[ARC5] A Letter from the pCAF

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On 4/23/05, Kenneth G. Gordon <kgordon at moscow.com> wrote:
> You are entirely too polite to the CAF, Mr. Stinson.
> 
> I am not sure, but I understand that the Collings Foundation possibly
> has a little better attitude.  At least they carry most of a BC-375 around
> with them in their B-17. I didn't notice what they had in the B-24 though,
> but that was a few years ago.
> 
> Also Taigh Ramey, who is a member of this list, does good work with
> proper restoration of radio gear in vintage WWII aircraft.
> 
> He is a real stickler for accuracy.

Seen only photos inline of Taigh's Twin Beech(s), very nice and
well-restored unit (including radio gear and other avionics). His
pages also show a sincere interest in the history behind these fine
aircraft, not just an interest in the vehicle itself.

I flew with the Collings Foundation and can tell you firsthand from
that and other experiences, they are indeed interested in accurate
equipment and authentic representation. Their B-17G 'Nine-O-Nine' is
outfitted with the correct radio gear, the cabling is missing, though.
My take on this is that the B-17G is an earlier restoration, where it
wasn't as much of a priority. Their B-24 'All American' (or The
Dragon's Tail', depending on which side you view now) had what looked
like a NOS BC-375 installed, complete with connectors and
wiring/cabling. Wonderful layout. I saw it in '92, shortly after it
hit the circuit.

Another confirmation of their seriousness: we had a B-24 catch a
wingtip on Camels Hump (a mountain here in VT) during a training
mission in WWII (a ham buddy of mine was a radio op in one of te other
planes, but that's another story) and cartwheel in. Much of the plane
was hauled off for scrap the following year by locals who went up on
the mountain with horse teams to recover aluminum. My dad's Boy Scout
troop found one of the .50 cal guns shortly thereafter and were
bringing it home as a trophy, until a wild idea to toss it over the
side to save hauling it landed it in a swamp. Many years later I found
what looked like a tail skid, thick metal ski-looking thing, very
heavy. So I was hauling it down the mountain (Explorer Scout trip)
when I came across an engine mount and decided it looked like a better
bet.

Well, to make a long story short(er), what I have found was tha armor
plating for behind the pilot or co-pilot's seat. The Collings
Foundation heard of this when restoring their B-24 and came up to get
it. No, they didn't add it to their plane because of the weight, but
it is in their museum collection. Phil Haskell was pretty surprised to
find out as we were talking that I was the one who dug it out and
hauled it down the mountain some years ago. It would still be buried
otherwise. They have the engine mount, too.

Before anyone gets all pissy about 'raiding crash sites', please keep
in mind that most all of the wreck was removed after the crash, and
what remained/remains is mostly buried down over a steep cliff face.
While I don't agree with souvenier hunting per say, I do believe in
preserving history that will otherwise be lost to all. At some point
archeology needs to become part of the preservation.

There was one survivor found from the crash (oddly enough, found by
the local Boy Scout troop after spending a cold night on the
mountain). He lost both legs, but was still alive the last I knew.
They have since erected a bronze plaque at the base of the mountain to
remember the people and events.

It's good that there is an interest in preserving these fine examples
of history, in flying condition. It's also sad that some don't deem
the 'accessories' (in their view) worthy of bothering with. But the
planes are flying, and attitudes are changing; albeit slowly for some.

de Todd/'Boomer'  KA1KAQ