Warbird Information Exchange

A previous thread asked for some info from Leslie Hunt's book "Vintage and Veteran Aircraft".

It got me thinking how many WIX'ers have a copy and use it?

I've had a copy of the 1974 Fourth Edition since 1977 and though I don't refer to it as much as I did in the late 70's and 1980's, I find it still useful in cross referencing previous owners and aircraft ID's.

It really was a godsend for me back then as I just happened across one by chance at a bookstore's overstocked sale bin. It really helped me get into the nitty gritty of aircraft preservation and used it often to track down some aircraft up to the mid 80's.

I still love the book.

What's your thoughts?
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

Got it and still enjoy it.

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Don't touch my junk!!

I bought the 4th edition back about 1974. It was fabulous at the time, as there was really nothing quite like it.

I also have the 4th edition, my first ever book on preserved aircraft! I still occasionally reference it, although the 'Warbirds Directory' books /CD and Bob Ogden's 'Museums & Collections of the World' have long superseeded it as far as information goes.
Wonderful to flick through for some nostalgia though!

Dave

I've had the '74 edition since the late 70's. Back then and until the early 80's, it was pretty much the only comprehensive (for that time) book listing of all surviving warbirds. Once the warbird restoration movement started in the 80's in earnest, much of the information in it became obsolete. I haven't opened the book in the last 20 years or so, if that answers your question. It's still good for the early history of a lot of aircraft, however.

Whatever happened to Leslie Hunt, btw? I'm assuming he passed away some time ago, since there have not been any more updated editions.

I probably bought it about 1974 or 75 at age 14/15.... Buying a hardback book at that time was a MAJOR INVESTMENT. Read it at least 500 times... Did a lot of dreaming about seeing that stuff in person back then. The good old days.

I still have it somewhere on a shelf amongst literally thousands of books. Need to dig it out....

Mark H

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Fly safe or you get to meet me .......

I am such a sad git, I've got the 2nd, 3rd and 4th editions.

It is interesting going through them with all the "what if?" and "what happened to?" questions that come up and not to mention the "if onlys".

One of my favorite entry, though, is in the 4th edition - page 304, Paris, Texas........

"Junior Burchinall & Son operate "Flying Tigers" Air Museum with "How to fly Warbirds" school. Basic course around 1,800 dollars with 10 hrs on Kaydet, 10 on Texan, 2 on Mustang, 2 on Bearcat and 2 on Mitchell."

Oh dear! Showing my age. I have all four editions and contributed to the last two.

The mid to late sixties were interesting times for vintage aviation in the UK. The Battle of Britain film, Control Column magazine and Les Hunt's bi-annual updates...all done with 'snail mail' - the watershed for today's Warbird movement.

PeterA

Peter

Do you know when Les passed away-as I assume he has? I remember he was gathering material for a 5th edition, which alas didn't eventuate.

Dave

I have the 4th edition too. It was a wonder to read back in the 70s and I use to use it to look for aircraft. I remember finding an A-26 in Vermont from information in it. As late as 8 or ten years ago on another site I used information in it to contribute to a discussion of surviving F2A Buffalos. (Earl Rhinehart) used to have one)

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"I can't understand it, I cut it twice and it's still too short!" Robert F. Dupre' 1923-2010 Go With God.

Wore out my copy many years ago. However, a few years back a real good friend give me his extra copy in mint condition, which I use at least once or twice week.

Dave,

Les did this work for his favourite charity.

I know he was starting to get a bit disillusioned with the number of inquiries from wealthy collectors from around the world.

He suddenly stopped and went completely off the radar. I have also wondered if and when he passed away.

A true gentleman.

PeterA

I can confirm that Les passed away away a long time ago, but not sure exactly when.

I guess what amazed me most about Leslie's work was the detail of all the small airports and junkyards that he was able to compile back then. Including the serial numbers and some background. WOW!:shock:
It's got more aircraft types than the Warbird Directory and it's nice to see where some of those listed finally ended up being saved by someone.

I guess he must have had quite a world wide network back then.

Thanks Mr. Hunt, you brought it all home for me.
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

There was a copy of the 4th ed in the local library when I was growing up. I borrowed it so many times that they should have just let me keep it. I finally found a copy of my own in a bookstore in Los Angeles around 1990. This wasn't a used bookstore, the copy was new and had been sitting on the shelf for 16 years. The clerk was so embarrassed about how old it was and eager to get rid of it that she gave me a discount off the cover price. I happily accepted knowing it was already a collectors item. Eventually I picked up 2 of the other editions.

Whether it is useful depends on what you want to do, of course, but besides the enjoyment of looking through it for a 1974 snapshot of the vintage scene, it provides much information that the newer warbird directories and registry do not. Mainly in the scope of aircraft covered; civil vintage types, and military types that have not flown as warbirds. If you go to a place like the Musee de l'Air or NASM or Rhinebeck that has had mostly the same planes for many years, and you want to look up their IDs to annotate your photos, the newer guides will not help you identify the WWI replicas, the civil stuff, or most of the jets, and often the museum web sites lack much of the info. One glance at Hunt and you're done.

August