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MAPS SBD's?

Sun Oct 19, 2008 3:14 pm

Maybe Im a little late here but, what happened to the 2 SBD/A-24's that were suppose to be restored back to airworthy condition at MAPS? Where did they go? Also on the MAPS website it says they used to house a P-51 and a P-40. Which examples were these? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

Sun Oct 19, 2008 3:33 pm

I think they had the P-40N project that came out of Air heritage. If I am correct that is now at Pima. The SBD's are both gone. I am not sure but I believe one went to a carrier museum. I noticed that they have a bunch of stuff from the Intrepid now so maybe that was a trade or something? Not sure. I never did hear where the other one went. I never saw a P-51 there, but I know they have a set of drop tanks for one.

Sun Oct 19, 2008 5:18 pm

The P-51 they had was called "Dove of Peace," which wore 353rd FG markings. I believe that is now in New Zealand. Both of the SBDs were David Tallichet's. One went to Pima, but I have no idea where the other went. Does anyone know if they still fly their S-2 Tracker?
Last edited by kalamazookid on Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:40 am, edited 1 time in total.

Sun Oct 19, 2008 7:06 pm

The s-2 has not flown for some time. I almost bought it but then common sense took over. It is my understanding the P-40 went somewhere to be reverse engineered. The P-39 also left. I know the SBD's are out west. We have added more to the collection than has been lost.

Sun Oct 19, 2008 7:48 pm

oscardeuce wrote:We have added more to the collection than has been lost.


I can second that man. MAPS has turned into a really sweet place.

Re: MAPS SBD's?

Sun Oct 19, 2008 11:24 pm

Warbird Kid wrote:Maybe Im a little late here but, what happened to the 2 SBD/A-24's that were suppose to be restored back to airworthy condition at MAPS? Where did they go? Also on the MAPS website it says they used to house a P-51 and a P-40. Which examples were these? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.


Everyone has been quite right. The P-40N and the A-24/SBD are at Pima.

http://www.pimaair.org/collection-detail.php?cid=69

http://www.pimaair.org/collection-detail.php?cid=90

James

Mon Oct 20, 2008 2:10 pm

Not to be picky but the Dove of Peace is 353rd Fighter group... and back in the early 90's there was a P-51 project being stored in the "restoration building". It was a center section attached to a pretty chewed up wing...definitely doable. Not sure where this went and I've never been one to keep track of serial numbers. There are at least 2 P-39 hulks still being stored outside as of August of '08.

Jim Harley

Mon Oct 20, 2008 2:32 pm

Didnt the other SBD gp to the USS Midway?

Mon Oct 20, 2008 2:46 pm

One A-24 ( s/n 42-54654) went to Pima and the more complete plane (s/n Unknown) went to the Midway where it is now on display. The P-40 also went to Pima. It was an ex-PNG airplane that came from Air Heritage, and Geneseo before that. It had an ID attached to it, but it was probably incorrect.

Jim is correct that there once was a P-51 project at MAPS. I was never able to figure out which airplane it was or where it went. I'm sure it is flying today. :)

In addition there was a third SBD at MAPS back in the early days, BuNo. 10715. I think it moved on to Dave Price and then fell off the face of the earth.

Jim

Mon Oct 20, 2008 3:12 pm

The P-39's were not out where they used to be, so I am hoping they came in. One of them is the real "Snooks 2nd" aircraft flown by Bill Shomo. It used to be at Air Heritage as well.

Mon Oct 20, 2008 4:36 pm

AirJimL2 wrote:One A-24 ( s/n 42-54654) went to Pima and the more complete plane (s/n Unknown) went to the Midway where it is now on display. The P-40 also went to Pima. It was an ex-PNG airplane that came from Air Heritage, and Geneseo before that. It had an ID attached to it, but it was probably incorrect.

Jim is correct that there once was a P-51 project at MAPS. I was never able to figure out which airplane it was or where it went. I'm sure it is flying today. :)

In addition there was a third SBD at MAPS back in the early days, BuNo. 10715. I think it moved on to Dave Price and then fell off the face of the earth.

Jim


Jim,
Where did you come up with the serial number? When the plane arrived here Talichet's people told me that it was unknown.

James

Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:51 pm

Its nice to see big museums like PIMA evening out there collection with aircraft loaned to them by David Tallichet. But i still think many of us here would've liked to see 2 more SBD's brought back to the air rather than becoming 2 more static. :roll: I mean its one thing to have an aircraft restored to static configuration outright, but it sucks when it was publicized and noted that these aircraft at one time were suppose to be flying and now aren't. Just feels like having food dangled in front of your face with only having it ripped away a second later.

I just hope that eventually the option arises that sees these loaned aircraft from Mr. Tallichet get into the hands of some people that are willing to fly them. Heck, i wonder if his group would mind parting with there lovely Replica Val thats located at March Field : http://www.marchfield.org/bt13jap.htm

Though now it seems the USAF own it. What? When did this happen? Why would the USAF own one of these? :idea: Or am i missing something.
Chris the confused :?:

Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:05 pm

Warbird Kid wrote:Though now it seems the USAF own it. What? When did this happen? Why would the USAF own one of these? :idea: Or am i missing something.
Chris the confused :?:


When they say the USAF "owns" it, they really mean the NMUSAF (Air Force Museum), as they own all static aircraft displays at U.S. Air Force Bases. Tallichet was known to do a lot of "horsetrading" with the Air Force with several of his air frames, so it wouldn't surprise me if the NMUSAF obtained that Val replica in a trade somehow. I also do know that Tallichet had a falling out with the March AFB Museum and took most if not all of his airplanes out of there. IIRC, this happened sometime in the late 90's or early 2000's. I remember there being a HUGE controversy about the fiberglass P-40 replica that was on display there, with Tallichet removing it or threatening to. I can't remember all of the details, perhaps someone here can fill in the blanks.

Mon Oct 20, 2008 11:51 pm

Warbird Kid wrote:Its nice to see big museums like PIMA evening out there collection with aircraft loaned to them by David Tallichet. But i still think many of us here would've liked to see 2 more SBD's brought back to the air rather than becoming 2 more static. :roll: I mean its one thing to have an aircraft restored to static configuration outright, but it sucks when it was publicized and noted that these aircraft at one time were suppose to be flying and now aren't. Just feels like having food dangled in front of your face with only having it ripped away a second later.

I just hope that eventually the option arises that sees these loaned aircraft from Mr. Tallichet get into the hands of some people that are willing to fly them. Heck, i wonder if his group would mind parting with there lovely Replica Val thats located at March Field : http://www.marchfield.org/bt13jap.htm



Though now it seems the USAF own it. What? When did this happen? Why would the USAF own one of these? :idea: Or am i missing something.
Chris the confused :?:


I am glad that they are preserved static or flying. We need both. :wink:

Tue Oct 21, 2008 2:13 pm

James,

I can't remember the exact details but many many years ago someone found a data plate on the parts bird. We looked, but never found any ID on the restoration project airplane. Somehow over the years the ID of the parts bird became the ID on the restoration plane. I'm not sure if this was on purpose (as this was a restoration to fly) or one of those things where someone publishes the number in one place and then everyone else follows suit. I see Midway has followed this trend and shows the serial I listed as attached to their airplane.

Jim
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