Reply to post

Helpful ReplyHot!Willow Run Gate Guardian - "Old 139"

Page: < 123 Showing page 3 of 3
Author
Post
Essentials Only Full Version
RSwank
Division Member
  • Total Posts : 1996
  • Reward points : 6222
  • Joined:
  • Location: Holland, MI USA
  • Status: offline
Re: Willow Run Gate Guardian - "Old 139" (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby Kansan
0
I just noticed that the Ypsilanti Historical Society in their Spring 2013 issue has an article which gives pretty much the whole story of the plane.  (No clue as to serial number however).  Maybe they will get some comments from readers and perhaps a new photo.  I think the only way we can solve this is to see a new picture which clearly shows either the number on the wing or the tail.   I have to believe such a photo exits in somebody's photo album. 
 
The story starts on page 11.   It mentions that the plane was to be located near the "Edsel Ford American Legion Post".
http://media.aadl.org/documents/pdf/ypsigleanings/2013-Spring.pdf
 
 
I also found a reference to the dedication ceremony which took place on 26 May, 1946 the third anniversary of Edsel Ford's Death. One comment in the article mentions that the plane was "war weary".   That may be just a reporter's hype.  See page 7 on the link for the brief article.
http://digitize.gp.lib.mi.us/digitize/newspapers/gpreview/1945-49/46/1946-05-23.pdf
 
 
Update:   I sent an email to the  editor of the Historical Society Newsletter (giving him a link to this thread) to see if they have any other photos.  He has passed the email on to a couple of their archivists.   (Fingers Crossed)
 
 
 
 
post edited by RSwank -
Quote  #41
Kansan
Group Member
  • Total Posts : 115
  • Reward points : 1862
  • Joined:
  • Location: Pittsburg, KS
  • Status: offline
Re: Willow Run Gate Guardian - "Old 139" (permalink)
0
RSwank
I just noticed that the Ypsilanti Historical Society in their Spring 2013 issue has an article which gives pretty much the whole story of the plane.  (No clue as to serial number however).  Maybe they will get some comments from readers and perhaps a new photo.  I think the only way we can solve this is to see a new picture which clearly shows either the number on the wing or the tail.   I have to believe such a photo exits in somebody's photo album. 
 
The story starts on page 11.   It mentions that the plane was to be located near the "Edsel Ford American Legion Post".
http://media.aadl.org/documents/pdf/ypsigleanings/2013-Spring.pdf
 
I also found a reference to the dedication ceremony which took place on 26 May, 1946 the third anniversary of Edsel Ford's Death. One comment in the article mentions that the plane was "war weary".   That may be just a reporter's hype.  See page 7 on the link for the brief article.
http://digitize.gp.lib.mi.us/digitize/newspapers/gpreview/1945-49/46/1946-05-23.pdf
 
Update:   I sent an email to the  editor of the Historical Society Newsletter (giving him a link to this thread) to see if they have any other photos.  He has passed the email on to a couple of their archivists.   (Fingers Crossed)



Nice! Thanks for sharing.    'War Weary' was a term that applied to just about anything at that point. If it had been grinding around on the training circuit in the USA it was probably every bit as weary as the machines that had been to hell and back across one ocean or another.
 
Question about the numbering style on the nose.  I've seen a lot of 'training' aircraft with much larger numbers painted on their noses - is the style of the numeral indicative of anywhere.  Someone mentioned Chanute earlier - just wondering if the number is a lead anywhere.  Might not be, but I'm just curious.
 
Quote  #42
RSwank
Division Member
  • Total Posts : 1996
  • Reward points : 6222
  • Joined:
  • Location: Holland, MI USA
  • Status: offline
Re: Willow Run Gate Guardian - "Old 139" (permalink)
0
I received an update from an archivist at the Ypsilanti Historical Society.  They have searched their files and found nothing else about the plane.  They will try and contact the American Legion Post to see if there is a photo or something in the post's  records.  If they learn anything they will let me know.   
Quote  #43
Page: < 123 Showing page 3 of 3
Jump to:
© 2013 APG vNext Commercial Version 4.3