Beautiful Dragon...CAF of the past
Fri Mar 14, 2008 9:10 am
A few photos of the beautiful B-23 at Harlingen, 1984
Fri Mar 14, 2008 9:28 am
Zane thank you so much for posting the pics of the B-23, especialy the nice shots of the tail gunners position. Myself & fellow Cajun Wing member, Rick Ayers reglassed the tail. The original glass had been replaced with sheet metal panels. We took the panels out & cut plexy to roughly match. Rick then took the metal panels & placed them in his wife's oven with the plexy laying on top of the panels. As they heated up they formed the needed curveature to fit in the airplane properly. Did some triming to fit, & secured them in the tail. Too bad the tail of the bird is all tore up now. Matter of fact too bad about the whole deal with that airplane. Hopefully someday it will at least be restored to a nice static display. 
Robbie
Robbie
Fri Mar 14, 2008 9:43 am
I give up........
How did i t progress to its current condition?
Mark H
How did i t progress to its current condition?
Mark H
Fri Mar 14, 2008 9:45 am
Wow..amazing pics of a VERY lovely airplane!
Shame none are flying.
Shame none are flying.
Fri Mar 14, 2008 9:47 am
Yes very nice photos .
Robbie the B-23 was one of the Main reasons that I joined the CAF. I still have my Dragon Squ Patch that I wear proudly on my jacket . I too hope that she will go to a good home that will like you said at least restore her to stactic display. But hey who knows maybe she may fly again stranger things and resteorations have happen
Robbie the B-23 was one of the Main reasons that I joined the CAF. I still have my Dragon Squ Patch that I wear proudly on my jacket . I too hope that she will go to a good home that will like you said at least restore her to stactic display. But hey who knows maybe she may fly again stranger things and resteorations have happen
Fri Mar 14, 2008 9:47 am
P51Mstg wrote:I give up........
How did i t progress to its current condition?
Mark H
Lack of money or people interested in keeping it flying.
Fri Mar 14, 2008 9:52 am
I guess too bad WIX couldnt tackle the job. Seems to me 99% would like to see it flying! 
Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:36 am
Yep. Sad...
Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:54 am
Yeah the Dragons are a rare beast. It is too bad there isn't more interest in those aircraft.
Fri Mar 14, 2008 11:09 am
Just saw her at the HQ Ramp.
What a difference!
Thanks for posting a gorgeous plane in her halcyon days.
The Airplane rotting on the ramp that I wanted to take home and rescue was the Douglas Skyraider. My Wing would kill me, quite rightfully so, at least until the B17 is flying.
But I would LOVE to have something to honor our Korean and Vietnam era vets!
PS- It looks as if the Cessna O-1 is staying in the CAF family, if the rumor is correct.
Also just got a chance to see a BBC production about the CAF from around 1982... The World Around Us or somesuch...
Not much has changed except the name of the AF...
To THIS DAY what the Brits consider faults about our members we STILL consider virtues!
Lest We Forget!
SPANNER
aka
Don Price
Commemorative Air Force
Gulf Coast Wing- Wing Leader
What a difference!
Thanks for posting a gorgeous plane in her halcyon days.
The Airplane rotting on the ramp that I wanted to take home and rescue was the Douglas Skyraider. My Wing would kill me, quite rightfully so, at least until the B17 is flying.
But I would LOVE to have something to honor our Korean and Vietnam era vets!
PS- It looks as if the Cessna O-1 is staying in the CAF family, if the rumor is correct.
Also just got a chance to see a BBC production about the CAF from around 1982... The World Around Us or somesuch...
Not much has changed except the name of the AF...
To THIS DAY what the Brits consider faults about our members we STILL consider virtues!
Lest We Forget!
SPANNER
aka
Don Price
Commemorative Air Force
Gulf Coast Wing- Wing Leader
Fri Mar 14, 2008 11:39 am
Hey Don, I'm not sure you can call the O-2 assignment "rumors" since Gary said what unit it was going to in the thread about the C-131 being sold. 
I agree that it's sad to see the B-23 in the state it is, but it got there for a good reason and even when it was grounded it would have been extremely expensive to re-restore.
I agree that it's sad to see the B-23 in the state it is, but it got there for a good reason and even when it was grounded it would have been extremely expensive to re-restore.
Fri Mar 14, 2008 12:43 pm
The 0-2 will be assigned to the Wright Stuff Squadron.
And that isn't a Skyraider sitting on our ramp...it's a Martin Mauler.
I'm working on that situation as well, so keep patient.
Gary
And that isn't a Skyraider sitting on our ramp...it's a Martin Mauler.
I'm working on that situation as well, so keep patient.
Gary
Fri Mar 14, 2008 12:54 pm
Man... I'm two for two... strikes that is... 
I should have just called the O-2 THAT PUSHY PULLY thing and the Martin Mauler that Blue lumpy looking doomaflodgy!
I was wondering where the crew door went on the Martin, tho'...
Are there two of them out in the weeds? Or is the airframe beside the MM a Flyzonlydownhill?
Good on you Gary for trying to get either one a good home.
dp
I should have just called the O-2 THAT PUSHY PULLY thing and the Martin Mauler that Blue lumpy looking doomaflodgy!
I was wondering where the crew door went on the Martin, tho'...
Are there two of them out in the weeds? Or is the airframe beside the MM a Flyzonlydownhill?
Good on you Gary for trying to get either one a good home.
dp
Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:04 pm
OH, you mean this old thing!
There was a fair amount of parts lying around when I was there...
There was a fair amount of parts lying around when I was there...
Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:43 pm
.it's a Martin Mauler. Confused I'm working on that situation as well, so keep patient.
I love it when this kind of statement is thrown out there on this board!!!
Makes me giddy thinking of the possibilities...
__________
Thanks for the comments guys. This is more form my inherited stuff.
This airplane has a sad story...up to this point.
Great story Robbie!