Warbird Information Exchange

Does anyone know or recall the history behind a turret graveyard discovered in the southeast, possibly Georgia, about 20 years ago? It was around 10-15 acres full of long-forgotten bomber turrets. I found it almost unbelievable that it existed for so long before being found. Thanks for any info on this.

George

George,
I was involved in the recovery of the turrets that you mentioned. Roy Stafford actually found this scrapyard and I did the selling. We recovered over 30 turrets at the time including many that are in restored aircraft today. At the time, the Smithsonian refered to this find as the most signifcant discovery since WW2. I still have pieces and parts from the late 1980's.
Jaybo

Thanks, Jaybo. Wasn't this in some remote area? Do you know why they ended up there, and how they became forgotten for so long, i.e., the history of the whole situation? Thanks much.

George,
All the items in this scrapyard were surplused from Warner-Robbins AFB after WW2. They were actually found by a truck driver working for Wiley Sanders Trucking. He was hauling scrap batteries when he recognized many radial aircraft engines. His boss owned many WW2 aircraft and had told him to be on the look-out for aircraft parts. His boss also happened to be very close friends with Roy Stafford. Now you know the rest of the story.
Jaybo

Thank you, sir. That is a great example of what gets forgotten for a long time. Wish the mystery of the Altus boneyard B-17 that was towed south into the country could be solved with the same result as the turrets.

George

we had a guest out to the bombers a couple days ago...he had a rear turret to a b-24d that he was restoring to operational condition...it came from this GA graveyard in macon

jimh

Sure, Rob. When the RFC was selling aircraft at Altus AAFB after the war, some farmers bought one of the B-17s and towed it out into the country, in a southernly direction, I believe. Over the years, it simply vanished, but I imagine it was used for its parts on the farms south of Altus. Most of the oldtimers in the area seem to know about it being hauled out to the country.

Mr. Rohr:



Try contacting Bill Modes at Prescott AIrport. He is a flight instructor for T-6's, and he may be able to do some footwork for you.

Thanks,

Chris