Warbird Information Exchange

8 months ago, "Pooner" let us know about a cockpit and forward fuselage of a R5D that had been taken without his knowledge and presumed stolen. We all watched it play out and discover that another gentleman had bought the aircraft "in good faith" from another party who did not have ownership of the aircraft and had really been trying to rescue the aircraft. For more information and the full text, you can read the original thread. Forward to today - I received an e-mail from Sam Warren (Dan's brother) about the cockpit and I thought I would share it with everyone.



Sam included a few pictures from the delivery of the aircraft to Dan's house, but I don't have his permission to upload them (yet) and I also don't have access to my Photobucket account anyway to upload them as I'm at work (stupid Websense).

I am glad that in the end this all worked out as well as it could have and that not only will this grand lady have a great "afterlife", but it looks like new friendships have been formed out of the fire that erupted 8 months ago due to one dishonest person taking advantage of 3 other parties who only wanted the best for a historic aircraft.

Nice summation, CAPFlyer - you're long on detail, short on words, and right to the point. I continue to enjoy your posts for this very fact alone.

Here's my perspective eight months in... aircraft buyer - Dan Warren = great guy. We've shared our share of laughs, road trips for parts, moved tons of aero crud together and get along great. His love for the "Admiral" is on par with my passion for the Harpoon, and how he re-did his entire backyard and life for this cockpit is just awe-inspiring. Sick bastard, he, and I say that with the upmost of respect. If there ever was a flower that could have grown in the enormous dung pile of a situation thrust upon us, well, it'd be how we've both enjoyed each other's ability to laugh at it and make it all better. It was my great honor and pleasure to have presented him with the log books and to have open "visiting rights" presented to me whenever I get a little homesick for my first (and last?) R5D.

I have yet to meet his brother, Sam, but if he's anything like Danny, darn good people. He took his share of undeserved knocks to the chin early on when this thing got ugly in public.

I can't say much about the "resolution end" of the situation because it still hangs like a smelly carcass on the meat hook. The law enforcement agency that took on this case never has made an arrest, for what specific reason I cannot fully comprehend, but I know they have their reasons. And - it is still considered an "open case" and oddly, I had a recent call from a federal agent assigned to investigating not the specifics of this theft but someone directly involved with it. That said, there's really no reason to say any more without stepping in the dog poop myself. Shut up, Pooner...

But I guess I can say that the situation of the cockpit theft is analagous to throwing a big rock in a still pond. The ripples of the rock are still being felt. Memorial airfield is still fully closed to the public. Two PV-2 Harpoons left behind by owners unable to move them when the airfield closed - are in limbo (along with one Howard 500, and four R5Ds, one DC-7 and one DC-7 cockpit). The Indian community has opted to allow no-one on the field to work on these aircraft, to scrap them or to remove them, having set a "move it or lose it" date this past spring and summer that came and went.

It's a sad situation for the a/c owners still affected by this situation ( I need to add that our 'Poon 57C was moved 27 December 2007 and the PB4Y-2 fuselage went to Yankee in Michigan back in June 2008. The Gila River Indian Community gave me a deadline, and I met it. They were more than gracious with me, and a nod of appreciation for their courtesy).

What does this mean for the airplanes left behind? I am not sure. They could stay there in a state of limbo for many years. Someone tomorrow could decide to have them scrapped. It's a call they will make when they see fit. Owners wanting to come and work on 'em or see 'em are told to leave - right away - or face trespass charges. And these folks mean business.

I suppose what I am trying to illustrate here in a thousand words (CAPFlyer, you're hereby hired as my editor!), is a bad personal situation became something of a good one with the new-found friendship and support of a guy who - like me - got taken for a ride. That's good.

One bad airport tenant ended up closing an entire airport and dooming a half-dozen + planes. That's bad.

First time I've ever lost money in an aviation deal? Ya gotta be kidding, me, right? After all, I was the one who had to buy a darn PV-2 Harpoon - this is just one lil' old rung in the big old ladder!

Well said Pooner

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Kind Regards,
Gary Lewis
J.A.F.O.

Thanks for your side of it as well, Pooner. I was kinda hoping you'd see this and respond.

BTW, don't hire me as your editor. Ask anyone else at the DFW Wing or that I know, it takes me a couple dozen edits and rewrites to keep from being wordy and hell if you can stop me in person. Heck, you should see my posts on some other forums when I get on a roll...

I just hope to get out there and see both 57C and the "Admiral" sometime in the next decade in addition to all the other fine aviation attractions in that area.

Glad to hear things worked out as well as they did.

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Curtis Block

I've seen too many airplanes destroyed by the term "Static Restoration."

Pooner and co. Thanks not only for the update but for telling us of a happy ending. Post some pix of y'all in the cockpit when its convenient.
Seems like another WIXer once said, "the best way to make a small fortune in vintage aviation is to start with a large one."
Sounds kinda like a couple of motorcycle and old truck deals I stepped into......

regards and blue skies,
Doug

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"I love the smell of 100LL in the morning."