[Milsurplus] Fwd: Those P-39s Still in the Crates...

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On Sat, May 6, 2017 at 10:46 PM, Hubert Miller <Kargo_cult at msn.com> wrote:

> That would make sense for later equipment, but i still miss how that would
> apply to, say, a BC-375, RU, BC-348, SCR-522 and so on.
>

I think Bob's suggestion about post war scrapping makes some sense, too.
That and perhaps field servicing at a specific field where, for whatever
reason, they wanted to get a repaired radio back to its crew and aircraft
so they labeled it. Pure speculation, of course.

As to the Wiki info Hue, I certainly wasn't disputing it. There's a lot of
excellent info available through Wikipedia and similar sources. My point
is, someone had to write it. Were they there? Did they talk to someone who
was? Did they research archives or other records? Quite often I find
footnotes quoting someone's book or an article or whatever else. In my
case, I've spoken with someone involved in the warbird scene from Australia
who is familiar with the history of the region, has done a lot of archival
research and is acquainted with many members of the warbird community
there, some of whom were involved in the earliest retrievals and
restorations.

I don't think it was ever indicated that the P-39s were necessarily part of
or intended for the RAAF, even. He mentioned the Americans unloading stuff
and leaving it behind because their island hopping progress outpaced the
materials. But it's very clear even from the Pacific Wrecks site that P-39s
were used in numbers there.

And while I do agree with you that the bulk of the 'good stuff', the easy
pickins are long gone, I also suspect there is still plenty of stuff
scattered around there in overgrown, hidden, or now-inaccessible locations.
Maybe not crates of new anything, but plenty of stuff of different types.
Condition? Who knows? But just the sheer volume of material as well as area
covered and endless horror stories of surplus disposal make it extremely
likely. Of course, time is against it now.

Another story related to me last night was about Merlin aircraft engines
which came out of a discussion we were having about some PT boat engines I
had a chance to buy back in the late 80s, still in the crate at a marina in
NH. Gary said they were still relatively available down his way as recently
as the turn of the century, for $5-$7K. He said most had come out of
Mosquito aircraft built in Oz and many were 'tired'. He said while the
price was reasonable, rebuilding a Rolls Royce Merlin even then was around
$100K due the the nature of its construction. He said the Packard Merlins
were much cheaper to rebuild (around $40K) because Packard had simplified
some of the systems and overall the engine wasn't as 'precise', where as
Rolls Royce could build it no differently - it was just their way. Then he
told me about the exploding exhaust valves (not installed) which was an
amusing story.

Again - I'm just relaying information based on a previous discussion here
on the list a few months back. I wish I'd thought to ask him why the P-39s
in crates hadn't been snatched up. We'll be speaking again soon, he has a
car of mine at his place (from out your way in Sedro Woolley, no less).
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