Val (replica) remains from Pearl Harbor Filming?
Fri Sep 24, 2010 5:27 pm
I was just wondering if anyone knew what happened to the remains of the third replica Val that unfortunately had a mishap in Hawaii while filming for the sacrilegious PH movie. I remember seeing a photo somewhere on here of the crash. Its my understanding that the pilot survived correct? Any info regarding this plane would be appreciated.
Re: Val (replica) remains from Pearl Harbor Filming?
Fri Sep 24, 2010 7:14 pm
Warbird Kid wrote:I was just wondering if anyone knew what happened to the remains of the third replica Val that unfortunately had a mishap in Hawaii while filming for the sacrilegious PH movie. I remember seeing a photo somewhere on here of the crash. Its my understanding that the pilot survived correct? Any info regarding this plane would be appreciated.
I heard TIGHAR was interested in "recovering" it. They just need a sponsor to supply them with a million dollars cash and do a 20 year environmental impact survey before they start the recovery. It's pretty simple and straightforward really.
I also heard that they found a panel on the Val which matches exactly the Lockheed 10E for some reason.
Re: Val (replica) remains from Pearl Harbor Filming?
Fri Sep 24, 2010 8:15 pm
Fortunately the pilot suffered only minor injuries. He was soaked in fuel but the engine broke away from the airfram at ompact, so no fire.
When that thing caught the edge of the palm tree, it pulled it to the ground like it had been roped. I'll ask tomorrow, but my recollection is that there was nothing salvagable left, so it never left the island.
Chunks
When that thing caught the edge of the palm tree, it pulled it to the ground like it had been roped. I'll ask tomorrow, but my recollection is that there was nothing salvagable left, so it never left the island.
Chunks
Re: Val (replica) remains from Pearl Harbor Filming?
Fri Sep 24, 2010 8:51 pm
Chunks wrote:Fortunately the pilot suffered only minor injuries. He was soaked in fuel but the engine broke away from the airfram at ompact, so no fire.
When that thing caught the edge of the palm tree, it pulled it to the ground like it had been roped. I'll ask tomorrow, but my recollection is that there was nothing salvagable left, so it never left the island.
Chunks
I also had heard that the pilot of that Val passed away recently. Can you verify?
Re: Val (replica) remains from Pearl Harbor Filming?
Fri Sep 24, 2010 10:02 pm
The pilot was Gene Armstrong, and as far as I know he is still around. I'll ask tomorrow.
Chunks
Chunks
Re: Val (replica) remains from Pearl Harbor Filming?
Fri Sep 24, 2010 10:16 pm
Careful, Gene might sign on and get on his soap box......... 
Re: Val (replica) remains from Pearl Harbor Filming?
Sat Sep 25, 2010 12:01 am
thankful that he survived
Last edited by Chris on Sat Sep 25, 2010 10:46 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Val (replica) remains from Pearl Harbor Filming?
Sat Sep 25, 2010 10:29 am
The fact that there was no fire was due in large part to photographer Phil Wallick who kicked the battery off of the firewall and away from all of the fuel that was everywhere. That was a scary day and Gene was very, very lucky.
JC
JC
Re: Val (replica) remains from Pearl Harbor Filming?
Sat Sep 25, 2010 6:02 pm
Confirmed that Gene is still with us.
Chunks
Chunks
Re: Val (replica) remains from Pearl Harbor Filming?
Sat Sep 25, 2010 6:17 pm
Chunks wrote:Confirmed that Gene is still with us.
Chunks
Great, thanks. I guess I was confusing him with someone else.
Re: Val (replica) remains from Pearl Harbor Filming?
Sun Sep 26, 2010 7:50 pm
Thanks guys. And Im very glad to hear that Gene survived and is with us. A shame to hear that the aircraft was a total loss though. 
Re: Val (replica) remains from Pearl Harbor Filming?
Sun Sep 26, 2010 8:16 pm
Howdy Y'All.
Gary Hudson is the CAF "VAL" pilot who later died of cancer... he made the e-mail to me as cited below in the year 2000:
4/19/00
Aloha All,
The "Pearl Harbor" filming had an accident and this report is via a Confederate Air Force museum friend.
Sincerely,
David Aiken
Date: 04/18/2000 2:22:21 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Gary Hudson
Hello All:
I guess by now you have all seen the newscasts about the airplane crash at the filming of "Pearl Harbor" in Hawaii. This is to quash any rumors and let you all know what happened and what is going on now. First: The airplane that crashed was a "Val" replica being flown by Gene Armstrong. It was the "231" Val, owned by the CAF. Second: Gene is OK. He suffered a broken finger, badly lacerated lip, and a bad black eye. He is out of the emergency room and being put into a "regular" room. He is sore and banged up, but amazingly in good shape. He is expected to be out of the hospital in a couple days. Third: What happened? We were in a flight of three Vals. Lead, me #2, and Gene #3. We were flying along a line of "dummy" P-40's simulating a bomb run for the cameras. We were supposed to fly down the line and they were going to blow several P-40s and a DC-3. We had previously done 4 passes behind the Zeros, but this pass was just the three Vals. We made one pass at 100 ft to check line and clearance from obstacles. The next pass was a rehearsal pass, "at altitude" to check camera view. The final pass was a "hot, cameras rolling, smoke only" pass. We were about 20 to 30 feet above the ground, in a "V" formation with about 10 ft separation, at about 140 knots. Immediately after passing the cameras, I heard a loud thump. I glanced to my left and saw Gene's Val inverted with the left wing missing. We were climbing out and I transmitted to Lead, "2's here.".
There was a lot of talk on the radio at that time. Lead and I did a circuit and then landed. I landed short and turned off before getting to the crash scene. I still have not seen the airplane, but at that time, I assumed Gene was gone and didn't really want to go down there. Gene had struck a palm tree on the set with his left wing, about 3 feet from the tip and the entire wing separated at the wing attach points. The airplane then snapped rolled left and struck the ground in an upright position and then tumbled to inverted before coming to rest. There was no fire although the tanks were almost full. I assume it did not burn because the engine tore loose and continued about 80 feet further than the fuselage.
About 20 minutes after shutdown, I was told Gene was alive, but badly hurt and was being transported. Lastly: What caused this? I really can't say. We had been down the line several times with the Zeros and one rehearsal without a problem. Gene and I were "stacked up" from Lead so altitude should have not been a problem. Maybe Gene just drifted to his left. I don't know. Well, that's about it. About halfway through this, I had to go down and give a statement to Disney's lawyers. NTSB will be here tomorrow. I can say that, while the flying we are doing is low, tight and fast, I don't find it any more dangerous than air shows. Sometimes, truly, "Fate is the Hunter".
Gary
Ps: Ms Sandra Armstrong just returned from the hospital and tapped on my door. She says Gene is sore but doing fine. He is in a room now (not the chapel, which is where he should spend the night).
Gary Hudson is the CAF "VAL" pilot who later died of cancer... he made the e-mail to me as cited below in the year 2000:
4/19/00
Aloha All,
The "Pearl Harbor" filming had an accident and this report is via a Confederate Air Force museum friend.
Sincerely,
David Aiken
Date: 04/18/2000 2:22:21 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Gary Hudson
Hello All:
I guess by now you have all seen the newscasts about the airplane crash at the filming of "Pearl Harbor" in Hawaii. This is to quash any rumors and let you all know what happened and what is going on now. First: The airplane that crashed was a "Val" replica being flown by Gene Armstrong. It was the "231" Val, owned by the CAF. Second: Gene is OK. He suffered a broken finger, badly lacerated lip, and a bad black eye. He is out of the emergency room and being put into a "regular" room. He is sore and banged up, but amazingly in good shape. He is expected to be out of the hospital in a couple days. Third: What happened? We were in a flight of three Vals. Lead, me #2, and Gene #3. We were flying along a line of "dummy" P-40's simulating a bomb run for the cameras. We were supposed to fly down the line and they were going to blow several P-40s and a DC-3. We had previously done 4 passes behind the Zeros, but this pass was just the three Vals. We made one pass at 100 ft to check line and clearance from obstacles. The next pass was a rehearsal pass, "at altitude" to check camera view. The final pass was a "hot, cameras rolling, smoke only" pass. We were about 20 to 30 feet above the ground, in a "V" formation with about 10 ft separation, at about 140 knots. Immediately after passing the cameras, I heard a loud thump. I glanced to my left and saw Gene's Val inverted with the left wing missing. We were climbing out and I transmitted to Lead, "2's here.".
There was a lot of talk on the radio at that time. Lead and I did a circuit and then landed. I landed short and turned off before getting to the crash scene. I still have not seen the airplane, but at that time, I assumed Gene was gone and didn't really want to go down there. Gene had struck a palm tree on the set with his left wing, about 3 feet from the tip and the entire wing separated at the wing attach points. The airplane then snapped rolled left and struck the ground in an upright position and then tumbled to inverted before coming to rest. There was no fire although the tanks were almost full. I assume it did not burn because the engine tore loose and continued about 80 feet further than the fuselage.
About 20 minutes after shutdown, I was told Gene was alive, but badly hurt and was being transported. Lastly: What caused this? I really can't say. We had been down the line several times with the Zeros and one rehearsal without a problem. Gene and I were "stacked up" from Lead so altitude should have not been a problem. Maybe Gene just drifted to his left. I don't know. Well, that's about it. About halfway through this, I had to go down and give a statement to Disney's lawyers. NTSB will be here tomorrow. I can say that, while the flying we are doing is low, tight and fast, I don't find it any more dangerous than air shows. Sometimes, truly, "Fate is the Hunter".
Gary
Ps: Ms Sandra Armstrong just returned from the hospital and tapped on my door. She says Gene is sore but doing fine. He is in a room now (not the chapel, which is where he should spend the night).