B-25 Air Pirates pulled out of Lake Murray, NC

[sgt hawk]

Anybody have an update or restoration story on this Bird. Wasn't this a "C" model?

Woodstock, Ga

[gary1954]

yes it was a Charlie Model, sitting somewhere in that part of the country. Working on photobucket thing to post pictures.

[RMAllnutt]

She's being restored/preserved at the Southern Museum of Flight in Birmingham, Alabama. I saw her there last year. They had cleaned up, and preserved her cockpit section, which was on display, and were in the process of finishing up the rear fuselage (last March). The center section was outside, waiting its turn in the cue. The aircraft was covered in corrosion, and was being basically preserved (by removing the corrosion, and treating the metal). It actually looked really good, as most of the exterior paint was preserved. It couldn't be fully restored though... you'd have had to replace every last piece of the aircraft.

Strangely though, when I just went to their website to check on progress, I could see no mention at all of the aircraft. Has it moved on?

Cheers,
Richard

[DaveM2]

Still there. I did an update in CW 63 which covered bombers recovered from underwater.

Dave

[RMAllnutt]

Hi Dave....When was the update done? I seriously went through their website, and couldn't even find a reference to the B-25. Very strange, as they had all sorts of stuff on it at one time.

Cheers,
Richard

[tom d. friedman]

i was contacted by the salvor, dr seigler, to do the appraisal of the recovery. i handed it off to robb hill now living in albuquerque n.m. as i have no appraising credentials. robb is a wreck chaser , etc, who has the credentials. i helped him with alot with the leg work, & research detail. the appraisal process took near 3 months. seigler only contacted me because he read my article in air classics regarding my piece on collecting ww 2 airplane instruments. i can say i'm quite proud to be a participant in the event. last i heard it was to be restored as a diorama as it sat on the bottom of the lake, as corrosion is to severe to warrant a restoration.

[DaveM2]

Hi Dave....When was the update done? I seriously went through their website, and couldn't even find a reference to the B-25. Very strange, as they had all sorts of stuff on it at one time.

Cheers,
Richard

Richard

Done in December last year, nothing on the website at that time either.

Dave

[RMAllnutt]

Thanks Dave... strange that. You'd think they'd be championing such a prestigious project. When I saw her, she looked like she'd make a fascinating display. I spent several hours with museum personnel doing the research for my article at the time. They are a good group of people, and the head guy seemed to have a lot of great things being put together for the museum. Met a Tuskeegee airman, Harold Ford, the same day too, and had lunch with him in a local restaurant. It was quite a thing to do, thinking about the history of the area, and I really felt honored to be sitting with him. I hope all is going well there. Would be nice to hear more if anyone's in the area.

Cheers,
Richard

[B-25 C]

I am an x volunteer at said museum, I left because of what is happing to the B-25C. The nose section went on display with no protection between the plane and dirt. Also covered up were about 30 names of people who flew or worked on this piece of history in 1943. Some of the artifacts were still in garbage bags that had dried out. Nothing is to be done with the center section or rear section in the near future as there is no room at the inn. There is a lot of artifacts in boxes that should be displayed. As I was only a Volunteer that went to work 9am to 5PM almost every day the museum was open I did a lot of cleaning and preservation of pieces that are stored in boxes. It makes me sad to think that the center section is still outside with no protection at all. The rear fuselage was in the restoration shop covered in corrosion protection and dust.

[tom d. friedman]

I am an x volunteer at said museum, I left because of what is happing to the B-25C. The nose section went on display with no protection between the plane and dirt. Also covered up were about 30 names of people who flew or worked on this piece of history in 1943. Some of the artifacts were still in garbage bags that had dried out. Nothing is to be done with the center section or rear section in the near future as there is no room at the inn. There is a lot of artifacts in boxes that should be displayed. As I was only a Volunteer that went to work 9am to 5PM almost every day the museum was open I did a lot of cleaning and preservation of pieces that are stored in boxes. It makes me sad to think that the center section is still outside with no protection at all. The rear fuselage was in the restoration shop covered in corrosion protection and dust.

that is quite distressing news!! thanks & welcome to wix.

[B-25 C]

Thanks Tom.
Yes it was to me. To work so hard and only a small part to be on display. I know space is limited but I think things could be rearranged so the rear fuselage could also be included in the display. The tail cone was lost as they were towing it to shore. Thought gone forever, but it was found close to shore where the plane came out of the lake by divers a few months later. It was returned to the museum badly scratched from laying on rocks and water movement. It took about two days polishing to make it clear again. It was not on display when I left. Maybe some day it will all be together if anything is left of what is stored outside!

[B-25 C]

Anybody have an update or restoration story on this Bird. Wasn't this a "C" model?

Woodstock, Ga

Not only was it a C model but it has the complete lower turret with 50. cal. guns. After a lot of searching it seems to be the only one left in the world. If someone knows of another let us know.

[tom d. friedman]

it is the only 1 existence

[rwdfresno]

It may be the only complete one however there are parts around. My dad and I ran across some lower turret parts in an old junk yard many years ago. Carl from Aero Trader ended up with them but not sure if he still has them or not that was about 10 or 15 years ago now.

[bax101]

what were the other artifacts found?