Thanks C P for the history behind the photo.

That's indeed a interesting sad story for this old war warrior. Sorry to
hear it all came to such a dead end.

Cheers,

Avsec

PS, from my memory, I think I meet you when you were a student pilate with
Joe Somerjay CFI at Kingsford Smith Flying Services, Bankstown.

A

"Conscious Pilate" wrote in message
...
G'day Avsec,

from what I remember about this aeroplane was that a group of Ozzies
purchased it in the US to bring it to Oz and use it for airshows etc.

If I remember correctly a mob called Winrye was tasked to get it into
flying order in the US & fly it back here. Esso was a sponser, it sorta is
pretty obvious by the logo on the side.

It was then flown across the Pacific with a couple of the Winrye engineers
along for the ride. It arrived in Oz & was brought up to Aus flying
standards, this was apparently a long an arduous process. CASA or what it
was called in those days placed every obtsical possible to prevent it
flying.

Remember these were the times before the new experimental category so the
dopes down there in CB & BK were scared out of their collective minds
about letting it on the register.

Anyhow it finally got a permit to fly, but by that time I believe that
those who put the money up just were busted by the ongoing costs &
basically gave up on the project.

Now this is where my recall is not so good, but it was finally sold back
to the US by some govt museum, the only thing that soured the whole deal
at the end was that the mob who had it cut the bloody wings off to fit it
into the container. That's right cut the bloody wings off!! They didn't
think to actually detatch the wings buy unbolting them.

I hope somebody else can provide the full details of the mess that
deprived Australia of an aircraft that we actually operated in WW II.

Suppose if you contacted one of the Chadwick brothers at Winrye or what it
is called today, Australian National Aviation they could provide the whole
sad story..

Hope the above sheds some light on the sad fate of this aircraft.

Conscious Pilate