Swoose Restoration

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Tue Oct 28, 2008 3:43 pm

It looks like a time period has been chosen for the B-17D. It is going to be restored to the time period that it carried the O.D. and gray scheme with the bathtub but was named Swoose and carried the artwork. This is as per the Gen. in the latest update in the museum magazine.

APG85 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 28, 2008 3:53 pm

Sounds like a good choice. They should preserve the V.I.P. interior stuff as a side display...

B-17 Buff · **Posted:** Tue Oct 28, 2008 3:57 pm

Mustangdriver,

If you dont mind me asking, Who makes the final decision/ has final say on this sort of thing at the museum? Also does a panel of people sit down and decide what is best/ the approach to take for each aircraft?

Im intrigued...

Good to hear some news anyway, though i never could make up my mind on how the Swoose should look.. glad im not one of those that has to decide actually!

Either way, at least she will be restored.

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Tue Oct 28, 2008 3:58 pm

Thanks for the info Chris. I'm looking forward to getting my Friends Journal magazine any day now.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Tue Oct 28, 2008 4:39 pm

There is actually a few people that will research the aircraft find out which schemes it wore through out the aircraft's career. Then 3 view drawings are done outlining each scheme and it's time period. Then that is presented to the Air Force Association as well as the board of the museum, the General, veterans of that exact aircraft, squadron, or unit(whichever the case may be), and family. I can't say where it goes from there, but I assume that it is decided on as what is best for the aircraft, and any photos and words that the veterans can provide. An example of this was the Beaufighter. A museum volunteer sat down and wrote an article with some pics of his Beaufighter during WWII in the USAAF. The museum talked with him, got copies of his photos, and whithout telling him, painted the aircraft in his markings as ours is made up of more than one aircraft.

Mark_Pilkington · **Posted:** Tue Oct 28, 2008 5:05 pm

mustangdriver wrote:

There is actually a few people that will research the aircraft find out which schemes it wore through out the aircraft's career. Then 3 view drawings are done outlining each scheme and it's time period. Then that is presented to the Air Force Association as well as the board of the museum, the General, veterans of that exact aircraft, squadron, or unit(whichever the case may be), and family. I can't say where it goes from there, but I assume that it is decided on as what is best for the aircraft, and any photos and words that the veterans can provide. An example of this was the Beaufighter. A museum volunteer sat down and wrote an article with some pics of his Beaufighter during WWII in the USAAF. The museum talked with him, got copies of his photos, and whithout telling him, painted the aircraft in his markings as ours is made up of more than one aircraft.

Actually, your Beaufighter is made up of the major components from RAAF Bristol Beaufighter A19-43, a pacific war combat veteran and airframe whose provenance is well documented, it is certainly not a composite of disparate components without an identity.

regards

Mark Pilkington

west-front · **Posted:** Tue Oct 28, 2008 5:39 pm

Quote:

a pacific war combat veteran and airframe whose provenance is well documented, it is certainly not a composite of disparate components without an identity. regards
Mark Pilkington

http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b ... 19-43.html

Quote:

Aircraft History
Built under license by the Fairey Aviation Company in Stockport, England, and delivered to the RAAF in 1942. Assigned to 5 OTU on November 2, 1942 and 31 Sqn on June 20, 1943.

Mission History
On September 16, 1943, the fighter ran out of fuel and bellylanded at Skirmish Point near Millingimbi when returning from a raid on Taberfane. Two days later, it was flown out and returned to 31 Squadron, and then to 4 RSU for repairs.

Later, on August 31, 1944, this aircraft ran off airstrip following a brake failure, with repaired and then in October sent to No. 3 Air Armament Gunnery School in Nhill, Victoria. In October 9, 1947 it was abandoned.

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Wed Oct 29, 2008 1:32 am

Thanks to the downsizing demands of greedy, soulless corporate America, I have Fridays (and every other day) free for the forseeable future. I may make a trip down to NMUSAF in the next couple of weeks and take the Behind The Scenes tour. Looking forward to seeing The Swoose.

SN

Misterg97 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 29, 2008 8:52 am

I strongly suggest you set it up in advance. Last Friday they had a full trip and 20 at the museum on the waiting list for any cancellations.

You can pre-arrange by phone or on the musem website.

I volunteer every Friday morning and the behind the scenes is usually filled up in advance.

Tim L · **Posted:** Wed Oct 29, 2008 8:18 pm

Jerry how far in advance do you recommend making arrangements? I'll be up there in a couple of weeks, just not sure which day I will be there.

Tim

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Wed Oct 29, 2008 8:21 pm

Yeah, I always call ahead for a spot on the tour. Too bad they only run it on Fridays.

SN

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Wed Oct 29, 2008 11:11 pm

APG85 wrote:

Sounds like a good choice. They should preserve the V.I.P. interior stuff as a side display...

It sounds like a replica fuselage may get built to display the VIP interior stuff. I hope that is true.

Misterg97 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 30, 2008 7:17 am

Tim,

As soon as you can ... keep in mind the restoration tour is only available on Fridays and it begins at noon.

Jerry

wacoykc · **Posted:** Fri Oct 31, 2008 6:16 pm

Registration for spring restoration tours opens Nov. 3

Registration for the January - May Behind the Scenes Tours of the museum’s restoration hangar will be available starting Nov. 3.

The tours take place on most Fridays throughout the year at 12:15 p.m. and participants must be at least 12 years old.

To register, check available tour dates or for more information on these free guided tours visit http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/visit/tours/index.asp.

Museum visitors who do not have Internet access may call (937) 656-9436 to register for the tour.

Misterg97 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 31, 2008 7:06 pm

While I was volunteering this morning, they had openings for today's tour and made a general announcement over the speaker system if anyone was interested.

Never know from one week to another. But it is wise as wacoykc advised to do so in advance.

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