Warbird Information Exchange

There was an Air Classics article (in the '80s I believe) by a former Cuban TBolt pilot who said that most of the F-47s (as he called them) were crashed in the '50s, including one he was flying. Might be some remote crash sites up in the Sierra Maestra? We had quite a few planes ditch off Cuba during the war as well.

Another AC blurb in "Warbird Report" in the '70s mentioned a derelict DC-4 and Britannia at José Martí Airport, along with the possible remains of a (get this) Lancaster off in the trees...

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

Nice pics of a Cuban Sea Fury and Kingfisher at:

webcommunity.ilvolo.it • Cuba 2012

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Bob

The thing that needs to be remembered is Cuba is open to Canadians and Europeans. Most of the warbirds have been documented already and I don't see many being sold in the future. There are a number of collectors in Europe that would have snapped any that were for sale years ago.

Sean

Martin:

Good day!

Tks for the info & data. Do you or any of your pocs have any pics of the B-26 Invaders long time abandoned at the Easter tip of Cuba in a place called Santiago de Cuba?? Have you seen any pics fm that area?? tks in advance.

Very good point. I wonder, though, if any aircraft were ever for sale in the first place? Doing business with or in Cuba can be quite bizarre compared to what most Canadians or Europeans are used to. The concept of "ownership" might be very different or non-existent under a communist system. Obtaining things such as salvage rights to any accessible wrecks may be impossible because there could simply be no provision for that in the current government.

Based on the observation that there hasn't been many, or any, vintage cars exported from Cuba to Canada or Europe (to the best of my knowledge), I would suggest the situation for aircraft is the same.

In the meantime, I'm going to go quietly look for that P-38...

That is a good point. All aircraft wrecks on the island are more or less owned by the government. Without a major change in leadership, things are going to stay right were they are.

Sean