Warbird Information Exchange

While going through some old photos albums, I found these snapshots I took of a Stearman at the Hondo, Texas airport in December of 1987. I believe this one was a duster, judging by the modified cockpit coaming, square instrument panels, high-lift wingtips, tailwheel assembly, and what looks like a hopper filler-neck behind the cockpit. It sure would have made a great restoration project. Too bad I was a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force at the time, with no money or free time.

Enjoy the photos. Sorry for the scan quality.

(BTW, I know it's a long-shot, but anybody have any details on this airplane, and whatever became of it?)










Wings stacked in the weeds beside the hangar.


Buck Wyndham
WarbirdAlley.com

Could be the oil tank behind the cockpit to balance the bigger engine. Looks too far aft for a hopper.

YOu can have the Stearman bones. I'll take that original W.W. II era hangar with all that fantastic glazing (windows) on all four sides!

Good eye, boy - you got my vote!

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Cheers,
Kurt Maurer
League City, Texas

PIC, Ford 6600 pulling Rhino batwing up and down the runway

Don't know about the plane, but the hangar burnt to the ground about ten years ago, last of the WWII hangars at Hondo. Only a handfull of WWII buildings left.
Wayne Nelson
Hondo Army Airfield Museum Inc.

Another good cause for WIXers...

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.

Yep, those wooden hangars are especially vulnerable. One good lightning strike or grassfire and they're gone forever. On the other hand they're actively tearing down WWII hangars in Kansas because the cities/airports don't want the liability of their existence. I'm glad you still have at least a few buildings left down there.

Buck,

You don't happen to have any other photos of the hangar or other WWII structures at Hondo? It'd sure be nice to see them if you do! Thanks for the thread.

Scott

We are working on documenting what is left of the WWII buildings now. Only two of the hundreds of barracks are left and one admin. bldg is about it. We are getting one of the barracks ( cross fingers) for a permenant home, and will post pictures when able.

I'd love to find a Stearman like this one day!

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

I'm glad to hear you're in line for a barracks building. I've spent many hours taking photographs of buildings, chimneys, water towers, foundations etc. at the Midwest airfields as a way to document the sites. We're heading out again soon for some more airfield exploring.

S