Warbird Information Exchange

You mean they haven't found the engine in the woods in Maine YET?

I just cannot understand. In a previous post on the topic of TIGHAR I wrote of being at Sun n Fun in about 1986 when they made their debute performance and had a video playing in their tent and told of their intentions to recover many planes. I thought they had no clue of what they were doing. To the contrary they have been the center of media attention and apparently living well with all of the donations sent to them.

I on the other hand have on some occasions been unable to rub two nickels together yet I believe I have located and recovered (successfully) a few more WWII wrecks than they, I.E. Mustangs (4) P-40's (3 1/2) Corsair (?) P-47 parts, a few thousand pounds of German parts from Freeman Field, etc., etc, yet people continue to send TIGHAR more money. Now the U. S. Navy is trusting them to recover the ultra rare TBD.

If people insist on sending money, please send it to me and I can recover some history. No brag just fact. I do not care for people who brag and I fully realize I am no Gary Larkins or Gordon Page (both of whom I admire and respect) but I have no clue as to why someone will financially support a 23 year history of complete and utter failure. I just wish to point out that anyone who has recovered a minor civil accident (a Cessna with a flat tire) from the end of a taxi way has more business attempting to recovery a historically significant and valuable aircraft than TIGHAR.

This is no doubt the closest I have come to a personal attack. I do not intend to be so, however I feel it is an accurate observation of an organizaton. It is time for some corrective civil action with the intent to recover these TBD's for the Naval Museum at Pensicola.

Sorry for the rant.
Pirate Lex
http://www.BrewsterCorsair.com

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An ego is no match for gravity.

The aircraft will be recovered in conjunction with the NMNA where it will eventually be displayed, a long way to go yet.....

Dave

If TIGHAR ever recovers a TBD I'll eat Amelia's shoe and you can serve it
to me on that piece of scrap metal they found with it

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Don't touch my junk!!

80-year-old leather? Ewww...worse yet...80-year-old toejamb?

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"Anyway, the throat feels a bit rough...the legs have gone...but I'm still able to chant, so let's get going."

Joe Strummer, 1999

GO LEX!!!

Ryan

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

Interesting that you state this, as an e-mail crossed my desk(top) last night that suggests TIGHAR does not currently have the blessing of the NHHC to recover either of the Jaluit TBD's.

I have no means of verifying this info; just relaying the message.

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

I can't imagine NMNA pairing up with TIGHAR. They have their own sea-lifting capabilities if need be.

Has there been an hint that they might go after one of the Sparrowhawks off the Pacific coast. They were planning to salvage one but ran into some environmental complaints. I guess they determined that it was not worth the trouble, but really would like to see them go back for a plane and a Maybach engine.

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Kevin McCartney

Agree. It's just unthinkable having been around the NMNA for 20+ years. What I can see is a NMNA recovery and the tiggers taking full media rights...

Should have explained better, TIGHAR are doing the surveys with the knowledge of NMNA with a view to the aircraft being recovered for NMNA, who ever does the actual recovery would be up to NMNA.
NMNA have no further plans to recover the Sparrowhawks as the assets to do the job are no longer in place.

That sounds about right. I didn't think there was enough of the Sparrowhawks left to salvage due to their construction.

One of those Maybach's might be pretty cool though...

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ATC: "Oscar 2, cleared to engage wildlife at your discretion..."

Now all this does fit, thanks! As I suggested before, I do see NMNA contracting out recovery to someone with documented past performance (and I am sure they have favorites) and throwing Tigs some media coverage opportunities for their time. The Tigs will then use this as a marketing tool giving ROI on the surveys.

However it occurs, I could think of nothing prouder than a Waldron TBD given front and center Pride of Place in Pensacola.

Photo of LCDR John Waldron with Horace Franklin Dobbs, CRMP, taking off in Bu 1506 from Hornet on 4 June 1942 at Midway:

snj5. With A&Ts proven track record and good working relationship with NMNA I guess they would be the front runners, unless the Navy themselves decide to do it as a training excercise. A few years off yet though as I understand it.

Dave

A&T's got the experience and the proven track record to do the job right the first time. Hopefully both airplanes can be recovered - maybe even the one in the Atlantic.

Has A&T ever done any saltwater recoveries? I wonder if there is any difference in the way you do a recovery besides accounting for the condition of the aircraft.