jem3@pyuxf.bellcore.com (John E McKillop) (03/05/91)
From: jem3@pyuxf.bellcore.com (John E McKillop) I received material in the mail the other day soliciting funds for THE AMERICAN AIR MUSEUM IN BRITAIN that is supposed to be constructed at Duxford. According to the brochure, "Designed around the giant B-52, the museum will have a dramatic glass front and raised walkways to provide easy viewing of American planes. Each of the planes pictured here is already on site and fully restored." The brochure contains pictures of: B-17G, Boeing Flying Fortress B-25J, North American Mitchell B-29, Boeing Superfortress B-52, Boeing Stratofortress (looks like a D-model) P-40, Curtiss (unknown model in RAF markings) P-51D, North American Mustang TBM-3, Grumman Avenger Does anyone on the other side of the pond know anything about this? Jimmy Doolittle's name is used on the material but before giving a miniumum $20 to become "a Founding Member of the American Air Museum in Britain", I would like to be assured that this is legitimate. Please respond by e-mail or post to the group. Thanks in advance!
rh@craycos.com (Robert Herndon) (03/06/91)
From: rh@craycos.com (Robert Herndon) I'm from the American side of the pond, but right now have a picture of a B-17G (as mentioned in your note, maybe the same plane?) on the calendar on my desk. According to the caption: "The prototype of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress made its first flight in July 1935. This B-17G is seen during its last flight from Duxford to Stanstead in 1983. Upon arrival at Stanstead, it was dismantled and taken by road to the RAF Museum at Hendon where it is on display as a memorial to the bravery of the USAF bomber crews who served in Britain during WWII." The photo shows a B-17G with yellow stabilizers and tail, with a USAF style star on the right side of the fuselage, and a large white "A" in a blue box on the otherwise yellow tail. There is also a red stripe around the tail and fuselage just behind the USAF star. The plane is, per the description, flying, and the gun turrets on top and in the nose appear to be occupied by two persons each. Looks crowded. The registration numbers on the tail are difficult to make out, but appear to be 83868N. The remainder of the plane is silver, except for the cowlings in front of each engine, which are red, and probably the prop tips themselves, which look to be yellow. (They are completely blurred, but there is a yellowish disc around each engine.) Robert Herndon -- Robert Herndon -- not speaking officially for Cray Computer. Cray Computer Corporation 719/540-4240 1110 Bayfield Dr. rh@craycos.com Colorado Springs, CO 80906 "Ignore these three words."