2000+ Missions!

[sdennison]

OK, so I just got off the phone with Uncle Frank. Way too many years since we last talked...that won't happen again.

For 92, his greeting to me was "Hey, Scott. How are you? Haven't talked to you in years." Wow! On to the stories.

He was stationed in New Guinnea for over two years and flew the Goonie Birds. I was not able to determine how many of the 2000 missions he flew but he was one of the primary crews. The spear story was a gas. They used to have local natives load and unload the planes. One day a group of natives showed up and one of them had the spear. When they were in the cargo hold, they saw a cooler with a bunch of Fosters Stout beer floating in it. Frank slipped a label off one of the bottles and stuck it on the native's forehead. His partners all went nuts and the native handed Frank the spear in return! He was able to get it back to the states and has it at his home in Riverside. I will see if I can get a picture of Frank with it now.

So, "Miscellaneous" did make it back to the US to tour. Here's where it gets good. Before leaving New Guinnea, a new pilot transfer was out with another pilot for his aclimation flight. The newbee was in the left seat. As he went to engage the auto pilot, the process was to confirm all the control settings first and then engage the auto pilot. Unfortunately, he engaged the auto pilot first and the plane immediately went into a steep dive. The right seater was plastered on the ceiling as he was unbelted. A pilot Seargent who was onboard was able to regain control along with the new pilot. Unfortunately, in the pull out, they "stretched" the wing attatch bolts to a point where the "threads per inch" changed significantly! He said that the fairings on the belly were popped off! They changed the wing dihedral a bit...

After going through the maintenance depot, the plane was brought back to the US. Apparently, they went for a months stay in Autralia prior to the return but I didn't get the stories of that other than he said he had a great time.

So the tour in the U.S. was sponsored by Douglas Aircraft. They flew the plane from one aircraft factory to another hosting employee appreciation events and raising funds.

After Frank's return to California, he flew B-47's and retired with over 7000 hours.

I'll try to get more information as we move forward.

[Dave Homewood]

What an amazing thread this is, thanks Marcus for bringing the story of this aircraft and its crews to our attention, and thanks Scott for the personal research. Does your uncle have his logbooks still? They would reveal the serial number so Marcus (hairy) can find otu if it still survivves.

Amazing story about the autopilot failure and pull-out realigning the wings and bolt threads.

[sdennison]

Great idea. I can only ask. Anyone have any other questions you'd like answered? I have asked his son to do some recon to see what Frank's tolerence is. I do not want to cross the boundry but he sure seemed willing to share.

I will continue to pursue and share all my findings. I have asked Craig to get a picture of Frank and the "Spear" for starters. I have asked about his war time assignments and how many of the 2000 missions he flew. Obviously, multiple crews flew her.

I agree that this is so cool and I consider myself lucky to be in the loop.

[Dave Homewood]

I'm sure your uncle must be pleased that people across the world are taking an interest in his career and a special aircraft he flew all these decades later.

It would be interesting if he has photos of the other Dakotas with nose art.

[henning]

great stuff there scott... way to go guys!

hh

[sdennison]

More...

Scott,
I doubt very much that dad could find his log books, if the AF allowed him to keep them. I know he doesn't know what happened to "Miscellaneous." He said they sent it home because it was totally worn out. I wouldn't have wanted to be the one who had to fly it home. It was probably scrapped out or sold to a 3rd world country.

Side story: Pilots were authorized (required?) to carry a sidearm. (When dad was over there he did some oil painting. Oil paints come in lead tubes. When he came back he packed his Colt .45 1911 service revolver in cloth and squeezed paint all over it at the bottom of a tackle box full of tubes of paint. No inspector wanted to go through the mess and no X-ray machine could find the gun with all the lead. I still have the .45 in my gun safe. Because everything in and on the plane was signed off on before he left and picked up at the other end by the gov't when he arrived (in case he didn't make it) they never knew the gun was missing. They only picked up on the books what actually arrived.

Cheers,
Craig

[Holedigger]

Very sneaky, a pilot and an artist to boot! I like him!

[Dave Homewood]

Since Douglas Aircraft Corporation sponsired the tour, would it be likely that McDonnell Douglas might have records of the tour, the aircraft and its fate? Do they have a museum or an archive?

[sdennison]

Great idea. How do we find that out?

[mustangdriver]

If you guys have the S/N I will send it off to Maxwell AFB to see where she is, if it wasn't cut up.

[tom d. friedman]

this is 1 heck of a treasure being dug up!! the story is priceless!!