WIX Archives
Re: He scrapped the lot of them
Posted by Steve T on Tue Feb 03, 2004 11:46:29 PM
In reply top Re: He scrapped the lot of them posted by Rob Rohr on Tue Feb 03, 2004 10:09:09 PM
Hi Rob et al--
: As for the aircraft I know the whole story he bought them
: to use in movies but it did'nt pan out so he made back the
: money by selling off all the gas. Then picking the best t
: o keep then selling the rest for scrap.
Yes, that's the story I've heard too...the residual fuel covering much of the purchase price, and the scrapping operation making the venture profitable!
: I've heard stories over the years that some of these aircr
: aft were major combat vets. In this list were aircraft fro
: m Im Shima the 91st 303rd 357fg 55ft.
Whew...
: Their were more than just B-17s, their were B-24,B-25 must
: angs C-47, At-6 and at least five B-26s
Well of course there are at least three famous machines Mantz did keep--two P-51Cs (stateside trainers with no combat record) and a B-25J. The C Mustangs became transcon racers (winning between them three of the four late-40s Bendix races); one went to Charlie Blair afterward for his long-distance record flights and survives in this configuration at NASM, while the other ended up gloriously restored in 332FG livery with Kermit Weeks. The Mitchell became a well-known aerial filming platform.
The irony of these three being kept, of course, is that they would have been among the "best" aircraft acquired...that is, practically new, having seen no combat. Ergo, from the angle of us WIXers, the least interesting of the lot! (Though I for one am not about to gripe about the survival in fine condition of ANY two P-51Cs...just a crying shame Mantz' idea about Warbirds for film use was ahead of its time by a bit too much...)
S.