Tinker Belle going to Military Aviation Museum in VA

[Warbird Kid]

Just saw on the Warriors and Warbirds Facebook page that they are prepping the C-46 Tinker Belle for her final flight (for them) to Jerry Yagen's MAM in Virginia Beach, VA. Anyone have any more info on this?

[marine air]

Had a Falcon trip to Charlotte/Monroe Executive (KEQY) last month . The old C-46 still looked decent but seemed to have been sitting outside for three or four years. The paint has faded a little on the airframe and much more on the control surfaces It obviously had ran out of funding. Glad to see it finding a new home.

[BK]

The C-46 is scheduled to depart for her new home this weekend. There is a public event Saturday noon: "She is scheduled to leave Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport sometime next weekend on the 15th or 16th of July. We would like to invite anyone who is interested to join us at the hangar on the afternoon of July 15th for food , drinks, and camaraderie before her departure. We will serving hamburgers and hot dogs, starting at 12pm. Some have expressed bringing some other types of food and drink. If you want to help 'Pot Luck' this event, please feel free to do so.
I would also ask if anyone has pictures past and present of events or airshows with Tinker Belle and our members, or stories that we can put together for a memorabilia display in the future, we would appreciate it." Thank you, Timothy R Beckerman President Warriors and Warbirds Organization

[Thomas_Mac]

From the museum newsletter.

The only flying example of its type represented in a museum collection, the C-46 is expected to arrive at the Museum in time to debut at
the South Pacific Luau and Hangar Dance, Saturday, July 22nd.

The Military Aviation Museum proudly announces the acquisition of the Curtiss C-46 Commando, known as "The Tinker Belle," from its caretakers, the City of Monroe, NC, in partnership with the non-profit organization Warriors and Warbirds.

"The Tinker Belle" has long been a centerpiece of the Warbirds Over Monroe Air Show at the Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport, where it was based. It has captivated audiences across the United States and Canada, becoming a symbol of the heroic efforts during World War II.

Officially designated as the Curtiss C-46 Commando, "The Whale," as it was affectionately known, played a crucial role in Air Transport Command operations over the Himalayan Mountains, famously referred to as "The Hump," in the CBI (China-Burma-India) Theatre during WWII. The crews who flew these C-46s and C-47s became the backbone of history's largest and longest airlift. Despite their tremendous achievements, this triumph came at a significant cost, with the loss of numerous aircraft, crew, and cargo.

By the end of WWII, the Hump airlift operation was a staggering endeavor, with aircraft crossing every 1.3 minutes on average. This figure is astonishing and becomes even more so when compared with the one every 13 minutes that Air Transport Command was operating across the Atlantic, and the one every 90 minutes that they were dispatching across the Pacific. Over 34,000 USAAF personnel and 47,000 local laborers from Burma, India, and China were instrumental in making this airlift operation a reality. It even involved utilizing local elephants to replace unserviceable forklifts!

“We are very excited to welcome the C-46 to the collection here at the Military Aviation Museum,” said Museum Director, Keegan Chetwynd. He noted further that, “Visitors to the Museum will be able to enjoy an up-close look at the aircraft, and even the opportunity to get inside "The Tinker Belle" in the not-too-distant future."

More on this new addition to the collection coming soon!

[sandiego89]

Nice add for MAM! fantastic place.

I believe this C-46 flew into one of the MAM Warbirds Over The Beach shows maybe 6-7 years ago? I could be mistaken.

Hangar space is getting tight for the heavies there with the PBY and Ju-52. Hope she can get indoors.

[Warbird Kid]

Nice add for MAM! fantastic place.

I believe this C-46 flew into one of the MAM Warbirds Over The Beach shows maybe 6-7 years ago? I could be mistaken.

Hangar space is getting tight for the heavies there with the PBY and Ju-52. Hope she can get indoors.

I've been waiting for MAM to build a British, Russian, and maybe a even second German hangar for years! Then at least it would free up a decent amount of space and finally have the Navy and Army hangars used for there intended purpose.

[wls3]

Geneseo Air Show






Reading WWII Weekend Air Show

[Pogo]

Wow - thanks for the great pictures, Bill! I love that airplane, how nice to see a brighter future emerging for her.