OLATHE NAVAL AIR STATION

gsheff · **Posted:** Fri Aug 13, 2010 10:41 am

We have completed funding to make a short documentary on the history of the Olathe Naval Air Station. I need some help.

We are looking at recreating some scenes and want to have some aircraft flown in for the filming. Since NAS Olathe was a primary training facility we would like to have a couple N2Ss. We would also like to have a Corsair or a Avenger or bearcat - probably can only afford but one of these aircraft. How can I find these aircraft owners and ways to contact them? Preferably in the region of Kansas City.

Any photos (high res) would be great! I have found some real gems form the National Archives! Hoping to post them soon.

Jerry O'Neill · **Posted:** Fri Aug 13, 2010 12:18 pm

WIX'er Mike George is in Illinois, so he's only a state away and has an F4U-5N.
Jerry

kalamazookid · **Posted:** Fri Aug 13, 2010 1:11 pm

The CAF Missouri Wing has a TBM Avenger:

http://www.cafmo.org/

dusttinbound · **Posted:** Sat Aug 14, 2010 4:00 pm

Don't forget there also is the Heart of America wing of the CAF that has a couple of training aircraft. I know of a BT-13 that is based in MO and good friends with the owners. I might be able to see if they could come up to Olathe. Not sure if you are wanting to focus on the NAS as a training base but there is an AD-5 in Creve Coeur, MO that might work. Not sure who owns this but I saw it at the KC airshow last year and talked with the crew.

Kevin

tulsaboy · **Posted:** Sat Aug 14, 2010 10:07 pm

There is at least one navy-painted stearman in Tulsa.

GARY HILTON · **Posted:** Sun Aug 15, 2010 3:16 pm

Olathe used to have a couple of squadrons of PV-2 Harpoons based there after the war.....There are two flying examples in the U.S., but they would have to be repainted for accurate markings....I have offered to put my Harpoon on display there at the C.A.F., and put it in authintic period colors, but they are not interested. They didn't even know what a Poon was.
Gary

IndyJen · **Posted:** Mon Aug 16, 2010 7:00 am

No worries, Gary--PJ's already liasion-ing with them. They won't have a proper documentary without a PV on the screen! Hopefully we can work it out to take Hot Stuff out there.

The N man · **Joined:** Sun Jan 03, 2010 5:41 pm **Posts:** 8

I would suggest that you secure the Stearman that is painted in Navy colors. These are so few N3N's flying that it will be tough to get one to meet your needs. Interestingly we are in the final stages of fully restoring to origional specifications an N3N that was used at OLATHE as a trainer from '41 to '43 before it was moved up to Great Lakes and then decommissioned. The plane is on the West Coast and won't be finished for several more months. Good luck with the project.

Airlift48 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 744

You might want to get some C-47/R4D's...

In Dec. 1943, Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox visited the newly commissioned Naval Air Reserve Base at Olathe, KS. The following January he ordered VR-3 to be moved there to continue their operation. This resulted in the inauguration of scheduled round trip flights to the west coast Naval installations. VR-3 was the first military unit to operate "Air Evacuation" flights with their aircraft, flying wounded WWII and ill servicemen from Washington to Burbank, CA. It was followed in December with once a week scheduled flights to Toronto Canada with a flag stop in Ottawa Canada. That same month, they inaugurated four daily flights between the east and west coasts. At that time (1944) VR-3 was the first naval unit to have a WAVE (female sailor) assigned, when a Link trainer was obtained.

12XU2A3X3 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 17, 2010 11:12 am

don't forget about VMF (AW)-215 operated F4Ds out of Olathe under the 7K tailcode. i think they were the only naval/marine reserve unit to operated the type.

12XU2A3X3 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 17, 2010 11:13 am

you might do well to contact a man named Lionel Paul who lives near westover mass for pictures.

Owen Miller · **Joined:** Fri Aug 27, 2004 9:28 pm **Posts:** 614

Interesting post about VR-3. A couple of weeks ago
I had the opportunity to look through the logbook of
an aviator assigned to VR-3. Lots of entries into and
out of Olathe. Most of the guy's time was in R-4Ds
and R-5Ds. The wildest thing was he had ONE flight
in a Coronado from the West Coast to Hawaii. The
Bu No matches the one being restored in Pensacola
and will one day be displayed inside. Figure the odds....

Airlift48 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 744

Owen, any chance you could look at that logbook again?

Our C-54/R5D was with VR-3. BuNo. 90414.

It would be interesting if your friend flew the "Spirit of Freedom" back in its Navy Days..

It would be better if he had a photo! I have no photos of 90414 in USN paint.

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