Quote:
1978 - Balboa Park - Aerospace Museum Fire
At 8:13 p.m. on February 22, 1978 the San Diego Fire Department responded to one of the city's most spectacular fires. The Electric Building in Balboa Park burned to the ground in a third-alarm fire. The Electric Building housed the Aerospace Museum and contained vintage airplanes, mementos and artifacts. San Diego's contributions to the history of aviation and manned flight--dating from the construction of Charles Lindbergh's "Spirit of St. Louis" by San Diego's Ryan Aircraft Company, to rocks taken from the surface of the moon--were destroyed. A valiant attempt by the first and second alarm companies to rescue artifacts and display cases from the building was in vain as fire broke through the ceiling and drove them outside. The fire was caused by arson. There was little to be done to save the 62 year old structure, which was made of wood and contained no sprinkler system.
Dang BDK, you shure brought back a awful memory with this one. I loved going to this musem and it was largely responsible for my Warbird Addiction. My Dad took us down there to see the aftermath of the fire and it was truly a sad moment to have.
I remember a P-40, Zero, F9F Panther, A Banshee, replica of the Spirit of St. Louis and the rest are just a dim memory.
Ironic part is that some of the pictures I took as a kid where lost in a Garage fire! Sucks to think those birds got burnt twice!
Anyhoo, I think we have really stretched out this thread and it is now up to the judges and lawyers.
Either way, hopefully the bird will be safe.