Warbird Information Exchange

Visited the National WWII Museum for the first time since 2001 today. Didn't get to see as much as I wanted, but here are a few shots of the stuff in the gallery. The C-47 is the one they got on EBay (a veteran of all the major combat jumps in the ETO, IIRC). Enjoy!

C-47 with Spitfire behind it


View of the port exit door


Spitfire BL370 close up


Sherman Tank from the rear...


...and from the front


"Heidi" remote-controlled antitank weapon


Sighting system for the Flak 88 in the background, this is a new one on me. Note the range and elevation dials for the 88 in the background.


Elevated Flak 88, sorry the sun washed out the details

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ATC: "Oscar 2, cleared to engage wildlife at your discretion..."

Looks like a very nice place but 2 questions.
The C-47 is very pristine but why are the main gear tires filthy???
The Spit looks like a 8 gun MKI why invasion (I understand the DDay theme) stripes?? Is it a replica???
Oops 3 questions

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Don't touch my junk!!

Looks like the Spitfire is real:

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/spitregi ... bl370.html

Registry says it's a F. Mk. Vb

I'm guessing someone forgot to clean the tires on the C-47 before they hung it up. Oops!

No problem Jack

The C-47 was flown in from parts elsewhere, I did a post on it about a year ago with photos.

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... highlight=

From what I understand they did one last flight with reenactors on board and the local F-15 unit as an escort. After that, the plane was brought to the museum and strung up. I'd imagine they kept the tires dirty for a reason.

I've been told the Spitfire is part original, part replica. A friend who volunteers there told me it crashed in England and the majority was used in the construction of the aircraft on display. As far as the stripes, I couldn't tell you. More than likely they were added with ignorance as to when the MKI was used.

I'm planning on going down there to sign on as a volunteer...if I learn anything else I'll share.

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ATC: "Oscar 2, cleared to engage wildlife at your discretion..."

The Spitfire is real...just.

The fuselage, empennage, engine and prop are a faithful rebuild of the crash remains of BL370, a Mk VB, completed to a very high static display condition by two English enthusiasts.



They parted with it to Pat Taylor, of Taylor Energy, in New Orleans who commissioned a company in California to scratch build a set of wings. Bad move. They are made of steel and whatever and have nominal dimensional integrity and at my last sighting no Radiator Boats or Cannons.

This was all done at a bit of a rush to complete for the opening of the D Day Museum 5/6 June 2000 by the US Secretary of State for Defence. I forget his name.

BL370 was a true D Day participant, flown by 64 Squadron, in whose colours and codes it once again carries, SH-J. Indeed one of its Pilot's, and still going strong, is S/L Tony Cooper. Pat Taylor very graciously invited a bunch of us Brits over for the opening ceremony, and Tony was the 'toast' of the US media for a couple of days.

A couple of guys from the film industry turned up. Here is a image of one with Tony and the other was Tom somebody. I don't go to the cinema much.

PeterA

Fascinating stuff Peter, thanks!

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ATC: "Oscar 2, cleared to engage wildlife at your discretion..."

It looks like they have jiggled with the museum title since I was there.

http://www.ddaymuseum.org/

Tony Cooper took his camera along on the big day.

PeterA

Thats Steven Spielberg, not Tom somebody or another.

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If God had wanted man to fly behind a flat motor, Pratt Whitney would've built one.

No, that's Tom standing behind scratching his ear. The were both trying to 'Save some Private or other'.

PeterA