[Milsurplus] Ocean dumping

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On 2/27/06, Karl Bullock <karl at dixie-net.com> wrote:
> Ray, a lot of what you posted was anectodal, but there's plenty of
> anectodal evidence to the contrary, especially concerning aircraft.
> I've seen old newsreel footage where aircraft on carriers were simply
> pushed over the side on the way home to keep from having to service the
> things when they got here.   What a terrible waste!  Civilian air
> enthusiasts could have had a field day with these aircraft,

Yes, well...when they started surplussing out P-51s from Guard units
in the early 60s for a few grand each (under $10K in what I read, from
$3K to $5K typical), a fair number of civilian pilots got them and
made their final flights in them. Seems they were a whole lot more
plane than the average pilot could handle, particularly lining up for
take off and landing. Can you imagine such a thing in today's
politically-correct world? I can't recall now if they changed their
policy back then on such items or not, it would be nice to remember
which aviation publication I read it in.

Ray, I think you pretty well summed it up with respect to the surplus
gear market of the 50s-70s. I wasn't around or in radio for much of
it, but reading the old catalogs and magazines you see complete BC-375
packages for sale and so on. Also a lot of gear with blank 'placed in
service' tags (although this isn't proof positive that the gear wasn't
used). But I've seen and even have a fair amount of aircraft gear
pulled from aircraft, some from RAAF as well as US gear, that was
clearly used. And while it may not have been an official 'across the
board' policy, it's clear that a lot of new gear was indeed scrapped
both here and overseas. Fortunately a lot seems to have survived!

I wonder if any of the aviation types here know what became of the
Dominican Republic's P-51 fleet? They were supposedly the last ones in
frontline service back in the early/mid 80s. Now that would've been an
auction to attend, if it ever took place.

de Todd/'Boomer'  KA1KAQ