WIX Archives

Here's what I know...

Posted by Wade Meyers author of said article on Mon Nov 19, 2001 02:09:52 PM

In reply top Re: Pity he didn't say......... posted by Indiana Tony on Mon Nov 19, 2001 09:35:09 AM

Gentile's P-51B-7-NA (43-6913) was completely and totally stripped for parts after the Apr 13 crash, and sat in front of one of the heavy maintenance hangars just south of Elder Street for about 3 weeks. That's the series of photos of her with her nose in the air, and the tarps over the engine compartment - and the tail laying off to the side. She was stripped even further than those photos show. In fact, Gentile himself was given several instruments out of Shangri-La: those I saw and held, and are in his box at the USAF Museum now.

I talked to three guys (both of whom looked at the carcass every day for 3 weeks as she was slowly dismantled) - who said the Sarge in charge of heavy maintenance - those blister hangars in photos - was a pack rat and saved every conceivable piece of any wrecked airplane. I talked to these two men and other witnesses and maintenance types at the recent 4th FG reunion in Savannah, Georgia, and they all confirmed this. They didn't know exactly where the remains were dumped, but you're not going to find a complete Mustang by any means . . .

HOWEVER, any _confirmed_ piece(s) would be priceless treasures, to be sure! Good Luck in your hunting . . .!!

By the way, I've significantly updated the article, and it'll be available with prints of my painting early next year.

Also, as an aside, I have it on _very_ reliable authority that Debden is about to undergo a significant facelift, so you'd better start digging soon! Also, through my contact, a RAF photo flight has been arranged on this November 30th to document the way the field looks now - because of said facelift. Look up in the sky over DB November 30th if the WX is good, and you'll see my photos being taken that are promised to me by Christmas.

Get those shovels out NOW! Let's hear back from you lucky bastards that have this opportunity to be over there, even if you don't find anything . . . all I have is a Mason Jar soil sample taken from the runway intersection, and a small piece of one of the runways.

Wade Meyers


: He didn't have to
:
: Spent a lot of time this weekend, working out the most log
: ical place for it to be, and the answer, was staring me in
: the face,actually laughed out loud when I realised it.Mad
: e a phone call,Bob's your uncle, it really is easy when yo
: u know how.
:
: So Tom and Mick, get your waders ready, we have us a Musta
: ng, or at least the fractured remains of one to recover
:
: Tony
:
: : where Blakeslee or the Engineering Officer told the grou
: nd
: : crew to chuck it after they wrote it off as "missing in
: a
: : ction"!
: :
: :
: : Oh well.....have to go rooting round Debden in our welli
: es
: : and disposable gloves......still up for it aren't we bo
: ys
: : ?
: :
: : TTFN
: : Mick

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