Planes at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry

[67N20]

Visited the museum last week while on vacation. According to the museum's placards, the Spitfire is a Mark 1-A and is a veteran of the Battle of Britain, and the Stuka was captured in North Africa in 1941 and is one of two in existence.

[Dan K]

Aber wo ist Unterseeboot 505?

[tulsaboy]

Probably underappreciated for what it is, but still my favorite there is Frank Hawks' Texaco 13. What a really cool airplane, and a significant survivor of a hugely important period of aviation history. I wonder how many people who wander through there even begin to understand what a neat treasure that airplane is?

kevin

[Pat Carry]

Great shots! I've been going there since I was a kid. Its nice how they moved the Spitfire and the Stuka to a lower level so everyone can get a better look at them.

[67N20]

Well, it isn't a warbird but it was hunted by them. Unfortunately they don't allow photography during the tour of the interior.

[Dan K]

Danke!

[Steve Nelson]

Not only is the Stuka one of only two complete airframes in existence, I understand most of the paint is original..making her a real time capsule! Good to see they've put the warbirds where they can be better photographed..last time I was there they were way up against the ceiling, and poorly lit.

SN

[Obergrafeter]

Don't they have the Spats for the Stuka?

[warbird1]

Don't they have the Spats for the Stuka?

I believe those have been missing for a very long time. I remember seeing the Stuka when it was displayed at the old EAA museum at Hales Corner back in the 70's, and even then it had no wheel pants.

[expat]

The spats were moved if the aircraft was operating in muddy conditions .They tended to clogg up with mud.

[Steve Nelson]

I believe this is the same aircraft when she was captured. The spats have already been removed and are lying underneath the plane. It was captured by the Brits, and given to the Americans, where it was exhibited as a "war prize." I'm assuming the spats were either lost over the years, or were discarded at the site. I don't think the aircraft was never flown after capture..it still bears some battle damage on the underside.

SN

[Pat Carry]

Not only is the Stuka one of only two complete airframes in existence, I understand most of the paint is original..making her a real time capsule! Good to see they've put the warbirds where they can be better photographed..last time I was there they were way up against the ceiling, and poorly lit.

SN

Where is the other one located at?

[JDK]

Great pix, thanks for sharing!

The Spitfire is an important example (Mk.Ia is the correct way of writing the designation, I think) and one of a 'set' gifted, along with the ultra-rare - unique in model and being a surviving Presentation Spitfire - Canadian War Museum's Mk.IIb and the Imperial War Museum's Mk.Ia and the Australian War Memorial's Mk.Vb. All early models with significant history and, apart from the Canadian one, still in their wartime paint, an important resource of how they really were...

Not only is the Stuka one of only two complete airframes in existence, I understand most of the paint is original..making her a real time capsule! Good to see they've put the warbirds where they can be better photographed..last time I was there they were way up against the ceiling, and poorly lit.

The other 'complete' Stuka is the RAF Museum's later version, which is far from accurately presented, while Chicago's the only complete 'B' model on display; rare, and as the sole example of the type and model that enabled the Blitzkrieg that rolled up the Continent of western Europe in ten days in May, historically of great significance.

There's some confusion over numbers of Stukas as there are now a couple of relatively complete recovered wrecks, while the two Stukas - the Chicago & RAFM ones - have 'always' been preserved, so there 'was' two, and there are sort of more now.

We had a discussion here (although I can't find it. Anyone?) when I was researching this very important aircraft. After an enquiry and a couple more e-mails clarifying this is the core point I got back from the museum in Feb 2008:

Dear Mr. Kightly,
Thank you for your answer to my message to you concerning the Stuka. I was misled and consequently erred when I said the plane was repainted. It was only touched up when the plane was in Oshkosh, WI for rehab by the Experimental Aircraft Association. The paint is original and was only touched up where they repaired damage to the skin.
...
Ron Ritzler, Volunteer
Think Tank

[Pat Carry]

Probably underappreciated for what it is, but still my favorite there is Frank Hawks' Texaco 13. What a really cool airplane, and a significant survivor of a hugely important period of aviation history. I wonder how many people who wander through there even begin to understand what a neat treasure that airplane is?

kevin

Kevin, Do you have any history on the airplane? I have always thought it was a neat looking plane for sure.

[Steve Nelson]

There's some confusion over numbers of Stukas as there are now a couple of relatively complete recovered wrecks, while the two Stukas - the Chicago & RAFM ones - have 'always' been preserved, so there 'was' two, and there are sort of more now.

That's why I used the caveat "complete airframes." I know several wrecks have been recovered, but I'm not sure how many or how complete they are. It would certainly be cool to see another Stuka restored.

I've heard that the reason the Chicago Stuka needed "rehab" was because it once fell from the musuem ceiling, or at least the cable supporting the tail failed. The aircraft suffered a crushed rudder and other "hangar rash" as a result. I've also heard that it was while at EAA that she acquired her current wheels, which appear to be from a T-6. They're certainly smaller than stock Stuka wheels, and obviously American in origin.

SN