Digging into the archives

Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:20 pm

With the interest lately in older photos, I had some slides from the 70's & 80's scanned to a disk. If the membership wants I will post any and all in small groups. If everyone's burned out then I won't waste the bandwidth. Keep in mind the quality is marginal at best.

I have:

Victory Air Museum (Earl Reinhart's place in Mundalein, IL) ca. 1974:

EAA Museum in Hales Corners, WI, same time

CAF Harlingen 1975

CAF Harlingen 1981

DuPage Co Airshow ca. 1975

Check out the large, bare metal patch in the port wing of P-51 'El Gato Rapido' on the left. That's Bill Ross "Gabelschwanz Teufel", Rudy Frasca's P-40 and Cliff Robertson's Spit down the line.

I also have OSH 1974 to about 85 in slides and then the next ten years or so on film. Only '74 has been committed to disk so far, though. Some place I also have a Rockford airshow that the CAF attended in force - some time in the late 70's I believe. Any requests?

Mon Sep 22, 2008 6:26 pm

More Earl Reinert Victory Air Museum Pleeeeeeze! I believe the first one is Larry Matt's ex-Belgian Spitfire, and of course the second is Lodestar CF-TCY. Thanks for posting them!

Mon Sep 22, 2008 7:23 pm

Let's see 'em all!

Mon Sep 22, 2008 7:34 pm

Chris Brame wrote:More Earl Reinert Victory Air Museum Pleeeeeeze!

I concur!

Mon Sep 22, 2008 8:05 pm

They all look good - keep them coming. I reckon you'll get tired of scanning before we get tired of looking!

Thanks...

Mon Sep 22, 2008 8:10 pm

More , please. This is about the era I started to attend these things. otys o memories!
Paul

Mon Sep 22, 2008 8:11 pm

OK - Victory AM it is...the disk is at work. I'll dump the rest to Photobucket tomorrow.

Mon Sep 22, 2008 8:43 pm

yeah

Victory Air

Steve

Mon Sep 22, 2008 8:54 pm

WOW! Chuck Lyfords BARDAHL P-51 and the Continental Can B-26!
I worked with a guy @ BADWRENCH who helped convert that B-26 to executive config.
YES PLEASE!!! Keep them coming

Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:25 pm

Any pics of the Hellcat at Victory?
I was part of the recovery of that from Il to Chino.
Rich

Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:30 pm

the disk is at work. I'll dump the rest to Photobucket tomorrow.

Tomorrow?!!! Can't you go get it tonight? :twisted:

Chunks

Mon Sep 22, 2008 10:06 pm

michaelharadon wrote:Let's see 'em all!

Oh Yeah!

Love it!

Can I have some more please?

Love the Bardahl Mustang! I wish some one would resurrect that paint scheme.

Saw this sticker on a T-6 a few weeks ago!

Tue Sep 23, 2008 2:52 am

Chris Brame wrote:More Earl Reinert Victory Air Museum Pleeeeeeze! I believe the first one is Larry Matt's ex-Belgian Spitfire, and of course the second is Lodestar CF-TCY. Thanks for posting them!

It is actually Mk XIV Spitfire RM694, the ex RAF Hornchurch 'Gate Guard'.

Both Larry Matt and John Lowe acquired jointly two Spitfires from the UK, arriving in the care of Earl Reinert in September 1969.

The Belgian XIV is RM 927/SG-25.

The distinguishing feature in this great photo is the tail unit. Spitfire aficionados will notice it is fitted with the incorrect small fin from a Mk IX/XVI rather than the correct larger fin and fillet panel fitted to XIVs.

Both of these XIVs are now back in the UK and under active restoration to fly. Shortly before parting with my Mk XII project I straight traded that small tail unit for a XIV unit. Both parties very happy.

I have waited nearly 40 years to see a shot of these two at Mundelein. I thought they were kept in their transit packing cases.

Keep them coming.

PeterA

RM694 at Hornchurch sporting the small IX/XVI tail unit. Image Ron Cranham.

Tue Sep 23, 2008 8:57 am

More from Victory Air Museum.

Regarding the MK XIV Spitfires, I believe RM 927 is in the crate just forward of the exposed RM 694. When I was there I questioned the wisdom of breaking down the crate to leave these artifacts open to the Illinois weather, but it is clear that these planes are much easier to restore than those that went to the smelters! Without guys like Earl Reinhart, Walter Soplata, Connie Edwards, et.al., these planes would have been so many beer cans by now.

51fixer said

Any pics of the Hellcat at Victory?
I was part of the recovery of that from Il to Chino.

Here she is (F6F-3 BuNo 08831):

If I remember right, the engine mount was hanging by a piece of cargo strap.

If my Warbirds Directory is correct, I believe this is HA1112-M1L N170BG. I have no explanation for the RAF paint job

Finally (for this posting), TB-25N N17666:

I do not remember seeing an F8F there anyplace (and we covered all the grounds), so I'm not sure if the airframe that eventually became Rare Bear had already left, or if it was stored at a different location.

More to follow (including the P-47, PBY, and Baka bomb)

Tue Sep 23, 2008 9:17 am

That is the Hellcat as I remember it.
That was a wild trip for an 18 yo kid.
Rich