Warbird Information Exchange

That's alright, I'm actually glad we have an advocacy going here.

Rob, you can't touch the Marshalls. They are tightly controlled from Majuro. It took the Sterling brothers waiting on Taroa, I believe an entire month just to bring back 2-3 derelict Zeros in 1991. After that, the Historic Preservation Act was implemented. A PhD acheologist is in control of enforcing the HPO. These guys are archeologist to the extreme. To them if anything is touched, the site has been damaged. To get one of the Marshalls planes you probably would have to hire an archeologist and a lawyer.

Guam is tightly controlled by the Navy, and we know what that means.

Australia has an entire B-24 in the brush, but it's in a really remote area.

At least in Indonesia you can still negotiate with the natives, according to a colleague even easier than in PNG. I think there and PNG are the last real places that these wild ideas of salvage are possible.

I've felt for a long time now that the reason Morotai and the surrounding islands have so much WWII machinery left is not only the remoteness, but the sheer danger of the area. The key to any success there looks like it would necessitate utilizing Australians - they have so much experience dealing with these recoveries, the island people and the inherent politics - and Australia (a safe haven) as the immediate destination for the aircraft before the trip west. My only interest is seeing these great aircraft recovered before its too late. Whether its the Jungle Air Force of Morotai or the Lost Aircobra Squadron of the Yukon, what is important is that they somehow be rescued. It obviously won't be easy and won't be quick.

Granted C-124's have unfortunatly become few and far between. I would like to think that there are couple of them still hanging out in a obscure boneyard. But a back up to that plan would of course be the C-133 Cargomaster. Once again plenty of cargo space to support and carry out recovery missions. Still quite a few around so you could have your pick of the litter. Even one up in Alaska reported to be in flying status just in lay up. One draw back is the wing issue but would look into that first before aquiring. If you can't solve the problem through either preventive maintence or retrofit then forget it. But still an aircraft with a lot of potential. Also I was thinking that when the aircraft wasn't being used for recoveries could be used to help support itself through a wide variety of tasks and jobs that it would be farmed out for. Also could maybe hit the airshows and reiceve donations andso on. I definatly feel that the C-133 is in the catagory of unappreciated Military aircraft. Betcha there are probalbly more than a few veterans that would get a lil misty eyed to see a Cargomaster flying at an airshow. Look at the pics of the C-133's cargo deck and just imagine a B-24 fuselage straped in there or anything else you can think of. There lots of space there.

Shay

A lot of C-141 Starlifters in the boneyard now. Similar size in the cargo bay. also in need of a little TLC in the wing area but definitely a workhorse with a good payload and lots of spare parts(airframes) available! Nice shots of ths C-133, Shay, got any more we could have a peek at?

Rob, you definitely don't know my friend who works for BP in Babo. The dynamics in different areas vary. At Babo, you can pull a negotiate and recover stunt. The natives are relaxed, and not the same variety as what MAAM ran into.

At Kalmintan (Borneo), I still have to research their demeanor, and make sure it is reasonable.

HI PACK YOUR BAGS!! I THINK THAT IF YOU HAVE AS MUCH DESIRE TO RECOVER A/C AS THE TIME YOU SPEND ON THE COMPUTER YOUR A NATURAL!IF I HAD A DOLLAR FOR EVERY PERSON THAT SAID I COULD NEVER REBUILD THE A-25 I WOULD BE RETIRED NOW!!IF YOU BELIVE IN YOURSELF THE WORLD IS AT YOUR FINGER TIPS.THERE IS SOME GOOD ADVICE HERE SO GET YOUR GEAR PACKED AND GO HUNTING!!LOGISTICS CAN BE SORT OF TUFF IN REMOTE AREAS,DISSASSEBLY OF A/C IN GOOD CONDITION WITH THE HELP OF FORK LIFTS, CRANES ECT CAN BE A DIFFICULT JOB,TRY THE SAME THING ON A MOUNTAIN TOP ,JUNGLE OR UNDER WATER AND ITS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.AFTER 60 PLUS YEARS STUFF THAT WAS DESIGNED TO UN BOLT IS NOW A FUSED MASS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DISSASSEMBLE.REMOTE AREAS ADD ANOTHER DIMENTION TO THE PICTURE.IF IT WAS EASY EVERYONE WOULD BE DOING IT, THE REALITY IS ITS HARD HARD WORK. MORE THAN ONCE WHILE ON ONE OF MY TREASURE HUNTS WHEATHER IM ABOUT TO DIE FROM HEAT STROKE, HALF FROZEN, OR SO TIRED THAT YOU CAN HARDLY PUT ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER THE THOUGHT CROSSES YOUR MIND THAT YOU COULD BE SITTING AT HOME IN TOTAL COMFORT SIPPIN A COLD BEER AND TALKING TRASH ON THE WIX BOARD!!SO AFTER ALL THE WORK MONEY AND HOOPS YOU HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH IF YOU ARE SUCESSFUL YOU MAY RETURN HOME WITH A VERY DAMAGED A/C THAT YOU WILL SPEND A LARGE AMOUNT OF YOUR TIME AND MONEY TRYING TO RESTORE.MONEY WISE YOULL DO BETTER WORKING AT THE CAR WASH!!THEN ADD IN THE WIFE FACTOR MINE LEFT 6 YEARS AGO TO THE DAY!! IVE NEVER BEEN HAPPIER BUT IF LITTLE SET BACKS DONT DISCOURAGE YOU GET OUT THERE AND GET ER DONE!!WE ALL LOVE SEEING RECOVERYS AND RESTORATION BUT THE TRUTH IS ITS A LOT OF HARD WORK AND SACRAFICE THAT MAKES IT HAPPEN.TALK IS CHEAP LETS SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO AND WE WOULD ALL LOVE TO SEE YOUR T-6 PROJECT!!THANKS MIKE

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IF YOU CAN FIND IT WE CAN FIX IT

Amen Helldivers,
One of the underbudget...or under-prepared recoveries that I read on
the Pacific Ghosts site, was of a very intact P-47. I forget the details, but
"the guy" had run out of time...had logistics probs... and summarily axe-
chopped the wings of the Jug in order to fit the schedule. I still 'hurl" when
I think if this action!!!

_________________
He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

Rob, go ahead and believe that. I'll take a peak at UNESCO, but it don't mean a thing. My friend knows Babo well, and the long arm of Kofi's UN doesn't quite reach in the remote places.

As for me, I believe my BP pal over Rob. Hmm, I would think the UN would have better things to do than hang out in the middle of nowhere guarding a bunch of twisted wrecks.

Anyway, I concur with Helldivers Mike. Hopefully the lady friend won't get too mad about these future explorations. Mike I appreciate that, and as I thought, you of all people have had something to say about all this.

Chris

WOW YOU GOT TO LOVE THE WIX BOARD!! GREAT IDEAS BUT THE CHANCE OF GETTING A GLOBE MASTER OR BETTER YET A C-133 AIRWORTHY IS BEYOND ANYONES WILDEST DREAMS.JUST FUEL COSTS ALONE WOULD KILL YA!!LET ALONE RESTORATION COSTS!! MAYBE A C-123!! BUT ITS ALWAYS NICE TO DREAM.IF YOU ARE THAT FLUSH WITH MONEY IT WOULD BE ONE HECK OF AN ADVENTURE!!BUT THEN WHERE DO WE LAND?RUNWAYS AND THE SUPPORT TO OPERATE A/C OF THIS TYPE DOES NOT EXIST IN THESE REMOTE AREAS. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE WITH LOTS OF HARD WORK AND MONEY SO LETS SEE WHERE THIS GOES I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A SHIP LOAD OF PROJECTS COME OUT WE WOULD ALL BENIFIT THANKS MIKE

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IF YOU CAN FIND IT WE CAN FIX IT

Maybe ya'll could make a deal with the AF for some free C-130 service. Then pay'em off with a lashed together airplane.
Wait, that's been done!

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Don't touch my junk!!

By Request:







Taken 7 months ago




Real AirLifts happen from Dirt Runways






Shay

I don't necessarily see that as a big negative. If it is cheaper to repair it than to haul it out intact, it is better to recover to the west when the opportunity presents itself. Diemert hacked up his share because the aircraft had to be hand carried out by the natives. At the time, it wouldn't have been worth the effort to pull it out intact. In any case, there are plenty of warbirds flying that have had damaged spars and longerons replaced. If the spar hadn't been cut, the spar caps would have likely needed replacement due to corrosion anyhow.

YEP THEIR THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS!!IF YOU HAVE THEIR SUPPORT THEY WILL BENDOVER BACKWARDS ,BUT TRUST ME IT AINT EASY AND ITS ON THEIR TIME AND AVAILABILITY.THEY HAVE ALL THE TOYS AND TALENT TO MAKE AN OPERATION LIKE THIS A SNAP BUT TO US LITTLE PEOPLE JUST THE GAS FOR MY TRUSTY RUSTY FORD EXPLORER CAN BE A CHALLENGE. HAPPY HUNTING!!MIKE

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IF YOU CAN FIND IT WE CAN FIX IT

BDK,
I'll defer to your experience..but the difference between a spar that has
been intact for 50 or 60 years having some corroded spar caps and
hacking the SPAR with an AXE!, for a time or budget expedient still makes
me "blanche at the thought". Your in the business... so I can't really say
what is correct...Thanx..

Shay,
Thanx for the 133 fotos..good schtuff!!!...a grand old lady, with an N#,
no less!

_________________
He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

Rob, I really doubt it.