Bradley Air Museum, Connecticut 1970-1976

[Larry Wielgosz]

Not sure of the exact years I took the photos but close enough. Most were taken prior to 1975. These were years prior to the tornado (1979 - tornadoes are rare in CT). The museum had collected quite a few large transport aircraft. The tornado took care of them. Unbelievable what a tornado can do. It ripped the C-133 like a model in 3 places. Maybe that was a blessing due to the amount of maintenance involved in keeping them looking nice. The New England climate is not the best for an aircraft museum. Most of these aircraft sat there for years and were rarely touched. At least they were saved but then nature did it's thing. A good example is the just recent B-29 restoration effort. It looks great. The museum is a nice museum.

Larry




This B-17 eventually became the Liberty Belle.








The F-8 Crusader sitting at the Air Guard ramp prior to being moved to the museum.

[andyman64]

what became of the cannon nosed b-25?

[TAdan]

The B-25 is still with the NEAM. It is on display inside the museum.

[AIRIC]

The B-25 is still there



Some current images are here
http://www.airic.ca/html/neam.html

Cheers,

Eric

[gary1954]

I believe that Tom Reilly repaired the B-25 after it was damaged by the tornado.

[Jerry O'Neill]

I believe that Tom Reilly repaired the B-25 after it was damaged by the tornado.

Yes, and his payment was the damaged B-17, aka Liberty Belle.

Larry, I think those B-17 photos were taken after 1975 because the wooden post with the yellow concrete stand in the photo was built by P&W for the Oct. 1975 show. The museum got them after the event.

Thanks for posting them.
Jerry