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Duluth Commemorative Air Force Merges Two Vintage War-Time Planes
Originally printed at http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/new ... 67992.html

A major restoration project is underway in the Northland on a World War II Plane. Parts from two damaged planes are being merged to create one that will eventually take off. The goal is to one day use the planes to teach about the commitment and dedication of veterans.

During the height of the war the PBY Catalina was one of the most widely used air crafts.

"It was used in rescue missions in pacific theater during World War II, used for recognizance, radar and aerial bombing," said Peter Prudden, the unit leader of the Commemorative Air Force of Duluth.

But unlike most American Flying Boats the one sitting inside the Cirrus North Hangar this weekend never saw military action. It was built in 1946 as a water bomber to fight fires from the sky.

"There are a half dozen of these air crafts in the United States, only three of which are worthy of flying and we intend to create one here in Duluth," Prudden said.

Using two identical PBY's, once stationed in St. Paul, members of the Commemorative Air force are resurrecting a new one that one day take to the skies.

A 104 foot wide wing is hoisted up 30 feet in the air, lowered and attached to the body of the plane. Dan Kallos, the Executive Officer of the Lake Superior Commemorative Air Force says the beginning of this project doesn't come without challenges.

"The two airplanes, although less than a hundred serial numbers a part when they left New Orleans after manufacturing ,have been extremely modified," Kallos said.

Damage to the body of the aircraft makes it an even more difficult process.

One of the PBY planes was fully intact up until the late 1990's. That's when a freak windstorm in St. Paul toppled the plane over, rendering it completely useless.

"The center wing section was destroyed, the outer wing section was destroyed and the insurance company totaled the aircraft," said Kallos.

Shoddy repairs and years of use put the other plane out of order.

"Structural members were damaged, lots of corrosion. An aluminum can in and out of water for 60 years, the red PBY was not restartable without major work," said Kallos.

Once complete, the half-a-million dollar project, funded by donations, will share quite the tale of war time victory.

Kallos says, "It will tell how one crew during midway, spotted the advancing Japanese fleet and basically turned the war in the Pacific"

The rebuilding of this PBY Catalina is a story in itself. The entire restoration project is expected to take five years to finish. Once it's done, it will join about 150 other vintage World War II planes already on tour around the country.

...... I know Gary has a great deal more knowledge on these birds than I, so I will stop at this point. However, follow the above link and there is more info available on the work being performed. Very interesting stuff as you do not often see a complete wing being lifted from one PBY and place onto another. Alan