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Tallichet removes P-40 replica from March Field Museum

Posted by B Darnell on Fri Dec 26, 2003 10:05:09 AM

Replica warplane no longer at March

P-40: Museum officials at the reserve air base at upset at its removal after a 12-year loan.

01:30 AM PST on Wednesday, December 24, 2003

By MARLOWE CHURCHILL / The Press-Enterprise

MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE - The signature World War II P-40 replica atop a pedestal at March Air Reserve Base that had been on loan by its owner the past 12 years was abruptly removed Tuesday.

The owner's reason was unclear.

Museum Director Bob Miller said he had asked the Military Aircraft Restoration Corp., owned by restaurant owner Dave Tallichet, to remove old aircraft parts that had been stored rent-free on museum property.

"I gave them a list of parts to be removed, and the P-40 was not on the list," Miller said by phone Tuesday. "This is upsetting to a lot of people. All I asked them to do was clean up their junk pile."

The P-40 was at the museum's entrance, just off the Van Buren Boulevard exit of Interstate 215.

The corporation's workmen also removed a vintage Soviet MiG-19, but the museum has another one that is in better shape, Miller said.

John Kenny, chief financial officer for Tallichet's Specialty Restaurants Corp. in Anaheim, said Tuesday by phone that he was unaware the P-40 was being removed. But, he said, Tallichet would discuss terms for purchasing the replica with the museum on Monday.

Kenny said he was aware that the museum and Tallichet's aircraft restoration business had not been able to agree on a lease to use a hangar for aircraft restoration on the museum's property.

But he was unaware of any reason to remove the replica now.

Tallichet, owner of the Proud Bird Restaurant in Los Angeles, is an avid military aircraft collector who over the years has loaned several of his planes to be displayed at the museum.

The museum, which is about to begin constructing a new display hangar, cannot afford to spend an estimated $75,000 for the P-40 replica, Miller said.

Miller said Tallichet's corporation had asked the museum to write a letter last year requesting the P-40 as a tax-free donation. Miller said he supplied the letter, but never heard a reply.

The Curtiss-built P-40, one of World War II's premier fighter aircraft, gained fame with the "Flying Tigers" and was called the Warhawk. Although only a replica, the plane was a favorite among plane buffs who photographed it with March's runway in the background.

"It looked very real with its dents and rivets." Miller said.

Reach Marlowe Churchill at (909) 567-2407 or mchurchill@pe.com

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