Warbird Information Exchange

From the museum website:

SB2C Helldiver Restoration

Recovered from Otay Reservoir in 2010, SB2C-4 Helldiver Bureau Number 19866 is awaiting restoration at the National Naval Aviation Museum. The infamous Helldiver served as the successor to the SBD Dauntless dive bomber during World War II, and its eventual completion will fill an important gap in the Museum’s collection.

They are trying to raise $800K to restore it.

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"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

Thanks for the photos. I'm sure the museum wold like to have all their planes inside but buildings are expensive. With time I'm sure more will be brought in.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

I guess what bothers me about some of the comments here is...what have you that are complaining about the planes being outside doing to help them go inside? Sent them any money? Made any donations in the stuffing box on the way in or out the door? It is a free museum after all (I know, I know...tax dollars).

No mention whatsoever about the extensive collection of the really rare aircraft that are already INSIDE the current hangars. The museum is probably three times the size, perhaps even larger, than it was when I was stationed at P-cola and all the big planes like the Coronado, the Truculent Turtle, the Marlin, etc. were in the grass out back. It's a stunning museum that is going through another capitol campaign to get another large hangar to bring even more of the 'flightline' planes inside.

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Offer me solutions, offer me alternatives, and I decline......

I keep swearing I'll never again be drawn into one of these, but, once more, into the fray..............

The Navy has no money for this, They have sailors to feed, ships and aircraft to fuel and maintain. Take a guess how many carriers are tied up right because there is no money to defuel them (ENT), or refuel them.

Restoration, maintainence, and recovery is ALL private dollar donations. Put your money where your mouth is. Donate to their Foundation, specify what YOU want is used for. i.e. ...finish the SBD or the birdcage; start the Helldiver restoration; finish the Privateer; refinish one of the other birds displayed outside; the list is endless. There is talk of a "Hangar Bay II". Donate and specify that purpose. Don't just bitch, become involved. Be a part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Someone grumbled about "hoarding". Next time you're up Chicago way, check out the F4F and the SBD hanging in O'Hare and Midway Airports. Those are L. Mich birds there
courtesy of NNAM. Been to the WWII Museum in NOLA? The SBD you saw in primer in the photos is headed there. Several of the birds in NOLA came from NNAM. Been to the Museum of the Pacific War in TX? How 'bout the one at Pearl Harbor? San Diego Air & Space? Been to USS Alabama in Mobile? ALL our USN birds(except the OS2U) are on loan from NNAM. I could go on, but I hope I've made my point. Am amazing amount of Navy aircraft around the country are there courtesy of NNAM. All it costs for an acredited museum is transportation and set up. We should all be thanking NNAM.

I challenge each of you, join the Foundation, tell them Owen Miller sent you. Become involved! When you're ready to write a substantial check, earmarked for your project,
contact me. I'll hook you up with the proper folks to direct your dollars to make a difference.

Owen

Museums have to make tough decisions every day with limited budgets and limited display space. They also have to rely on a volunteer force to do the lions share of the "heavy work." The National Naval Aviation Museum has done a fantastic job (from what I have seen) of preserving an enormous amount of Naval Aviation (and other aircraft). I'm sure the people in charge would love to have every plane restored and indoors if it was possible. I've always enjoyed my visits to the museum and I look forward to their future projects and expansion...

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"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

My guess is that the Privateer is fully restored and has been partially disassembled for outdoor storage. She just needs new exterior paint when she goes on indoor display eventually...

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"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

Privateer is close to going inside. Right now there is no money to finish it, so it remains outside. Pull out your checkbooks. Your donation, dedicated to a specific
project, MUST be used for that project. That's museum ethics 101. Now is your chance to make a difference. Stop talking, start doing.........

Owen

I do not wish to contribute and see these aircraft IN a museum. I wish to see them made available to the private sector where they will fly again. I have flown photo sorties with an FM-2, SBD, two TBMs (one just two weeks ago), and numerous SNJs. I have also flown aboard TBMs and SNJs. It is quite breathtaking look over my shoulder and seeing a TBM flying formation close enough for me to HEAR it over the engine and wind noise of the aircraft I am flying in.

KEEP 'EM FLYING.

Chappie

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Brrring. Dispersal? TWO SECTIONS SCRAMBLE!!

OK Chappie, your opinion, you're entitled. No prob......

Someone said it best in the latest Soplata collection. Just because
someone has the money to buy an artifact, does not require the
owner part with it. Thos birds belong to the Navy. Thay don't have
to sell them.

Owen

We need both types of museums.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Agree...

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"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

OK Speedy, I guess that is partially directed at me as I lamented I am saddened to see the Pirate and Savage out on the ramp. Yes I get the museum is non-profit, yes I get takes great effort and money to get things inside- but are we not allowed to comment on threads in here? Talk about what we like, what saddens us? Can we offer discussions or thoughts on what we think should move inside next, or be next in ther restoration shop? If you asked 10 people what should be the priority to move inside you may get 10 different answers... that is the joy of being an enthuisiast- all of us here on the forum are just that, to discuss things, share what we like and we all have our favorites.

I for one have a soft spot for sole survivors- and the Pirate and Savage are just that. Were they the best planes ever? Of course not. I find great interest in things I have never seen before, and will go out of my way to see a plane I have never seen fly or to see in a museum. Yes P-cola is a fantasic place and they have done some great things, but when we go to P-cola and the flight line area is closed off, or all we can see is from a tour bus window that might not drive past our favorite it can be a topic of discussion. I would rather see the sole Pirate inside than say a A-7, which I have seen plenty of. I would rather see the Savage in the restoration shop than even what appears to be a Corsair- and yes I fully understand that is just my opinion. Rarity is a quality all it's own.

And yes I drop something in the box as I enter.

It is a pity they don't have some assets they could sell to raise funds for another hangar. You know like an early war fighter and or dive bomber they have multiple examples of, or salvage rights to wrecks they have no plans to recover, in a large freshwater lake...
Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed all 3 of my trips to NMNA and have dontated to them, but the NHC policies bug the heck outta me...

I think about stuff like that all the time when I see something on the RAF memorial flight. Imagine the USAF or US Navy operating WW2 planes with volunteer active duty crews!

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Life member, 91st BG Memorial Association
Owner, 1944 Willys MB #366014
Former REMF (US Army, O3)

Agreed. Let's continue this over a drink someday.


Chappie

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Brrring. Dispersal? TWO SECTIONS SCRAMBLE!!