Gary ~ What's The Plan For Diamond Lil ? 2006 and Beyond!

[Alan Brooks]

Hello everyone, I just received this in an email about a just posted B-24 video on you tube from the WOH Airsho' and the 5th BG reunion. This is the description from the video...

"This video was filmed October 31, 2009, in Houston, Texas. My brother (David Evans) had written a song about the B-24 and we played it for the 5th Bomb Group reunion. For this video I have added in some sights and sounds from the Wings Over Houston Air Show, which we all had attended that same day. Our Dad was a B-24 pilot with the 5th Bomb Group (in the Pacific Theater) and this reunion proved to be a perfect time to meet up with Charles Walter, the tail gunner from Dads crew. I show a clip of Charles talking about the time the nose wheel collapsed while taxiing for takeoff. Charles was standing up and bending over to put on his parachute when the accident occurred. He was thrown forward and toppled onto the waist gunner - busting his lip on the waist gun bracket. Otherwise, no one was injured. After Dad passed away, my Mother gave me a box of WW-II letters which Dad had written to his Mom. I have turned those letters into a web site www.B-24Pilot.com
The video clip is nice and includes a shot or two of "Thunderbird", "Texas Raiders", and "Special Delivery".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNvxV9CoqDg
Alan

[Django]

Unless Photobucket goes under, they will be there "forever" won't they?

[Fouga23]

Unless Photobucket goes under, they will be there "forever" won't they?

I believe they delete accounts after long periods of inactivity

[TimAPNY]

Has anyone archived all of Gary's photos on this thread ? once his photobucket account is closed, they will be gone from here.

I believe Scott has already taken this whole thread and edited it down to a more condensed version to be a reference on the project. I'm not sure if he has gotten it posted yet but I would think that it would have a bit more priority now.

Tim

[Alan Brooks]

Steve Rister just called me to say "Ol' 927" just landed in Midland.... Alan

[Fouga23]

Just read true an old thread and found something about photobucket. Seems if an account is inactive for more then 90 days, it gets deactivated unless you log in again.

[B29B24crewchief]

The thread is being looked at by one person I know of, to be transformed into a book. Whether that happens, I really don't know?
The Gary Austin Tribute yesterday, went off with a very emotional response from all that attended. My hats off to Steve Brown and the whole CAF staff that participated, for there efforts in making this a truly special memorial to Gary, for his family and friends. The CAF made sure that he would be remembered for what he did for the Commemorative Air Force and for what he did for the B-29/B-24 Squadron. We all loved Gary and will miss him very much.
Dave

[Iclo]

It would be possible to automatically save all the pictures of the Gary's account with a bit of programmation code.

Ask me if necessary...

[Iclo]

Steve Rister just called me to say "Ol' 927" just landed in Midland.... Alan

For the Gary's remebrance ceremony ? Nice Tribute

[B-29/B-24 MX Officer]

We will be having our B-24 winter maintenance orientation/training/planning program 1:00 pm, Saturday, November 21st at CFM. Anybody and everybody interested or even just curious is welcome!!!

[Fouga23]

Dumb question maybe, but are there any plans to complete the restoration and reinstall the bombbay?

[flyingsailor]

Dumb question maybe, but are there any plans to complete the restoration and reinstall the bombbay?

Not a dumb question at all. our desire is that at some point in the future we will be able to reinstall the bomb bays. (Gary was able to obtain the doors, and the tracks are still installed under the skins) This is a very significant project. There will be a fair amount of heavy structure work needed that at this time. However, right now the squadron maintenance guys are stretched with the re-engine project of "FIFI" wrapping up, they are focused on getting her in the air in the next year. Additionally, the squadron needs a few good years of tours to produce the revenue necessary to undertake the project.

Sorry for the long answer, however unfortunately I suspect it won't happen in the next few years.

Chris

[B-29/B-24 MX Officer]

You’re right, that’s definitely not a dumb question and thanks for answering it Chris! The intent and goal for Ol’ 927 hasn’t stopped or changed from the first panel Gary removed from the plane up to where we are today and where we are headed into the future. Unfortunately, the progress is limited to the very same things that limits our own lives, where we go, what we have, and what we drive to name a few; time and money. There is a lot to the story of why and where we are, but the bottom line is we do hope to add and/or reconfigure more of the plane each year. The reconfiguration list is still long and we are doing all we can, but safety, airworthiness, required maintenance, and reliability all have to take priority.

Operational bomb bays will eventually be in this plane, but they will be the final piece added to complete the reconfiguration sometime in the future.

[Django]

As Gary told me, it will take quite the jig to do it too. So don't expect the CAF to just cut out the skin and throw some doors on her!

[Fouga23]

Thanks for the info! Any (very future) plans to shorten the nose again?