Barksdale's B-17 and B-24 getting some attention...
Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:10 am
Soldiers aren't the only veterans getting attention at Barksdale Air Force Base. Two special war planes are too.
"Since they're veterans of WWII, they deserve tender, loving care," 8th Air Force Museum Director Gary Miller said.
Soon the B-17 and b-24 bomber planes will get a brand new start.
"Because of their historic significance, they're high on the Wing Commander's list of restoration. So we're forming a restoration team to start the restoration of the two aircrafts," Miller continued.
The war birds once flew missions over England and Ireland. Now, like any other vehicle, the'yre in need of maintenance.
One of the first things that will be added to the planes is a landing pad. It will help stabalize and drain moisture leftover from heavy rains.
Despite their condition, WWII vet Kermit Fisher says seeing the planes are always a treat.
"Make you feel young, just get back out and see all this again," he said.
His son Michael agrees.
"It's really something to come out and see planes from the 50s and 40s, all the way back to WWI, " he said.
The restoration is expected to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and take hundreds of man hours to complete. That's why musuem officials are pleading for assistance.
"We're kind of asking the community to help us with this. People that are interested, come out and see if you can help us,"Miller said.
To find out how you can donate your time or money, stop by the 8th Air Force Museum at the base.
Found it here:
http://arklatexhomepage.com/content/fulltext/?cid=83221
Last edited by Warbirdnerd on Fri Nov 13, 2009 2:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Fri Nov 13, 2009 2:00 pm
Send the B-24 to Yankee!
Fri Nov 13, 2009 2:46 pm
seabee1526 wrote:Send the B-24 to Yankee!
Brother you said it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They deserve it! I mean, I know its not an ORIGINAL but what about Yankee buying a fiberglass replica and detailing it up to donate to the USAFM in order to maybe grease the wheels to see this bird released back into the wild?!
Fri Nov 13, 2009 2:50 pm
"Aircrafts"??????
The plural of aircraft is..................aircraft.
The plural of aircraft is..................aircraft.
Fri Nov 13, 2009 2:58 pm
Pogmusic wrote:"Aircrafts"??????
The plural of aircraft is..................aircraft.
I see that you too are amazed
Fri Nov 13, 2009 3:04 pm
I don't mean to sound pessimistic, but to the plans include getting them indoors? Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy to see the aircraft getting some attention, but if they're left outdoors, the local climate will undo any restoration efforts in a relatively short time.
Being a native Michigander, I'd love to the the B-24 come to Yankee..but I realize that's a rather selfish attitude.
SN
Being a native Michigander, I'd love to the the B-24 come to Yankee..but I realize that's a rather selfish attitude.
SN
Fri Nov 13, 2009 3:12 pm
Steve Nelson wrote:I don't mean to sound pessimistic, but to the plans include getting them indoors? Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy to see the aircraft getting some attention, but if they're left outdoors, the local climate will undo any restoration efforts in a relatively short time.
Being a native Michigander, I'd love to the the B-24 come to Yankee..but I realize that's a rather selfish attitude.
SN
Nothing wrong with that Steve, Louisana climate, like you said will undo all that is done to these airframes unless they are moved inside. After my liitle trip into yesteryear climbing through Witchcraft (except the cockpit/bombardier station and tailgun position that was blocked off), it would be nice to see another Liberator in the air.
Fri Nov 13, 2009 4:18 pm
I would also love to see it at Yankee but the Air Force probably owns it and wouldn't allow us to fly it.
....Also, we would be in the same boat, no place to store it inside since we had to vacate our hangar and don't have a home.
Regards,
Mark
....Also, we would be in the same boat, no place to store it inside since we had to vacate our hangar and don't have a home.
Regards,
Mark
Fri Nov 13, 2009 4:24 pm
mtpopejoy wrote:I would also love to see it at Yankee but the Air Force probably owns it and wouldn't allow us to fly it.
....Also, we would be in the same boat, no place to store it inside since we had to vacate our hangar and don't have a home.
Regards,
Mark
BTW, Hows the reconstruction plans coming along Mark?
The plans I saw back at Thunder looked like there would be quite alot of hangar space once the new museum was built. Any word about when they plan on breaking ground?
Chris
PS: has the idea of constructing large temporary hangars been kicked around?
Fri Nov 13, 2009 4:35 pm
Right now the City, Village, Township, Island.....of Gross Ile has been kind enough to provide temporary housing in one of their hangars at their municipal airport (former NAS).
The museum HQ is in temporary quarters off of the field for the time being until the Michigan Institute of Aviation and Technology moves out of their facility at Willow Run at which point YAM will occupy the building and set it up as HQ. The building is quite big and has a nice shop area to work but not nearly big enough for the 17, 25 or 47 and there is no ramp access at this building.
I heard in our last newsletter that our Northeast division in New Jersey (I think it's New Jersey) has an unbuilt hangar that they may not have the $$$ to erect and it may be shipped to Willow Run but I don't know the particulars on the size and they have knocked around the idea of a temporary hangar near the old museum site as well but no final plans as of yet.
The long term plans are pretty lofty for the museum campus. All it takes is cubic $$$$$ to make it happen and in this economy everyone is holding on to every penny as you all affiliated with other museums know.
No plans for any new ground breaking yet.
At our last meeting we were told that the 17 did a pretty bang up business this year and the great show that Kevin Walsh and Michael Luther put on brought in big money as well so hopefully that will keep up and we can move forward to building some new facilities.
....So if anyone has any rich relatives that want to make a large charitable donation make checks payable to Yankee Air Museum.
If you all have any more questions PM me and if I don't know the answer I will get it from someone who does.
That is all,
Mark
The museum HQ is in temporary quarters off of the field for the time being until the Michigan Institute of Aviation and Technology moves out of their facility at Willow Run at which point YAM will occupy the building and set it up as HQ. The building is quite big and has a nice shop area to work but not nearly big enough for the 17, 25 or 47 and there is no ramp access at this building.
I heard in our last newsletter that our Northeast division in New Jersey (I think it's New Jersey) has an unbuilt hangar that they may not have the $$$ to erect and it may be shipped to Willow Run but I don't know the particulars on the size and they have knocked around the idea of a temporary hangar near the old museum site as well but no final plans as of yet.
The long term plans are pretty lofty for the museum campus. All it takes is cubic $$$$$ to make it happen and in this economy everyone is holding on to every penny as you all affiliated with other museums know.
No plans for any new ground breaking yet.
At our last meeting we were told that the 17 did a pretty bang up business this year and the great show that Kevin Walsh and Michael Luther put on brought in big money as well so hopefully that will keep up and we can move forward to building some new facilities.
....So if anyone has any rich relatives that want to make a large charitable donation make checks payable to Yankee Air Museum.
If you all have any more questions PM me and if I don't know the answer I will get it from someone who does.
That is all,
Mark
Fri Nov 13, 2009 7:31 pm
Warbird Kid wrote:seabee1526 wrote:Send the B-24 to Yankee!
Brother you said it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They deserve it! I mean, I know its not an ORIGINAL but what about Yankee buying a fiberglass replica and detailing it up to donate to the USAFM in order to maybe grease the wheels to see this bird released back into the wild?!
Too bad Bill Jr. doesn't have the political muscle that Grandpa Henry had
I wonder if Ford is on the donor list for the rebuilding. I understand that the connection between Willow and YAM might be stretching it a bit, but you'd think they have some feelings for the place.
...how about aircrafti..?
Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:10 pm
Pogmusic wrote:"Aircrafts"??????
The plural of aircraft is..................aircraft.
if you are from Kosovo you are a Kosovar....it then stands to reason that if you are from Idaho you are an IDAHAR!
Sat Nov 14, 2009 5:35 am
..we had to vacate our hangar and don't have a home.
Dang, that bites! I'd heard there was a possibility you'd get evicted last winter, but thought the situation had been resolved. I assume the B-24 project is in storage somewhere..where is the Cariboo currently tied down?
SN
Sat Nov 14, 2009 6:22 am
The B-17 and B-24 are in bad shape but the B-29 is in REALLY bad shape down there. The place needs lots of $$$....
Sat Nov 14, 2009 8:44 am
One thing we need to ask is, has the Yankee Air Museum asked the NMUSAF for the B-24. Also for those asking about it being outside, realize that moving it to Michigan won't being indoors sooner. This being said I'd love to see it go to the YAM