Final Week in Stockton CA - Finishing Touches

 

 

Arrived today at Vintage Aircraft in Stockton California.  Final week to wrap things up before I fly it down to LA next week.  Here are some videos: Testing the one of the .50 caliber wing guns, outfitting the radio/bombardier room:

 

 

 

 

 

A Closer Look at CV-17 USS Midway aircraft carrier

Was back in San Diego last Saturday, checking out the USS Midway in a bit more detail.  The Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber, probably the most famous plane of the Pacific War.  Also toured inside the island, guided by one of our proud veterans who served aboard Midway.  Here are the 3 videos:

 

Stopping in at Vintage Aircraft in Stockton

Stopped by Vintage Aircraft with my buddy Eric Kunkel to see progress. 

Coming from Australia, we had to have the TBM recertified. This has now been accomplished. Also, the 2018 annual is complete. The guys took care to painstakingly set the timing perfect for each cylinder. 

The rear machine gunner turret is now on a custom built movable “rotisserie” rack, making access to each part open to conveniently work on from any angle. Key parts are being replaced with new, which include the drive motors. Starting the build on the propane/oxygen firing system for the single .50 caliber machine gun, along with the forward firing wing guns. The middle seat now also has an integrated yoke stick control. We started setting out and assembling the transmitter and radios, along with other authentic period devices, to be installed back in the radio tunnel.

We towed the TBM to the runup ramp and started the engine.  She fired right up and ran very smooth.  We spread the wings, taxied about, did a run up, and on the way back to the hanger folded the wings back.  Everything is working great.

Taigh let Eric sit in the B-17 ball turret and turned it on.  Eric did well. He slid right in and loved it. Check out the smile on his face as I was looking in from the outside down the barrel.

Here are some videos and pics:

USS Lexington (CV-2) Wreck Found

 

Most everybody has probably heard by today that the wreck of the USS Lexington (CV-2) has been positively located, along with many airplanes and other artifacts lying on the ocean floor.  The location was found by Paul Allen (Cofounder of Microsoft) and his team.  The debris field is located off the coast of Australia, 2 miles deep.

 

 

 

The initial images being sent up by the ROV are astounding.  Everything seems to be in a remarkable good state of preservation, considering the amount of time that has passed since the sinking during the famous Battle of the Corral Sea. This was the first major US offensive against the Imperial Japanese Navy, who were trying to isolate Australia and that region.  It was here that part of the US Pacific Fleet thwarted the Japanese effort to invade and occupy specific strategic locations, which included the island of Tulagi, (the small island in the Solomon Islands chain, just across and north of Guadalcanal) and Port Moresby (at the time was the main port of New Guinea).  The famous Doolittle Raid and The Battle of Midway followed soon after.

 

I think that one of the most compelling parts for us TBM folks is (aside from the amazing history of the wreck itself) are the airplanes found, especially the type of airplanes. Two Douglas TBD Devastators.  This was the airplane that the TBM Avenger was replacing and phasing out.  And most exciting, these may be the only ones in existence in the world today.  I am not aware of any flying in the world.  Also, none at any museum.  This could be the first real look at the famous old torpedo plane, other than the old black and white pictures and film reels.  It would be amazing if one or both of the TBD's could be raised and preserved. 

Douglas TBD Devastator torpedo plane

 

 

Why? Not only because they don't exist anywhere in the world, but they were really made famous in The Battle of Midway, which was proclaimed to be the turning point in the entire Pacific War.  This was Torpedo Squadron 8, whose actions were critical to the US victory.  Although they were diligently led by the competent and brave Lieutenant Commander John Waldron of Oglala Lakota bloodline, and although he alone disobeyed orders from the incompetent Stanhope Ring (the arrogant "lost" dive bomber squadron leader who led his group to find and attack nothing), thus on his own found the Japanese fleet.  But unfortunately they arrived early without any fighter escort, way ahead of the dive bombers.  Sadly they were all eventually shot down by ship ack ack, with many falling prey to the Zero fighters in the defense ring who were lurking high at 15,000 feet and swooped down in.  Only one man survived, George Gay, floating in the water and later rescued by a Navy PBY, after spending over 30 hours in the water.  But minutes later after Torpedo Squadron 8, along with the other carrier torpedo squadrons, which had followed their lead, the first 6 TBF Avengers that came off Grumman's production line to enter the war, which were land based from Midway Island (just arrived from Pearl) arrived on the scene and joined  in melee.  Unfortunately they met with similar results.  5 of those 6 TBF's were also shot down. 

 

BUT! 



Of the 5 torpedoes USS Phelps launched to scuttle the USS Lexington,
Paul Allen's team believes that this was likely one of the two that were duds.

This is close to when finally USS Enterprise's air group dive bomber commander Lieutenant Commander Wade McClusky, on a hunch had deviated his group - and following the wake of a destroyer, had at last found the Japanese fleet.  With no Japanese Zero fighters up high flying umbrella defense, and with most of the ships' guns trained and focused on the burning wrecks of the torpedo planes, the TBD Dauntlesses dove, completely unmolested, single file, like a "silver zipper".  In minutes, three of the four Japanese aircraft carriers were flaming wrecks, with one marked for death the next day.

 

This picture of Ensign Bert Earnest’s Avenger torpedo bomber was taken shortly after he returned to Midway Island

with 64 machine gun holes and nine 20 millimeter cannon holes in it.

 

The one Midway based TBF barely made it back, as it practically crash landed into the sand bank on Midway Island.  2 of the 3 crew survived - Pilot Bert Earnest and Radioman Harry Ferrier.

Harry Ferrier (right) Bert Earnest (center) and replacement gunner Basil Rich (Left) with VT-8 on Guadalcanal

 

 

 

 

Warm up for Compression Check

The process is well underway. Taking things apart for the annual and certification process.  Today we did the engine cylinder compression checks.  Everything was in tolerance. Here is the video from inside the cockpit. My third time ever starting this bird, so don’t laugh too hard - VERY slow and methodical. 

Progress for today & Taigh Ramey’s amazing Lockheed PV-2D Harpoon, a WW2 anti-submarine patrol torpedo / bomber

It’s been fun working and hanging out here at Vintage Aircraft at Stockton Airport.  Here below are a few pictures from today. Taigh and Ricky consulting under the engine, one can see the true scale of this ship.  Below that you can see the massive void where the rear gunner ball turret was removed for service. Last, the mast antenna that we will reintroduce and reinstall to this Avenger, an original basic element.

Here below is a 2 part video inside Taigh Ramey’s amazing Lockheed PV-2D Harpoon, a WW2 anti-submarine patrol torpedo / bomber. This particular ship is absolutely loaded inside with original radios and equipment, an exquisite virtual flying museum.

B-17 Ball Turret in action

Here is that ball turret in action at Taigh’s Ramey’s Bomber Camp.

Servicing the Ball Turret with .50 Caliber Machine Gun

Here are some pictures and videos from Taigh Ramey’s Vintage Aircraft shop in Stockton California.

Close up of the inside of the rear gunner turret after removal from the airplane. Note the .50 caliber machine gun on the upper left.  On the right, I am holding a replacement gunner firing control box which has the pistol grip and gun trigger.  This grip is attached to a multi axis post which directs the entire ball turret to quickly rotate according to the control grip inputs.

The 3rd image here shows the magnitude of the armor plate that protected the gunner from incoming enemy fire. It is over 1” thick solid steel. The same on the side walls.

Stockton CA for the Winter

This Wednesday December 20th I took our TBM up for the first time.  I stayed over the confines of Long Beach Airport's airspace at 2000 MSL for safety reasons.  Several laps in a right turn along with some very sharp turns.  It's definitely a two arm on the stick machine.  Landed nicely.  Here below are a couple of videos from that flight.

Next day, Thursday, I flew the ship up to Stockton CA.  Used the LA transition portal above LAX airport (the "LOS ANGELES SPECIAL FLIGHT RULES AREA").  That was a handy shortcut.  Simply intercept the 132 radial of the Santa Monica Airport's VOR - maintain 4500 MSL (north) while squawking 1201 and broadcasting position reports air to air on 128.55.  It was a snap.  I crossed over the mountains at 11500 MSL at Castaic Lake and from there on it's just one huge wide flat valley.  Landing at Stockton went great.

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Here below is the only surviving picture of the first Avenger squadron leader aboard the USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) who fought and was killed in action in 1944.  His name was USN Lieutenant Commander Frank M. Whitaker.  He named his 1st division airgroup call sign "Hobo One" and the other two groups were named "Boxcar" and "Caboose" respectively. Their home aboard ship was called "Hobotown". "Roundhouse" was the call for pilots to rendezvous. "Chow down" was the signal to prepare to attack and "Dinner is ready" signaled the target is sighted.

LCDR Frank M. Whitaker in his "Hobo" Avenger

According to Tom Blackburn, skipper of VF-17, LCDR Whitaker "begged, borrowed, or stole several airborne radars, which he used to develop foul-weather and night-attack techniques that eventually won fleet-wide acceptance in early 1944"." 

Sadly, Frank was killed in a midair collision with his wingman on 2 February 1944 during the one of the many famous Pacific War engagements; the battle of the Marshall Islands at the atoll of Eniwetok.  Aboard Frank's Avenger and also killed was the famous United Press journalist Raymond Lewis Clapper. 

Raymond Clapper, UP Journalist (1892 - 1944)

We have honored USN Lieutenant Commander Frank Whitaker and his squadron on our TBM Avenger with his Hobo artwork, along with our overall airplane scheme - which honors all of those who flew off the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill.

Landing Gear Check - Thumbs Up

 

Arrival Long Beach Airport

Escorted by the California Highway Patrol, our TBM has successfully arrived at Long Beach Airport without incident.  The delivery caravan rolled out of the dock area at 11pm last night. 

Today the crane arrives and will lift the ship off the trailer.  In the process we will do a landing gear check.  Then start servicing the plane for departure to Stockton California, planned for late this month.

Here are some pictures taken from the trip enroute and at arrival.

 

TBM Truck/Trailer Moving from the Docks to Long Beach Airport

The truck is now setup outside the dock in the public space and the move is to happen tonight.

 

Loaded on the Truck

Successfully loaded on the truck.  We have to wait an additional 30 days for a special permit now pursuant to Caltrans requirements (California Department of Transportation).  Our permit does not include going under one of their highway bridges on our approved route.

 

We'll be back in mid December and continue, except now have decided to keep the plane on the west coast until spring, based on mid west winter weather moving in for good.

 

I will fly it up to Stockton California to Taigh Ramey's base, where resides his Bomber Camp and Museum.  There is a silver lining - it will be much simpler to refine a well-outlined maintenance program and get the 2018 ANNUAL done there, along with getting the plane properly certified (FSDO), and fix any squawks. Taigh is an expert on these type of war birds.  I will fly it home in early spring.

 

Here are some images of the airplane being lifted and secured on the truck.

 

 

 

 

 

Left to right: Steve, Taigh, Ron