Around the Hangar

As I said before, there is a TON of activity at the hangar, and it is quite difficult to keep up! A number of members made an off site visit to the C&P hangars to check out their B-25s, Betty's Dream and Lady Luck. Betty's Dream is a pristine example of a B-25, and is a great way to gain knowledge for our own projects.
(Photos Thanks to Gary Chambers and Brian Strom)

(Roger Van Ranst, Matt Myklebust and Jim Lauria check out Lady Lucks nose section)


(Roger, Dave Schouveller and Ray Miller look over the uber-complete Betty's Dream)


(Steve Wagoner removes panels from the B-25 tail section)


(Rudy Nassif, clearly moving faster than the speed of light, works on the PT-22's tail wheel)


(Mustangs don't look nearly as sleek with the spinner removed...)


(Bill Atchison and the Motor Pool workers are getting close to finishing their insulating wall)


(Carol Lovaas works to improve another museum case)


(Doug Olson inspects the PT-22)


(Matt Myklebust working on the P-51)


(It took me a minute to remember what was going on here... Larry Utter, Dave, Doug and I were trying to read very fine print in a manual)


(George Colaizy and Randy Hutchison got the tug running again!)


(Doug fondling one of the new ladders we purchased)


(Ray Miller running hydraulic lines for the tail turret. This picture reminds me of the colorized photos shot in the manufacturing plants during WWII.)

Doolittle Raider Reunion

It was an honor to be a part of history this month. "Miss Mitchell", along with 16 other B-25s, overflew the USAF Museum, and were able to meet, chat and dine with 4 of the remaining Doolittle Raiders (out of 8). This gathering was larger than any in recent history, equal to that of the filming of Catch-22! The pictures speak for themselves. What a trip!
(Select Photos Thanks to Nate Timm)

(On the ramp in Anoka to meet up with "Betty's Dream" and "Lady Luck" from C&P Aviation)


(This flight gave me the opportunity to try out my new camera and Telephoto lens!)


("Betty's Dream" is an incredibly authentic B-25, featured in an earlier blog post, while "Lady Luck" is a comfortable ride)


(Decent shot... in my opinion)


(As you can see, the weather went from gray and rainy to perfection!)


(From the ramp in Urbana, OH. The B-25s line up to transition to Dayton)


(B-25s as far as the camera can see!!!!)


(The reason we are here. Four of the eight remaining Doolittle Raiders)


(Each aircraft received a plaque, arranged and purchased by the Doolittle Raiders, to commemorate the event. Alan Miller accepts on behalf of "Miss Mitchell" and the MN Wing)


(Once the day was over we gathered at the end of the field...)


(Which made for quite a sight!)


(The tail-end charlies... All 5 operating CAF B-25s are in this picture!)


(Each Raider's name was carved into a goblet, and is held in this case built by Dick Cole, Doolittle's co-pilot. When a Raider passes away, the goblet is turned upside down. When only two Raiders remain, they will toast their departed comrades with a bottle of 1896 Hennesey [birth year of Jimmy Doolittle]. Adam Galloway, Nate Timm, Mark Erickson and Alan Miller are pictured)


(We were given a guided tour of the restoration facility at the Air Force Museum. This is the original "Memphis Belle" being restored for display)


(This aircraft appealed to me... the X-32A, Boeing's concept for the Joint Strike Fighter. It lost to the X-35, Lockheed's concept)


("The Swoose" is a B-17D, the oldest B-17 in known existance)


(For those of you who have never seen one, this is a B-25H with a 75mm cannon installed)


(Larry Utter in the nose, flying past Chicago)


(Flying straight over Navy Pier)


(Looking back from the tail gunner position... what an amazing trip!)


(The crew - Mark Erickson, Me (Jim Lauria), Nate Timm, Gary Chambers, Alan Miller, Jim Gilmore, Adam Galloway and Larry Utter. The photo was taken by Adam White, producer of "Red Tail Reborn" and the coming TV show "The Restorers". The Minnesota Wing, "Miss Mitchell" and the Doolittle Reunion will be a feature on the show. Visit http://www.therestorers.com/ for more info!)

A Hop Over to Harker's

Our B-25 projects are coming along. Everything we are working on has a manual, diagram or drawing to reference. But being able to look at, touch and measure that same project that is already completed takes hours, even days, off of a project. I had a co-worker who called it "Going to school" on another aircraft. What luck it is that C&P Aviation in Anoka county has not one, but TWO B-25s! Both are in flying condition, though there are many differences between the two. "Lady Luck" is a glass nose configuration, and the interior is focused on comfort. It's a transport vehicle with a warbird exterior... very nice for getting around! "Betty's Dream", a hard-nosed B-25, is as detailed on the inside as it is outside. This was our classroom for the day! It was an experience to walk around the C&P facility. Projects included a from-scratch roadster, the F-82 Twin Mustang, rare PT and L-bird aircraft, vintage motorcycles and cars. Their massive hangars contained the two B-25s, a private jet, a Cessna 182 on Floats, a Cessna 172, an L-13, a T-6 and a Grumman Albatross!
A special Thank You to John Roxbury who answered all of our questions, and allowed us free access to the hangar and aircraft!

(Select Photos Thanks to Matt Holland)

(The Grumman Albatross is quite the people hauler!)


(A wall full of toys. Liaison and trainer aircraft, motorcycles, go-carts, all kinds of great stuff!)


(Classic and brand new cars line the back wall of the hangar)


(Lady Luck shines)


(She's a glass nose B-25, with a lot of the original exterior equipment)


(The reason we are here, the uber-original B-25 Betty's Dream)


(She's a hard nose B-25 with 8 .50 cals mounted up front)


(Bob Wright, Doug Olson and Dave Schouveller look over the B-25s carefully)


(The front fuselage section of Betty's Dream is a bit more cramped than Miss Mitchell)


(As is the tail... strings of .50 cal shells run to the tail gunner position)


(Matt Holland looks over the radio racks in the waist of the aircraft)


(Earl Teporten looks over the bomb release system)


(Dave and Earl on the business end of the bomb bay)


(Once our photos were collected, we had some fun looking over the F-82 Twin Mustang)


(The restoration work is immaculate, a perfect example of a nearly forgotten aircraft)


(Nate Timm checks for part numbers while Tom Youngdahl talks shop with John Roxbury. Thanks again John!)