F2A-1/B-239 in Pensacola

Allen,

I visited the Hazy center last month and it's obvious that it's still a
work in progress. I hope that when they get everything sorted out that
the information presented will be up to NASM's usual high standards.
With the free shuttle bus from the Mall and listing in the guide books,
it looked to me like most of the visitors were the usual tourists. Back
in the day, only the truly hardcore made the arrangements to visit the
Garber facility. I did it twice in the last 22 years. It was good to
see some of the aircraft in the Hazy center that I'd seen being restored
or just stored at Garber. Being able to poke one's head into Enola
Gay's bomb bay as it sat in pieces was pretty cool. It's a lot prettier
to look at now, but not as much fun.

Mike Lechnar

Allen Epps wrote:

In article , John A. Weeks III
wrote:

In article , Old hoodoo
wrote:

After much knashing of apphrehensive teeth by Brewster F2A fans,
BW-372, a Brewster B-239 (US Navy F2A-1 equivalent) has found a home in the
US at the National Naval Museum in Pensacola. The only "issue" for the
museum, which sat in a freshwater lake for over 50 years, is that due to its
amazingly intact condition with most of the original Finnish applied paint
still in relatively good shape, is whether to display it as is in its
current relic condition, fully restore it either to its original Finnish
markings, or perhaps display it in Navy F2A-1 configuration with that
gorgeous pre-war paint job the type carried. As the first US monoplane
carrier fighter the temptation to restore it to F2A-1 condition has got to
be
tempting to the staff, although the fact that the aircraft is a true WWII
combat veteran with the markings it had when ditched in the lake after
being shot up weighs heavily for maintaining the aircraft in as is
condition.

Putting false markings on a plane that could be clearly identified
as a combat vet would be a crime. It should remain in Finnish
markings, with either the existing paint, or new paint.

-john-

I certainly agree, and changes should only be made to preserve its
current state.
I was out at the Hazy center two weeks ago and was a bit disappointed
in the FW-190 they have. When I saw it at Garber they had a display
board in front of it showing all the camo they found as they restored
it and in display at Garber it has a small sign now but no mention of
the various paint nor it's extensive combat history from the eastern
front to homeland defense. I think the staff needs to realize that if a
tourista makes the effort to drive to Dulles area then they likely know
more than the average bear about aircraft and would like some more
details. Perhaps a small pamphlet or guide with detail would be a nice
solution.

Allen