Just back from a week on Oahu. Went over to the Pacific Aviation Museum on Ford Island. It’s an interesting place with a lot of information. They only have 7 a/c, including the trainer George Bush flew. The Zero and the B25 are made up of pieces from several different planes. I don’t know where the Zero paint scheme came from. It looks to me like the greenish RAF Sky. Here are the pictures I took, if you are interested.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v300/waynebaker/Pacific%20Air%20Museum/
A friend of mine was curator there for some time. I think some curatorial friction over the Zero paint job was part of the reason he left! Their airplane is the one formerly flown by the CAF, first restored by Bob Diemert in Canada, and yes, it was assembled from parts of several airplanes, with a generous dose of made-up parts(the cowl especially). The wings finally became the issue that grounded the airplane and led to its being acquired by the museum. To keep it airworthy, an entire new wing would have needed to be fabricated, and the cost and complexity was simply too great. But, it IS a Zero, and having seen it fly in company with the Tora birds, there is no doubt that it was a thoroughbred!
I had a bid in to do the last restoration on that airplane, but they decided to ship it to Oahu and restore it in-house. There is a historian locally, Dave Aiken, that likely selected the color used, he can be found on jaircraft.com in lively discussions about JNAF color authenticity. Let’s just say that there is often some disagreement!
I was down at the Pima County Air Museum (near Tucson) about ten days ago. They recently put a newly-restored B-36 out in the display yard and I wanted to see it.
Ashley, I saw the Planes of Fame Zero when it was being rebuilt, It had the entire main spar replaced in the process due to corrosion.
Great photos Wayne. That’s a trip I’d like to make someday. Have you been down to Wright-Pat in Dayton lately. It looks like the layout there in Hawaii was a lot more spacious and lighter and easier to photograph. But the Air Force Museum is just loaded with planes. I understand that they are in the early stages of planning a fourth hanger. It is becoming a two day attraction rapidly. But back to your work. Thanks for sharing. It gives me the bug to make that trip someday. Rick
Very nice photos. I haven’t been to Pearl Harbor in 30 years. That was before the ac museum on Ford Island or the USS Missouri were open for display. I would love to go back again before I journey to the big hangar in the sky.
Darwin, O.F. [aln]
Rick,
I went to Dayton last Thanksgiving. A lot of the hangars are dark nad it is crowded, with all the a/c they have. With so few on Ford Island, there is plenty of room. I posted a link to my Dayton pictures, but if you missed it,
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v300/waynebaker/Air%20Force%20Museum%202009/
Darwin,
Just pick up and go. You can always find some deals. I went through the Missouri soon after it opened. I am happy I never had to go on a float.
Nice photos, hopefully I will be able to make it back to see the museum. Did you get the oppurtunity to visit the USS Missouri? That is very impressive as well.