Warbird Information Exchange

Think I found it. This Tail, also from Gasmata Airfield. according to:

http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/d3a2/3357.html

In Texas

Does the tail in the pic belong to the museum's Val, or is it from a different airframe? From the pics of the nosed over Val, it looks like the tail was blasted off by a bomb. I know it was displayed in the same way at the Nimitz Museum for years.

<edit> Looks like you and I were typing at the same time! Thanks for the info.

Normally I lean more towards preservation when it comes to original WWII aircraft, but I wouldn't mind seeing this one restored. I believe the POF Val is the only other one in existence (other than wrecks..excuse me.."Cultural Heritage Treasures" still rotting in some jungle somwhere.)


SN

They also have an actual miget Japanese sub. It was the one that washed up on the beach in Hawaii I think on Dec 8, 1941. {Hawaii wants it back, but the folks in Texas aren't giving in} The locals call it "the daddy day care" because the ladies go shopping while the guys go to the museum. I've been there probably 10 times, and I stop by every time I'm near by because it's ALWAYS changing [always for the better}. Thanks for posting the pics, and bring folks attention to it.

fabulous!!! who owns the museum?? i'm sure it's not a private venture!!

_________________
tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

This SBD used to be in the museum. It's now flying with Lone Star. I took this in the late 70s or very early 80s.




There were parts of two Vals there at one time. Maybe they're still there. It was all stacked up and for years I thought it was one plane. One was just a tail section so that's probably the one yall are talking about. The more complete one was blown nearly in half, with the tail sticking up. At home I have pictures of all this stuff from a family vacation when I was a kid. I just happened to have the SBD picture on my hard drive.

The B-25 used to be on a pylon at Reese AFB in Lubbock.

_________________
Brad

Who owns the museam? It is a State Historical Site, so when we seceed we keep everything like the midget submarine the Navy wants back, but we just kept it and told them if they want it try and come get it.

Glad to see the model of CVN 68 came through the time warp O.K.

_________________
"I can't understand it, I cut it twice and it's still too short!" Robert F. Dupre' 1923-2010 Go With God.

I agree, the museum looks really cool. Thanks for sharing your pics!

Love the B-25 pic, but it's not as exciting knowing that it's not really spinning that fast. Still cool though!

_________________
.
.
Sure, Charles Lindbergh flew the plane... but Tom Rutledge built the engine!

Visit Django Studios online or Facebook!

Hi Holedigger:

The picture in your link is different than the picture here. 2 different planes. They may both be in the Admiral Nimitz Museum in Fredricksburg TX. One of them is definitely is in Fredricksburg.

_________________
"No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth!" R.R.

Welcome to the USSA! One Nanny State Under the Messiah, Indivisible with Tyranny, Higher Taxes, Socialism, Radical Environmentalism and a Loss of Income for all. Boy I'm proud to be a part of the USSA, what can I do to raise taxes, oh boy oh boy!

It is certainly two different airframes. Most of one plane with it's tail rather shredded, and one mostly complete tail with the rest of the airframe missing. From comparing pics over at Pacific wrecks site to those at the Nimitz/Pacific War Museum, it looks like it is the same source for both airframes/pieces.