Warbird Information Exchange

_________________
Don't touch my junk!!

I take my friend, Sherman Best flying every now and then. He piloted "Flak-Bait" on 16 of his 63 misions. He tells me all the big numbered missions, (100, 150, 200) The brass came in to fly her, then
the next mission was flown by a regular crew! Jim Farrell named the plane originally, but there were many pilots tha flew her. Sherman wasn't assigned a "plane" per say, he'd just fly the one assigned to him. He was good friend's with Jim until his passing.
He's a gret guy and still rides his motor scooter around town!
Jerry

http://www.flakbait.com/

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

The aft area of the left nacelle needs some touch-up paint in a few spots

_________________
"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

I wish they (NASM) could re-assemble that aircraft and display it "as is"...

_________________
"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

Thanks Jack for pix of my favorite B26 and one of my favorite surviving combat warbirds.

RE: NASM & Restoration - Keep or start writing letters asking for Flak Bait to be at least reassembled. They have all the components and it is a very feasibl;e project.

Theoretically it is "scheduled" as one of the first to go into the planned new restoration facility at U-V, but they could handle it at Garber/Silver Hill if they really wanted to. They have planned to "restore" it much like they did with the P38 currently on display at U-V.

Wouldn't it be great if it were actually done and on display before the last WWII B26 crewmember dies?

Just a thought...

I can't wait to see Flak Bait stand on her own gear again. Does anyone know her timeline from her last comabt mission until joining the NASM collection? I don't know if any "restoration" work was performed to get her nose section on display, but by looking into her interior it appears that she's got all her original equipment; a time capsule as far as warbirds go. If the rest of her is in as original of shape, then I would fully support displaying her as they did the P-38. Seems like original equipment usually vanishes over the years ... how did Flak Bait dodge the souvenir hunters?

Ken

_________________
"Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves."

I think that she should be put together as well and displayed like the P-38. I also agree that they can handle it with the current facility.

_________________
Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

information on Flak Bait at:
http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/aero/ai ... in_b26.htm

"Few Marauders survive today. One is preserved at the Air Force Museum, Dayton, Ohio, and another can be seen at the Musée de l'Air. Because it has a special history, General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold selected Flak Bait to include in a collection of World War II aircraft from different countries that the general set aside for the National Aeronautical Collection. The Air Force transferred the bomber to the National Air Museum in May 1949 but it was not moved to the suburbs of Washington, D. C., until 1960. The original paint is still bright, but more than a thousand patched flak holes bear witness to the fact that this famous Marauder was indeed appropriately named."

All the Flak Bait components that are not on display at the NASM Museum on the Mall are in storage at Garber/Silver Hill. I saw the remaining fuselage pieces there sometime in the mid-90's. Remarkably complete and (unlike certain other NASM artifacts) remarkably well stored and preserved.

Any more talk of getting FB to U-H?

[quote="ww2John
RE: NASM & Restoration - Keep or start writing letters asking for Flak Bait to be at least reassembled.
Just a thought...[/quote]

Great Idea.... can you go ahead and put up a link that will ease us in bugging the Museum until they see the light?

_________________
Kind Regards,
Gary Lewis
J.A.F.O.

Gary 1954,
I believe the NASM "get" many things and know how important "Flak Bait" is.
If you wish to pass along words of encouragement, some contact names at the NASM can be found here: http://www.nasm.si.edu/museum/departments.cfm
I have belonged to the NASM Air & Space Society for more years than I can remember to help their mission which includes preserving a/c like this notable combat veteran. Kind words of engouragement and donations never hurt.