PV-2D Harpoon 84062 (Tanker 101) comes back to life

[Jerry O'Neill]

Taigh;
Might I suggest that there rest of us on WIX start a "Harpoon Gun Fund", similar to what we did for "Ole 97/Diamond Lil"?
I'm willing to donate $100.00 to the cause right now! If others feel so compelled, we might be able to set-it up via PayPal so it would be easy!

What does everyone think?
Jerry

PS: Regardless of what happens, the Harpoon will get my donation one way or the other!

[Taigh Ramey]

Hey Steve,

Thanks for posting the photos. Cool stuff.

Douglas was where many ex Navy C-45's went for a screw worm eradication project back in the 1970's. I purchased one each UC-45J and an RC-45J from the Pima Air Museum both of which were flown to Douglas for that project. It turns out that many of the Beech's were not used in the program and the remaining aircraft were disposed of and ended up in trade schools around the country.

It looks like the Beech's in your photos were also left over from that program.

I fixed up the first RC-45J I got from Pima some 15 years ago similarly to how we are working on the Harpoon. It was so stock and original inside I just cleaned up what was there and left it as it was. Unlike the Harpoon though we didn't have to find all of the radio gear though because it was all still installed in the Beech. Amazing really that most of the radio gear in the RC-45J when it was retired from the Navy in 1972 was WWII gear (ARC-5, ARN-7, ARN-8, APN-1). Here is a web page about that Beech:

http://www.twinbeech.com/rc45j_29585.htm

I recently brought back an RC-45J from the same exact squadron or Photo School in Pensacola as my first one. It also has all of the radio gear in place. Like your photos at Douglas, I am noticing a trend.

[cooper9411]

See what is left of the aircraft in Douglas and share. If possible find a contact person at the school and send that information to me if you would.

[Chappie]

Hey Taigh. I'll bet that shot of the Beech in the hotel parking lot is not the only one out there. I'm sure it attracted a lot of attention and many a cell phone photos were taken!


Chappie

[Taigh Ramey]

Taigh;
Might I suggest that there rest of us on WIX start a "Harpoon Gun Fund", similar to what we did for "Ole 97/Diamond Lil"?
I'm willing to donate $100.00 to the cause right now! If others feel so compelled, we might be able to set-it up via PayPal so it would be easy!

What does everyone think?
Jerry

PS: Regardless of what happens, the Harpoon will get my donation one way or the other!

THANK YOU Jerry!

[Dan Johnson II]

Taigh;
Might I suggest that there rest of us on WIX start a "Harpoon Gun Fund", similar to what we did for "Ole 97/Diamond Lil"?
I'm willing to donate $100.00 to the cause right now! If others feel so compelled, we might be able to set-it up via PayPal so it would be easy!

What does everyone think?
Jerry

PS: Regardless of what happens, the Harpoon will get my donation one way or the other!

I'm in for $100.00. And yeah PayPal would make it easier.

LOL I guess will have to call 84062 the "People's Warbird"

[shrike]

I already have a call in to a connection down at Cochise. Just waiting to hear back.

[cco23i]

Give me a yell Mark and Murph you and I can go get the stuff for Taigh.

Scott

[Redtracer]

Dan, you are absolutely right by calling 062 the "People's Warbird". I think she's as close as WIXers can get to having an official WIX Warbird. You all have been with us from the start of this great adventure cheering us on! So, lets put the War back into our Warbird and get those guns back where the belong! And, remember any donation made is really a "twofer" thanks to our "Warbird super hero" and his family! So get the most "BANG" for your buck and help us buy some 50s!

[cooper9411]

One of the planes that I disassembled and moved for a museum I took maybe 10 pictures of it, everyone else was taking pictures so I had them send copies to me.

[steve dickey]

Taigh your welcome. I scanned my only pix of the schools 18's(they had three). Unfortunately it would appear that I only have photographic evidence of two. As you can also see N2289 was complete so don't know how she got in such sad shape .
It would be my guess the bare metal one in the weeds is the red nosed one but can't confirm.
Hope you enjoy these.

[Taigh Ramey]

Sorry for the blatant solicitation but we are so close to getting a full compliment of guns for the Harpoon I would hate for it to lose momentum.

I have created a flier for us to pass out to potential donors. I thought I would post it here in case there is a company or any individuals that you think might want to help out. This is the flier and below is a link to a higher resolution image for printing. Spread the word!




Here is the higher resolution image:
http://www.twinbeech.com/images/Aircraft/manufacturers/lockheed/PV-2/PV-2D84062/mx/guns/PV-2Dguns.jpg

We are getting a paypal account set up for the museum and for donations.

Once again sorry for the shameless solicitations

[Jerry O'Neill]

Let us know when PayPal is ready!!!

[Dan Johnson II]

What Jerry said. Let us know when the PayPal is ready. The money will be there.

Anything you are doing to help this old bird is just fine. As mentioned before, she feels a bit like all of ours as you've brought us along for the ride from the get go, and are allowing us to contribute in many different ways. Knowing that we might in some tiny way contribute to bringing the history to life through your Poon, makes it all worth it.

Thank you for lettings us enjoy this!

[the330thbg]

What I imagine your nose display will look like...well HALF OF the 50's anyway!