Aero Vintage Books

I was just wondering something: why hasn't the wreck of the B-17F "blackjack" in PNG been salvaged and/or recovered? from what I've read, it is still in excellent condidtion, so there could possibly still be usable parts in it. Yeah, I know, it's probably protected by law or something, but it's just a thought...

Maybe somebody can propose to PNG that they will restore both B-17's Black cat and Swamp ghost only if they can keep swamp ghost and let her return home to the USA.

Guys, let me give it to you straight. Salt water plays hell with aluminum.If the plane was at 1000 ft I would say it would be pretty good.Black jack is at 100 or less I think.She would never survive the lift Im sorry to say.She would just go to pieces. Once that bird hit fresh air it would start to corrode before your eyes.There is some good stuff on the market to slow the corrosion down but in the long run it wont stay together.After all that poo-pooing of the idea,I would say that it still needs to be pulled and saved whatever her condition will be.

Anyone interested in <I>Black Jack</I> might like to know that <I>Black Jack's Last Mission</I>, the documentary we did about the old plane, will be available soon on DVD. It runs about 52 minutes and includes underwater footage of the old B-17 inside and out.

There's also a recent interview with the radio operator, George Prezioso. This still shows what his position looked like in 1987 . . .



Since the film was made we've learned that the bombardier, Lt Herman Dias, and the navigator, Lt Charles Shaver were transfered from the 43rd Bomb Group to the 529th Bomb Squadron of the 380th Bomb Group, where they joined Lt Harold Van Wormer’s crew. On January 19, 1944, their B-24 was shot down by fighters “120 miles south of Ambon”. Dias was killed, but Charles Shaver survived the war as a prisoner of the Japanese. He died in Virginia in March 1997.

Sadly, pilot Ralph De Loach passed away September of 2007, so we believe that George Prezioso is the last survivor of the July 11, 1943 crew.

Justin Taylan at Pacific Ghosts is the distributor of the DVD.

I would love to rebuild the nose.

The pilot of "Blackjack" uused to attend the early Geneseo airshows. Can't remember the guys name but he was very colorful gentalmen!

Nathan Milarta wrote:The pilot of "Blackjack" uused to attend the early Geneseo airshows. Can't remember the guys name but he was very colorful gentalmen!

Was this Harry Staley? He was Ken McCullar's co-pilot in Black Jack and became pilot when McCullar moved on to command a squadron. He probably has the best claim to be 41-24521's "pilot". Ralph De Loach, pilot on the July 11, 1943 last mission, was flying her for the first time as far as I can tell.

hang the expense wrote:Guys, let me give it to you straight. Salt water plays hell with aluminum.If the plane was at 1000 ft I would say it would be pretty good.Black jack is at 100 or less I think.She would never survive the lift Im sorry to say.She would just go to pieces. Once that bird hit fresh air it would start to corrode before your eyes.There is some good stuff on the market to slow the corrosion down but in the long run it wont stay together.After all that poo-pooing of the idea,I would say that it still needs to be pulled and saved whatever her condition will be.

Tom, What were the circumsions of Swamp Ghost? Was she sitting in brackish fresh water, did the tide ebb with salt water,or was she sitting in salt water? I can't recall. Do please enlighten me.

HI Gary,Welcome to Aero vintage.Yes from what I have heard it was stting in brackish? water and has corrosion from the waist windows down.No biggy just loads of sheet metal work. Somewhere there are pics that show the rot.

hang the expense wrote:HI Gary,Welcome to Aero vintage.Yes from what I have heard it was stting in brackish? water and has corrosion from the waist windows down.No biggy just loads of sheet metal work. Somewhere there are pics that show the rot.

Tom, it is I, Gary, we have spoken on the phone a few times....yer a riot

Only with BIG DADDY and I was very good last trip down.I cant take that stuff no more. Hey gang,Gary lives down by me and is one of the good guys.

Where did everybody go.Cant you guys get bail money?

Tom, Do I have to bail you out again?! I think you're takin' a likin' to that place...

What about the B-17 in Black Cat pass in New Guinea? Is that recoverable --Yes, I know, with time and money, but I was thinking more as a potential restoration to flying condition?
Nick

Hiya Nick,I would love to see that bird come out and be rebuilt.She's busted real bad so a realistic approach would be to static to save as much original as possible.Plus we would have to live to a hundred but hell,it would be worth a shot.Oh BTW I keep a monopoly get out of jail free card on me at all times.It worked once back in the day.