Val at Nimitz Museum in Texas

[Brad]

It's been discussed a few times before but I figured I'd bring this Val up again. I finally found the pictures I have of it. The first two are from around 1980 or so. This was back when most of the cool stuff was out doors. I know it wasn't the best for conservation but it sure did look cool. The second two pictures were taken when I was still flying C-130s so they are at least 11 or 12 years old. As a kid I remember wondering why there was two tail sections on display and being impressed with the fact that the tail hook was still in place. The story as the museum told it was that the airplane had a bomb explode under it, so that's why it's broken in half.

In an Air Classics magazine from the late 60s early 70s there were pictures and short article about it being recovered and brought to the states along with a tank.

[RickH]

Brad, if I remember correctly they have a Japanese light tank as well as a Stuart. Supposedly the Stuart was driven by an Australian crew who attacked a Japanese airfield with it. I believe the tank commander recd the Victoria cross for his actions ?

Last edited by RickH on Wed Aug 26, 2009 6:55 am, edited 1 time in total.

[JDK]

There's a photo or two of the Val in situ where it was bombed in the Charles Darby book Pacific Aircraft Wrecks, IIRC.

[RMAllnutt]

Where is the Val now? I don't recall seeing it there when I visited the Nimitz museum a few years ago.

Cheers,
Richard

[RyanShort1]

It's still there. I think it may be in a different section now. They've expanded a LOT in the last 10 years - there's also a separate part just down the street.

Ryan

[Second Air Force]

Brad, if I remember correctly they have a Japanese light tank as well as a Stuart. Supposedly the Stuart was driven by an Australian crew who attacked a Japanese airfield with it. I believe the tank commander recd the Victoria cross for his actions ?

We visited in 2004, and I believe a portion of the crew of the Stuart were killed in that action. I remember looking at the battle damage on the little tank and thinking about the kids that were manning it that day at Buna.
Here is a link to information on that machine: http://www.pacificwrecks.com/tank/stuart/2017.html

We didn't see the Val when we were there, I'm thinking that they were working on that display when we were there. As to the B-25, I believe the airframe on display was formerly a gate guardian at Reese AFB.

Scott

[steve dickey]

I visited the museum during Feb 05 during the big Iwo Jima plus 60 reenactment and was able to get in touch with the then curator(not sure if he's still there or not)(don't even remember his name) and he let me look at the Val and Rex that were at the time in off limits storage area. He gave me the grand tour of the place! The Rex and Val were the first things seen and not till we got to the Avenger did I ask to look in the cockpit, I wish I had asked to see in the Rex!! Maybe another time
He also showed me the interior of the PT boat, that was cool Since the thread is about the Val I am only posting those photos unless anyone has interest in seeing the Avenger, Rex or PT boat





Sorry these are scans but if you right click save you can zoom in a little better

[RickH]

Sure ! Post 'em all ! I'd like to see what the inside of the PT Boat looks like these days.

[mustangdriver]

I would like to see the Avenger PT boat, and B-25

[steve dickey]

Sure ! Post 'em all ! I'd like to see what the inside of the PT Boat looks like these days.

Here ya go Rick , I got tired of scanning individually so I bunched up the Rex & boat. The Avenger is surprisingly stock and complete inside I was shocked! This birds been discussed before but I can't remember where it came from? Anyone??

Chris I did take a couple of the 25 but not interior and they look the same as any other shots anyone has ever taken with the same angles

















Again right click save to zoom in better

[mustangdriver]

Awesome shots. The PT looks great!

[Brad]

This one I've posted before but it's the Galveston SBD when it was still hanging in the Nimitz Museum.



These are pretty bad pictures but they are from when the TBM was outside, parked by the Val. Seems like I was told that this TBM was a recovered crash victim from spraying or firebombing. I vaguely remember thinking that it was in pretty good shape for that to have been the case! I wonder if it could have come from Bob Schnider's place?




The B-25 was originally mounted on a pole at Reese AFB in Lubbock. Somewhere I've got a 110 picture of it from 1977 but I haven't been able to find it in the last dozen years or so.

At one time I had pictures of the Wildcat just after it arrived at the museum, a bunch of the Rex and some other stuff. Maybe I'll find them someday.

On my first visit there, they had a tail gun station off a B-29. My brother and I crawled inside it. I kind of remember a sign saying it came from China lake. That was around 1976 or so and I've never seen it again on the other dozen visits I've made.

[Edward Sheetmetalhands]

[\quote]

On my first visit there, they had a tail gun station off a B-29. My brother and I crawled inside it. I kind of remember a sign saying it came from China lake. That was around 1976 or so and I've never seen it again on the other dozen visits I've made.[/quote]

The B-29 tailgunner's compartment was donated to the Doc group to be a donor for all the systems, interior, armor plating, etc that are in a normal B-29. Doc had been stripped back there for target tug sleeve modifications. After the Doc group removed everything, I am not sure where it went or who got it.

[Obergrafeter]

IIRC the TBM came from a three way trade between the museum, Bob Schnider, and CCNAS. Not sure which one is which. The B-25 was filled with concrete when it came off the pole. Don't feel bad about it not being restored as a flyer as it was pretty well corroded up. I restored the flight surfaces and had one of the rudders litterally fall apart in my hands as I was carrying it to a work table.

[John Kerr]

Here are 4 photos of the Val from my collection. 1 & 2 taken in Sep 1983 and 3 & 4 taken in Oct 2002.


[img][img]http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r234/JohnMadDogKerr/ValinTX2OCT2002.jpg[/img]