Warbird Information Exchange

You know, now you post the pic with it, I seem to remember there being such an item! Had a little "Tasmanian Devil" as its emblem, didn't it?

I grew up when those cars were very new, and a neighbor had a couple. I had forgotten about them!

Guess we don't have to shoot you now...

Robbie

Bill,
wasn't that a scary sight ? I remember standing on the ramp down by the Silver Lady hanger and getting hit with cold and hot air, watching the clouds turn in a circle, other clouds litterly exploding into exsistance and float up into the clouds overhead. I was looking around and had a nice ditch all picked out, there may have been a barbed wire fence between me and it, but I would not have let that slow me down.

First I would lie to say "Thank God" no one suffered serious injuries! As that was one HELL of a tornado or severe straight line winds! I was wondering also what the condition of the Corsair was I have read about the P-38, F4F, and various other warbirds except the Corsair which is normally stationed at LNC except during the times of repair. Also that is a Corvette and a Plymouth Duster ( used to have a Dart which is the Dodge version). I also hope that the hangar and other repair facilities were not severly damaged.

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Classic Cars and Vintage Warbirds perserve them don't destroy them

Steve mentioned the CAF Corsair but is sound like there was no damaged to it. I plan on running over there next week so I let you all know then..

Lynn

I am sorry for the late post, but I was in Breckenridge on Sunday, helping the Ezells move stuff around. When I got there, they were moving the rubble from fallen hangars over to one big pile. Later, we moved over to the concrete slab where Nelson's warehouse used to be and moved a gazillion parts into some storage containers to get them out of the weather (and to be more secure).

The hangars and general aviation aircraft were heavily damaged at BKD. However, as previously reported, most of the Warbird damage was minor. It seems as if Howard's Wildcat got the worst of it, as there is some outer wing panel and tail damage that is "easily fixable," according to Nelson.

The CAF Corsair is very slight in damage overall, but will need a new left elevator trim tab, along with a probable recovering on both elevators due to a hole punched in the left one and a bent trailing edge on the right one. Since the airplane is needed for the airshow season and the Ezells are so backed up now, Nelson suggested we do the repairs necessary to ferry the airplane out of BKD to another facility to have the elevators recovered. I, and the Corsair Sponsor Group agree. Don't know anything past that on that airplane though.

The P-38 did have some minor damage to the elevator, so it will be rebuilt. There was also some scratching to one of the tail booms, but nearly all of it will certainly polish out. It certainly could've been much worse.

He was going to have his guys work on some of the "rubble management" early this week and likely get back to work on airplanes later in the week. If needed, I'll likely go back and help this coming weekend as well.

Gary

Thanks for the report Gary. I'm glad the damage wasn't too bad. How are Ezell and Pardue's employees, friends and family doing? Did anybody lose their houses/trailers or residences? Where are people living now? Does everyone have a place to sleep?

John Blackshear's family was in their trailer house when it was completely demolished by the tornado....completely demolished. They were very fortunate to have escaped through the rubble with only cuts and bruises. They are currently staying at the Ezell's house. I briefly saw Steve Dickey (he waved through the window of his house) while I was there and it looked like maybe he lost a few windows and his shingles were turned inside out, but overall his place looked okay. I believe Chad Ezell's roof was blown about halfway off, but I didn't see it, so I don't know for sure.

But the way I understand it, everyone affected by the storm has a place to stay and it seems that everyone's spirits are high, all things considered.

Gary

if i can help out this weekend let me know by friday... since i live in the dfw area. it would be the least i could do for the tour and hospitality i recieved when i was there looking around.

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http://www.fighterfactory.com/
http://www.militaryaviationmuseum.org/



Jon

That's good to know. There's nothing worse than being homeless. It's nice that there are people out there who will sacrifice to help our their fellow man.

[quote="JBrawner"]if i can help out this weekend let me know by friday... since i live in the dfw area. it would be the least i could do for the tour and hospitality i recieved when i was there looking around.[/quote]


Thanks everyone for the kind words and support, we are getting back to a semi normalcy around here. I just got my electrons flowing on Sun. morn. and the internet back up today @ noon, kinda hard to log on when yer antenna is bent ninenty degrees over from where it should be John they have been doing a lot of clean up using a local prison gang and really there's not a lot to be done that they wont do. But if you are really interested in coming out I would call the office first to see where the help might be needed.
CAF Corsair left us on Tuesday evening for Lancaster I believe. Me and another guy are currently installing new fuel bladders in the inboard wing section(wing fold area)on Howards Fury, and most everybody else is inventorying the -38 for unseen damage or lost or missing parts.
As Gary mentioned I live here at the airport and my tin shingles on the west side are standing up instead of laying down, and two broke windows. I feel very fortunate considering the rountop hanger next to me recieved considerable damage, and unlike my fellow co-worker John Blackshear who lost everything I feel sad for them the most and am trying everything I can to help them cope.
Again thanks for the kind words and we'll "keep em flying"

Steve, glad to hear things are getting back together. The Corsair didn't come back to Lancaster (I was at the airport yesterday for a Lancaster Chamber of Commerce deal that was touring both the CAF Hangar and the Cold War Air Museum), so I'm not sure where it's at, but I'm sure it's getting repaired at double quick time.

Hope that you guys can get everything fixed up and back together soon. I know what it's like to have your life turned upside down (literally and figuratively) by a Tornado.

good to hear from you steve... well as long as you have some prisoners there helping out ill stay here. ive got work to do on our 17 but i was going to postpone that to make sure you guys were squared away. thanks for the email as well with pictures.

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http://www.fighterfactory.com/
http://www.militaryaviationmuseum.org/



Jon

More tornadoes this evening in Parker and Wise counties, both east of Breckenridge, west of Fort Worth. My wife was driving home in the middle of it, large hail, 10-15 mph on the highway. She made it home OK. Sounds like the city of Azle got hit.