Val at Nimitz Museum in Texas

gary1954 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:42 pm

A2C wrote:

The Val's airframe looks pretty straight and clean except for the tail. Most of the other Japanese plane wrecks appear to by dented up or badly corroded. This one could probably be brought back to the air in my opinion.

I wonder if the cat in Japan that has restored a bunch of Japanese aircraft/components/sections could salvage this airframe into a Flyable eggzample...since the Japanese Government won't let him fly what he's got, I imagine we would. he does some awesome work. I would love to have a HR of the concrete filled Mitchell for my database

RickH · **Posted:** Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:16 pm

Gary, it's not illegal to own and run a PT Boat.

PT 309 was always supposed to be run after restoration. The volunteers and Seabees who did the restoration were always told that it would be run. Admiral Grojean, who ran the Nimitz Foundation along with TP&W decided to pull the boat from the volunteers before it could move under its own power. There was quite a fight over them going back on their word, TP&W showed up armed expecting a fight at the dock. It was pretty dramatic but much ado about nothing in the end. All of the running gear was given back to the volunteers to use in the 305 Boat that they had rescued. PT309 resides in a hole in Fredricksburg, most of the boat is unseen by the public.

warbird1 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:25 pm **Posts:** 2760

TriangleP wrote:

Man, that Val should be running and flying. With PoFs Zero!

Wow, you're greedy! The POF already have an authentic Japanese Val that is in the process of being restored to flying condition.

But on second thought, I guess you can never have enough flyable Vals!

gary1954 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 23, 2009 3:42 pm

RickH wrote:

Gary, it's not illegal to own and run a PT Boat.

PT 309 was always supposed to be run after restoration. The volunteers and Seabees who did the restoration were always told that it would be run. Admiral Grojean, who ran the Nimitz Foundation along with TP&W decided to pull the boat from the volunteers before it could move under its own power. There was quite a fight over them going back on their word, TP&W showed up armed expecting a fight at the dock. It was pretty dramatic but much ado about nothing in the end. All of the running gear was given back to the volunteers to use in the 305 Boat that they had rescued. PT309 resides in a hole in Fredricksburg, most of the boat is unseen by the public.

Thanks Rick

Warbird Information Exchange

Val at Nimitz Museum in Texas

Who is online