expensive!"
Neat Story Huh?
Robbie
Forgotten Warbird Found Outside Bozeman, Montana
By Chet Wilard, Associated Press Writer
3 hours 25 minutes ago
Bozeman- It seems odd to find it now, but an early WWII B-17 "Flying Fortress" has apparently been found in a long abandoned hangar of an airfield closed since WWII.
The former Whitworth Field, an Army Air Force installation, was only open for a few years early in the war, closing in 1943, when its duties were transferred to nearby Great Falls Army Air Field. After its closure, the land was transferred back to the landowners who had leased it to the government in 1940, for the creation of the airfield. The permanent buildings and runways were removed, save for two large maintenance hangars, one of which has been used for farm equipment storage since the war, and the other left "in reserve". The hangars were pretty well landlocked in the middle of a 200,00 acre farm following the removal of the road network within the base.
Tom Ellis, the owner of the land commented "Dad never bothered with that other hangar. It was just there, and he figured that one day he'd probably use it for some more tractor storage, or to start some business." The first hangar was used to store the various pieces of farm equipment used by the Ellis family.
"When Dad passed away, I just thought I'd see what I could make of the building. It took a few years- Dad passed on in 2002- but last week I went and cut the locks off the door. We never could find the key. That may be part of why Dad never bothered with it- We really did not have a need for the building. It was just there, in the middle of our farm."
And a surprise was in store for Tom Ellis- "When I cut those old locks, I had to kick the door a bit to get it open. You can imagine my surprise when I found there was actually an airplane in there! Dad would certainly have been amused- His brother was a tail gunner during the war. He passed away back in the 80's"
Whitworth Field was never a large installation- The few records available indicate it was mainly used as a way station for aircraft en route from the East Coast to the West Coast, and never had a complement of more than around two hundred men. It is speculated the aircraft, identified from photos as a B-17C, had been en route from one coast to the other, and developed engine trouble near Whitworth Field, probably in early 1942. Forms found in the aircraft indicate its last flight was in April, 1942, and that it was being left at Whitworth Field for repairs, the crew flying out with a cargo aircraft to their initial destination. As Whitworth Field was then in the process of closing down, it may have been intended to be recovered later, but simply forgotten with personnel transfers, and wartime confusion.
The Museum of the US Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, in Ohio, has expressed an interest in the aircraft, as have several aircraft restoration groups. Tom Ellis is not sure what he wants to do with it- "Well, I think it is mine- It's been sitting here, what- 66 years? I think I might just lock it right back up, and let it set there. But then again, might be fun to see if it will fly- but I don't think I'd try that without some fresh gas. And that stuff is expensive!"
Neat Story Huh?
Robbie
Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:25 pm
I"m waiting for the photos. Good for Chet to get this story on the news wires on such a slow news day. I guess he couldn't wait till April 2nd to file this neat story could he.
Rich
Rich
Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:14 pm
OK...neat story. If it's true....WAHOO. If it's an April fools thing, I'm personally gonna' open a can o' WHOOPASS on Mr. Wilard. 
Who'll join me?
Mudge the suspicious
Who'll join me?
Mudge the suspicious
Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:18 pm
Uh huh....and I went to the garage the other day to clean it out and found 5 Corsairs that I forgot my grandfather had stashed away during the war...amazing whatcha find when ya ain't lookin' for it, ain't it?
M
M
Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:19 pm
Is it midnight yet? 
Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:28 pm
Gee, some stories are just too good to be true... But it was neat...
What would really be funny, is if something like that actually happened! That would be the ultimate "Barn Find"
Apologies to all my friends...
Have to come up with something better next year... maybe some pics too- if I remember... lol
Robbie
What would really be funny, is if something like that actually happened! That would be the ultimate "Barn Find"
Apologies to all my friends...
Have to come up with something better next year... maybe some pics too- if I remember... lol
Robbie
Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:31 pm
Mudge - I'll hold your coat.
Dan
Dan
Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:58 pm
I'm sorry troops...I like to think I've got a pretty good sense of humor...April fool crap isn't among the stuff I consider humor.
Mudge the cur-MUDGE-on
Mudge the cur-MUDGE-on
Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:23 pm
my feelings exactly.... what did i start 24 hours ago??Django wrote:Is it midnight yet?
Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:47 am
Robbie Roberts wrote:Have to come up with something better next year... maybe some pics too- if I remember... lol
Ya got greedy Robbie!
If you would have saved it for a Late-Late April Fools and
posted it on the 3rd you could have raised some He11 with that one!! The "Last Sharkfin '17
doooomed to static oblivion within the grips of NMUSAF group versus, the She-Must-Fly-Bunch".
Ohhhh, the horror..the horror..
Ya went over the top with the Clampet hick naivete tho.."Maybe I'll just lock 'er up
for another 60 years?", Tooooo much!!! I was waiting for the part where Elvis
gave him a tour of the bird while gobbling-down a fried 'nanner sammich dotted
with little red pills, of course.
I look forward to your efforts next year tho!!
edit...
Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:56 am
Apologies to Mudge- I always like a little humor- and I don't get too rabid on AF -hey I just noticed that!- AF Day, but felt it was in line with the other offerings..
Airnutz- Just to help me refine for next year, at what point did it lose credibility? I thought it was pretty nicely written- just had to tidy up with the ending- I probably could have gone longer, but didn't want to get boring... Think I had fun- I created an unknown Army Air Field, found a B-17 there, even had the owner interviewed... Seemed credible, given all the USAAF posts all over the place...
Have to make something more incredible next year- might be more bite-onable... lol
Apologies again!
Robbie
-the creative-
Airnutz- Just to help me refine for next year, at what point did it lose credibility? I thought it was pretty nicely written- just had to tidy up with the ending- I probably could have gone longer, but didn't want to get boring... Think I had fun- I created an unknown Army Air Field, found a B-17 there, even had the owner interviewed... Seemed credible, given all the USAAF posts all over the place...
Have to make something more incredible next year- might be more bite-onable... lol
Apologies again!
Robbie
-the creative-
Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:03 am
NO...NO...NO...Robbie. Vinnie and Guido are at my side at this moment and will do ANYTHING for me. 
Mudge the God...
(That's it. Just "God".)
Mudge the God...
(That's it. Just "God".)
Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:34 am
Robbie Roberts wrote:Apologies to Mudge- I always like a little humor- and I don't get too rabid on AF -hey I just noticed that!- AF Day, but felt it was in line with the other offerings..
Airnutz- Just to help me refine for next year, at what point did it lose credibility? I thought it was pretty nicely written- just had to tidy up with the ending- I probably could have gone longer, but didn't want to get boring... Think I had fun- I created an unknown Army Air Field, found a B-17 there, even had the owner interviewed... Seemed credible, given all the USAAF posts all over the place...
Have to make something more incredible next year- might be more bite-onable... lol
Apologies again!
Robbie
-the creative-
I googled your reporter. Didn't find anything on him as an AP reporter. Use a name that has a credible link to a real person.
You might also use photoshop to create an image that looks good.
Rich