B-23s, B-18s, etc

Wolverine · **Posted:** Mon Jan 31, 2005 1:21 pm

Does anybody know anything about surviving B-23s or B-18s?

TimAPNY · **Posted:** Mon Jan 31, 2005 1:41 pm

I have pictures, (Pima, Castle, USAF Mus, CAF (kinda))

or do you mean historys, S#....

Robbie Stuart · **Posted:** Mon Jan 31, 2005 2:09 pm

I was the Maintenance Officer for the Cajun Wing of the CAF, in the late 70s, & early 80s when we had the B-23, N62G, s/n: 2724. I flew as Crew Chief with the airplane, & I was the "Badguy" that grounded the airplane due to wing spar corrision. Was a darn shame they didn't build those to last forever! It was a neat airplane. I have a lot of good air show memories flying as a crewmember with the old Dragon.
Robbie Stuart

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Mon Jan 31, 2005 2:28 pm

My friend Bob Van Ausdall flew the B-23 Asher Ward traded to the AF up to McCord AFB back about 83. He RONed at Salem and he gave us a first class tour. He said they were a great airplane but that this one was only marginally airworthy just good for a ferry flight. As I remember he flew it gear down all the way. Got a few good shots of it. I'm sure it's a rush bucket now.

TimAPNY · **Posted:** Mon Jan 31, 2005 2:53 pm

It would be great to see the CAF B-23 back in the air. It would be great to see a B-18 that could be returned to the skys.

Maybe the B-23 will get there someday

Randy Haskin · **Posted:** Mon Jan 31, 2005 3:02 pm

Bob Schlafleigh up in Washington State used to have a B-23 at Moses Lake airport, along with his PBYs (and a disassembled B-25 at Ephrata). There is also a B-23 at the McChord AFB museum.

TimAPNY · **Posted:** Mon Jan 31, 2005 3:04 pm

Pima picked up a B-23 several years ago, where did that come from?

station357 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 31, 2005 3:23 pm

On the Air Pirates web site there appears to be a fairly complete B-18 in Hawaii.

Check here:
http://www.airpirates.com/gallery/Hawaii_1/B_18_Larkins_across_draw

Regards,

Paul

Chris Brame · **Posted:** Tue Feb 01, 2005 3:39 am

Per the Warbirds Directory again:

6 known B-18s:
37-029 Castle AFB
37-469 USAFM
37-505 McChord AFB
38-593 Pima Air Museum
39-025 Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
??-??? in Hawaii (can SOMEBODY come up with the serial, please?)

10 known B-23s:
39-031 Quito, Ecuador
39-033 Mike Bogue?
39-036 McChord AFB
39-037 USAFM
39-038 CAF
39-047 Castle AFB
39-051 Pima
39-052 Wreck at Loon Lake, Idaho
39-057 Kermit Weeks

Chris Brame · **Posted:** Tue Feb 01, 2005 3:48 am

Sorry... NINE B-23s (English major, math minor) :oops:

. Also B-23 39-034 is very briefly visible in the movie "Bombardier" (look for it during the B-18A belly landing). Sadly it wasn't one of the postwar civil birds.

TimAPNY · **Posted:** Tue Feb 01, 2005 8:17 am

There is a B-18 crash site in NH. I'm hoping to be able to track down some more info and maybe hike up to it. That would be a lot of fun. From pictures I've seen some big pieces are still there.

Randy Haskin · **Posted:** Tue Feb 01, 2005 9:05 am

What about 39-063 (C-37 xonvert)?

Ryan Keough · **Posted:** Tue Feb 01, 2005 12:43 pm

TimApNy wrote:

There is a B-18 crash site in NH. I'm hoping to be able to track down some more info and maybe hike up to it. That would be a lot of fun. From pictures I've seen some big pieces are still there.

Count me in if you find more info! Always wanted to wreckchase!

Ryan Keough

TimAPNY · **Posted:** Tue Feb 01, 2005 1:21 pm

I'll dig up more info. It would be a really fun trip.

warbird51 · **Joined:** Fri Jan 14, 2005 1:18 pm **Posts:** 263

B-23 serial 39-33 is based at Eagles Nest airport in Ione , Calif.

It is still owned by the family of the late Mike Bogue. The aircraft hasn't been flown since 1994, but we did run the engines in 2002. It sounded great the hear the old girl run again.

Wayne Cook, Crew Chief, B-23 serial 39-33

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B-23s, B-18s, etc

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