Airplane in a Barn Story

Ok, I lied - kinda. Actually it's a bunch of airplanes in a river story. Goes like this:

Yesterday I picked up a copy of "P-47 Thunderbolt at War" by Cory Graff. On page 114 below a photo of a postwar Colombian P-47 it says "Colombia disposed of it's Thunderbolts by pushing them into a river."

Who knows anything else?

Dan

[Tulio]

Magdalena River, outside of the base (IIRC, Palanquero, Colombia).

Have no clue as to the volume of water, depth, flooding, etc., of this river at this particular location.

Years ago, I consulted with a Colombian friend, who suggested that periodic flooding might -might- have damaged the fuselages.

I always wondered though, how come if there is a market for these airplanes, no one involved in aviation in Colombia, has come up with any kind of survey or research on the subject.

Saludos,


Tulio

[airnutz]

I remember this one...with the rains and type of river, heavy silting/burial possibilities was discussed. An anerobic environment is normally a good thing.

I wondered that too, Tulio. How friendly would the Columbians be to permitting a survey on their military base?

Any idea how many airplanes we're talking about, Tulio?

[F3A-1]

I heard about this many years ago and I believe it is true. As I recall there were 6 or 7 P-47's pushed into the river because it was the easiest way to dispose of the planes (per an agreement with the U.S.) in order to get new T-33's.

This recovery would have financial and physical risks. I could not find anyone willing to invest in this at the time. I hope someone will accept the risk and go for them.

Many simular opportunities exist.

Pirate Lex
http://www.BrewsterCorsair.com

[n5151ts]

I remember this one...with the rains and type of river, heavy silting/burial possibilities was discussed. An anerobic environment is normally a good thing.

I wondered that too, Tulio. How friendly would the Columbians be to permitting a survey on their military base?

look for the ones with the chrome side arms they are usually the big shots and the most corrupt. If you see one with gold pistolas with ivory grips...that will be the main bribe recipient.

[paulmcmillan]

http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... 26pwst%3D1


Says 35 P-47 delivered, 7 written off in fatal accidents

I heard about this many years ago and I believe it is true. As I recall there were 6 or 7 P-47's pushed into the river because it was the easiest way to dispose of the planes (per an agreement with the U.S.) in order to get new T-33's.

This recovery would have financial and physical risks. I could not find anyone willing to invest in this at the time. I hope someone will accept the risk and go for them.

Many simular opportunities exist.

Pirate Lex
http://www.BrewsterCorsair.com

Paul Allen has a Thunderbolt. Maybe he'd like another one... Does Kermit Weeks have a P-47?

[Chris Brame]

Ok, I lied - kinda. Actually it's a bunch of airplanes in a river story.

Aw rats, I thought someone found Earl Reinert's Buffalo...

I'm still trying to get more details on the BT-13 dismantled in a barn in Kentucky. I know who owns it and where it's supposed to be but haven't been able to contact the fellow yet.

[camshaw]

If you pull it up on the satellite,the base looks almost closed,not much happening there...a few straight roads to the rivers edge...wonder how deep it is..Planes that heavy I'm sure didn't slide too far downstream before becoming embedded in the silt..Had a few friends who were missionaries down there from the states, wonder what kind of reception and availabilty and cooperation would we receive triing to recover them? Anybody have more info?

[muddyboots]

I heard about this many years ago and I believe it is true. As I recall there were 6 or 7 P-47's pushed into the river because it was the easiest way to dispose of the planes (per an agreement with the U.S.) in order to get new T-33's.

This recovery would have financial and physical risks. I could not find anyone willing to invest in this at the time. I hope someone will accept the risk and go for them.

Many simular opportunities exist.

Pirate Lex
http://www.BrewsterCorsair.com

I'll go. I can't dive anymore due to a perforated ear drum but you bet I can handle about anything else for you. Including security if need be. And I'll only cost you R&B. Sleeping on a barge and eating beans can't get much cheaper

[Tulio]

n5151ts wrote:
look for the ones with the chrome side arms they are usually the big shots and the most corrupt. If you see one with gold pistolas with ivory grips...that will be the main bribe recipient.

Patton? : )


Seriously, it never ceases to amaze me, that we look at these people only as being corrupt, when in fact, those who go and offer them the money, are the corruptors.

With poor local economies when compared to industrialized nations' standards, anyone will try to make some extra money.

Wait! That is not just an exclusive trait of the third world people! We have seen, time and again, corruption, bribery and shady deals in the USA, too! Congressmen, Senator (s), military, politicians . . . . most of them, have been big shots and yes, they are corrupt, too.

Saludos,


Tulio

Last edited by Tulio on Fri Aug 01, 2008 1:01 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Tulio]

Airnutz:

The Colombians would probably (I don't know this for sure, though) look favorably to any proposal that would include any benefits for their museum.

Dan:

I am sorry, but I don't know for certain. Memory (which in my case is of course, unreliable) tells me 24. The Hagedorn book on the P-47 in Latin America mentions a number, but I cannot remember how many.

What is a given, is that most everyone involved in aviation in this planet nowadays, is fully aware of the prices that warbirds command in the market. I would risk saying, that long gone are the days where you paid 5 thou. for a Mustang, Corsair or similar, and then sold it in the USA for fifty times over.

Saludos,


Tulio

[airnutz]

Airnutz:

The Colombians would probably (I don't know this for sure, though) look favorably to any proposal that would include any benefits for their museum.




What is a given, is that most everyone involved in aviation in this planet nowadays, is fully aware of the prices that warbirds command in the market. I would risk saying, that long gone are the days where you paid 5 thou. for a Mustang, Corsair or similar, and then sold it in the USA for fifty times over.

True..if there are 7, share-out 2 or 3 for the museum. Tho..things are a bit more sophisticated these days.

Hopefully, gone are the days where you roll up and snatch it outta the muck with a crane or for the
sake of expediency chainsaws start poppin.

5K purchase days are gone, but so are the 50K/etc. overhead days as well.

It would be pretty cool to build a relationship with them for permission to cruise the rivers around the old
rivertowns with a side-scan...fishing trips trolling for fish and 'birds'. A lot of neat stuff went to Colombia. It'd be
sweet to find out where some of it is...and old Junkers on floats..Orrr....

[Swiss Mustangs]

Tulio & all

from www.aeroflight.co.uk :

Republic F-47D Thunderbolt * Retired * - 35 aircraft

Used by the Escuadrón de Caza-Bombardeo 1947 - 1956
Base Aérea Militar 2 Germán Olano/Palanquero

Serial - c/n. - Prev. Identity - Delivered - Fate/Notes
830 339-55951 45-49412 1947 n/a
831 339-55983 45-49444 1947 n/a
832 339-55984 45-49445 1947 crashed on 8.8.1950
833 339-55985 45-49446 1947 n/a
834 339-55987 45-49448 1947 crashed on 27.10.1950
835 339-55994 45-49455 1947 n/a
836 339-56019 45-49490 1947 crashed on 10.7.1955
837 339-56026 45-49497 1947 n/a
838 339-55721 45-49182 1949 n/a
839 339-55722 45-49183 1949 n/a
840 339-55723 45-49184 1949 n/a
841 339-55724 45-49185 1949 n/a
842 339-55727 45-49188 1949 n/a
843 339-55728 45-49189 1949 n/a
844 339-55729 45-49190 1949 n/a
845 339-55732 45-49193 1949 crashed on 5.10.1951
846 339-55735 45-49196 1949 n/a
847 339-55736 45-49197 1949 n/a
848 339-55737 45-49198 1949 n/a
849 339-55739 45-49200 1949 n/a
850 339-55357 44-90292 1953 n/a
851 339-55714 45-49175 1953 n/a
852 339-55746 45-49207 1953 n/a
853 339-55754 45-49215 1953 n/a
854 339-55756 45-49217 1953 n/a
855 339-55799 45-49260 1953 n/a
856 339-55838 45-49299 1953 n/a
857 339-55855 45-49316 1953 n/a
858 339-55867 45-49328 1953 n/a
859 339-55928 45-49389 1953 n/a
860 339-55929 45-49390 1953 crashed on 25.4.1953
861 399-55641 45-49102 1953 preserved at the Museo Aeroespacial Colombiano in Bogotá
862 339-55878 45-49339 1953 n/a
863 339-55893 45-49354 1953 n/a
864 n/a 1953 n/a


Martin