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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2011 0:56:49 GMT 9
Yup, the Museum is still there, and has been upgraded quite a bit. Lots of rockets, a/c including a Buff, much more inside, they had to move to a new location.
Have a lot more space, many more interactive exhibits, Little Boy and Big Boy displays and a host of other new stuff.
My sister in law worked at Sandia Labs, secure DOD sight on base, and I'd visit the museum often.
I'll be in ABQ for Tksgiving, think I'll stop at the museum, just for old times sake.
She even told me about the hidden nuclear weapons bunkers and hidden B52 underground hangars. I actually spotted them one day as I was flying into ABQ Airport.
Also spent a fair amount of time at Los Alamos Labs, home of the bomb. New Mexico is an unbelievably interesting state.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2011 1:05:25 GMT 9
Bullhunter, when I was active, there was a reg stating that when you had 9 months left you could refuse any PCS. So the day I went under 9 I cracked a fifth of scotch, and left no drops as evidence.
Naturally, at 7 months my orders came down. Talked with my Chain at the 539th and told them I wasnt going to accept the orders. They passed the info up the line, and after a few weeks, I got a message to report to the blockhouse.
Met with some Personnel type who told me I had orders, and that I couldnt refuse them. I referred him to the specific reg, he stuttered a bit, pulled out the reg after searching for a while, and sputtered and stammered for about 5 minutes.
He then launched into a re-up pitch, telling me all the benefits of going, combat pay, pay raise, additional stripe, all kinds of crap. I just said no thanks.
He got all upset and finally just gave up.
When I got back to the squadron and my shop, there were a half dozen guys who volunteered to take my orders, I told them who to call, and it wasnt Ghost Busters. They didnt reissue the orders, they just went away.
But I was scared to death they were going to give me a TDY when I had 180 days left.
I never regretted not taking the orders. I just knew that I wouldnt come home. Besides, I had an offer to be ground crew with the Thunderbirds if I reenlisted, why would I turn that down and accept orders for Nam???
There were a few more details, but that's the gist of it.
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Bullhunter
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Post by Bullhunter on Nov 5, 2011 2:56:16 GMT 9
F-4 (WW)
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Bullhunter
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Post by Bullhunter on Nov 5, 2011 3:00:37 GMT 9
Uploaded with ImageShack.usIT TOOK THIS TO REPLACE THE F-106 :rofl
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Post by Mark O on Nov 5, 2011 8:50:49 GMT 9
IT TOOK THIS TO REPLACE THE F-106 Yea, it took them what, 30-odd years to go back to a fighter with internal weapons bays? That's one of the first things I noticed when they came out with the F-22. I remember reading about the first flight of the YF-22 back in '91 when I was in Germany. Originally they wanted to buy 650 of 'em! Think about that. First flight in 1991 of the prototype, and it didn't officially go into service with squadrons until 2005. Compare that to the F-106. First flight was December 1956. Operational by 1959. Amazing. Mark
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Post by Bullhunter on Nov 6, 2011 5:20:12 GMT 9
This was Mark's last flight. Pilot swears :angry the FE in the back seat turned off the fuel. Mark says, " : " :rofl Just kidding with ya! :salute
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Post by Bullhunter on Nov 7, 2011 13:57:02 GMT 9
I love American history so maybe we should look at WWII aircraft next.
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Post by Bullhunter on Nov 9, 2011 2:22:12 GMT 9
Who knows what they all are? :scratch_head
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Post by Bullhunter on Nov 9, 2011 2:24:26 GMT 9
The British Hawker Hurricane. First flew against the Luftwaffe in the Battle Of Britain.
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Post by Mark O on Nov 9, 2011 2:30:23 GMT 9
Who knows what they all are? The aircraft on the ground (floor) is a Northrop A-17A, aircraft #22 is a Ryan YPT-16, and #47 is a Fairchild PT-19A. Okay, I cheated and looked them up! I've never been to good at pre-war aircraft. Somewhere I have photo prints of most of those. Mark
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Post by Bullhunter on Nov 14, 2011 12:43:26 GMT 9
This I believe is a British Spitfire with U.S. Army Air Corp markings. I knew a retired LTC who visited the McChord Museum often and he told me he flew recon in WWII using a Spitfire. No guns, just cameras.
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Post by Bullhunter on Nov 14, 2011 12:44:28 GMT 9
P-40 Flying Tiger Markings.
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Post by Bullhunter on Nov 14, 2011 12:45:34 GMT 9
P-38
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Nov 15, 2011 0:52:26 GMT 9
Good picture of the P-40.
The air museum in Minot has a P-40 that is being rebuilt.
When I looked at it in September, it was still in separate pieces.
It is, however, complete, including all instruments and a set of six Browning .50 machine guns.
It is only worked on in the months the museum is closed, all Winter.
The ones working on it are mostly from Minot AFB, military and civilian.
It will be in flying condition when they complete the restoration, but the museum does not plan to get a certification for it, but leave it in the building for folks to see that wonderful old bird.
Jim Too
:god_bless_usa
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Post by Bullhunter on Nov 15, 2011 2:25:14 GMT 9
If I'm ever in ND I will stop at the minot Museum. My wife's best friend lives in Duluth and if we get there we will check out that museum if its not shutdown. The is a guy in centural Washington some place who has 3 flying P-40's. They were used in the movie Pearl Harbor and likely a few others. I saw him and his P-40's on a TV special two years ago. Was called something like Washington State Crossroads. Next time I cross the state going to look it up.
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Post by Bullhunter on Nov 15, 2011 2:51:04 GMT 9
Uploaded with ImageShack.usNice old Navy Bird. PBY While I was at the McChord Air Museum we started the restoration of a damaged PBY that came to us in pieces. It crashed in Canada while doing some maping. In the crash the kiel broke, wings ripped off, nose busted, and holes torn here and there. The restoration is now complete last I heard. This photo is McChord Museum's PBY during restoration. Uploaded with ImageShack.us
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Post by Bullhunter on Nov 15, 2011 6:08:25 GMT 9
Luftwaffle ME-262
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Post by Mark O on Nov 15, 2011 11:19:03 GMT 9
Nice old Navy Bird. PBY While I was at the McChord Air Museum we started the restoration of a damaged PBY that came to us in pieces. It crashed in Canada while doing some maping. In the crash the kiel broke, wings ripped off, nose busted, and holes torn here and there. The restoration is now complete last I heard. This photo is McChord Museum's PBY during restoration. Brazilian Navy PBY, but painted as a nice old AAF Bird. OA-10 www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=522www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_OA-10_catalina.htmlUsed to confuse me too. Someone asked me once about the "OA-10", and I thought they were talking about the FAC version of the A-10 Warthog, also called an OA-10. Just about 40 years or so later!
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Post by Bullhunter on Nov 16, 2011 4:18:40 GMT 9
B-25
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