Quite a Post-War collection ...

[Mark Allen M]

I'm not sure where exactly the location or date, but I would assume a few of these aircraft are currently on display or in storage at the National Museums?

[old iron]

This is from the Park Ridge facility in Chicago that housed much of the (then) National Aviation Museum collection prior to being moved by Paul Garber to Suitland Maryland (now the Paul Garber Facility). I would guess 1949 to 1950.

I have not seen this picture before (most pictures are from the other end of the building). To the left is the B-42 or B-43 (both were there, and went to Suitland, B-42 fuselage only, now at NMUSAF). In immediate foreground is the Kellett XR-8 helicopter (still at Garber, though I understand now looking for a new home).

I am curious what the airplane with the long wingspan is immediately in front of the B42/43.

Any more of these pictures?

[mexchiwa]

J1N1?

He-219, Ju-388 in front of it. See the Ki-45, too, some 190/152s, He-162, P-40, 47, 51, 63...

[old iron]

The twin-engine aircraft with the long wingspan, sitting in front of the B-42/43 is a Tachikawa Ki-77 -- a truly rare bird and I think the first picture that I have ever seen of this in the US. Listed in Bulter's War Prizes (p. 238) as FE-153, and as stored at Park Ridge. Scrapped as they thinned out the collection prior to transport to what is now the Garber Facility. I would assume some pieces of this might remain in the NASM collection.

Two of Ki-77 were built, with one of these lost over the Indian OCean enroute to Berlin in 1943.

[Dan K]

Baugher has quite a bit on the P-63A:

42-70255 (MSN 33-131)

9/23/44: TOS USAAF.

9/25/44: Vandalia, OH for modifications.

Ca.12/44: Army Air Force Cold Weather Detachment, Ladd Field, AK. Flew from several other bases. Pilot Wilbert “Dick” Dickmeyer named the plane “Edyth Louise” for his fiancé.

4/45 to late 10/45: WFU.

10/45: Ferried to US Aircraft Section, Air Materiel Command, Freeman Field, Seymour, IN.
Set aside for proposed USAAF aviation museum.

5/22/46: Flown to the aircraft storage area, 803rd Special Depot at Orchard Place Airport, Park Ridge, IL.
Total of 173 flying hours.

1960: To National Air Museum, Paul Garber facility, Silver Hill, MD.

1999: William Dickmeyer, who named the plane in 1944, toured the Garber Facility with his wife Edyth
Louise: he was allowed to sit in the cockpit.

Still at the Paul Garber facility of the Smithsonian Institution.

[Michel Lemieux]

Wow...that is one rare pic!!!!

Imagine going back in time and stumbling on that lot....errrrr......how much for the whole pack sir????????????????

Thank for sharing Mark...truly a unique one.

[Mark Allen M]

More coming now that I know the location.

[Snake45]

Surprised no one mentioned the Ar 234, which has now been restored and is on display.

[mexchiwa]

Are you sure that’s a Ki-77? Looks like a Gekko to me

Also there - P-38, A6M, XP-80

[Mark Allen M]

Also a P-39, either an A-36 or P-51A, a P-47 and two more fw190’s

[mike furline]

The Japanese aircraft is the P1Y Ginga (Frances). Notice the antennas on the side of the fuselage.
The Ki-45 Nick is the last aircraft in the row on the right.

[mexchiwa]

You’re right. That’s definitely a Frances and not a Gekko

[old iron]

I stand corrected.

[Mark Allen M]

[mike furline]

TP-40 N 44-7084.
http://warbirdregistry.org/p40registry/p40-447084.html
http://joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1944_1.html

P-63 42-70255
http://warbirdregistry.org/p39-p63regis ... 70255.html

P-39 44-2433 (civilian paint job, left side of photo)
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/p39-p63r ... 42433.html
https://www.si.edu/object/bell-p-39q-15 ... 9560019000

P-51D 44-73939
http://warbirdregistry.org/p51registry/p51-4474939.html
https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-o ... 9600300000

Last edited by mike furline on Sat Apr 24, 2021 3:34 pm, edited 5 times in total.