donwon

B-25 C (or D) Raised from a lake in the USA after 39 years. The B-25 in these photos was raised in 1983 from Lake Greenwood which is just east of Greenwood, SC. north west of Columbia. It crashed on 6/6/44 while on a training mission. One story is that the plane was on a secret training mission for the Doolittle Raid, but considering the date of the crash, this story seems unlikely but no doubt evolved from the fact the Doolittle Raiders started out in Columbia. Another story is that the plane was buzzing some topless bathing beauties at the time and clipped a wing. The guy at the FBO said that the pilot had a girlfriend in Columbia. She was at the lake (can't remember which one) and he buzzed her to show off, but flew into the lake. It's not known if there were any casualties besides the pilot's career. It was brought to Columbia, SC and cursory restoration began. The name of the aircraft is Skunkie and this was visible when it was pulled from the lake. Eventually it is to go in the state museum most likely as a Doolittle's raiders exhibit as they started out here in Columbia. It was towed downtown for temporary display when the Raiders had their 50th Anniversary reunion here in 1992. The airplane is in terrible shape. They just sheet-metaled the belly to look sort of like a B-25. They found new engines and props from somewhere because the originals were just corroded lumps. Not a good restoration, but they didn't have a lot to work with anyway. Just going by the individual exhaust stacks, according to the Squdron B-25 in action , would indicate a late model B-25 C/D with the uprated engines. Also according to the same source....just the fact that it has a fixed gun port in the lower right hand side of the nose glazing would also indicate a C/D version. Where as the C/D versions where identical , the C or D designation being determined by which plant it was manufactured at , the B was the different of the three and as far as I know...did not carry a fixed 50.cal nose port. Another factor indicating a C or D is the astrodome, visible in the last photo. Special thanks to Nelson Abbott, Ben Brown, Mark Houpt, Hub Plott, Randy Roddey, Tim and Alex LaBrecque for sending in the pieces to help us discover the whole story behind this B-25. These photos were taken by Steve Hawley (click on the image to load the full size photo)

B-25 crash Lake Greenwood I know this is off topic but... Dan I found a scrap of info on Google about that B-25 near where I live and watched as it was brought to the shore. "Rossman, now 81 years old, was involved in five B-25 crashes and emergency landings during World War II. The first one, on June 6, 1944 (D-Day in Europe), was in South Carolina during a flight practicing single engine procedures. "The instructor pilot decided that we should also practice combat type low-level flying," explains Rossman. "Flying over Lake Greenwood, South Carolina, we got too low and the props touched the water. We had to ditch the airplane and it took 24 stitches to close the rip in my chin when the seat belt opened." Rossman was allowed to continue with his training after a reprimand and a fine. He signed an I.O.U. for the lost B-25 and kept flying." http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.co...25/walk125.htm http://www.meredithprice.com/articles/rossman.html

If I remember correctly, when I got to Sewart in 63 and was assigned to 56-468 it had somewhere in the 2500 hours range. It was one of the lowest hours "A" there. Pappy Hayes would put a red X on the forms if the Flt crew even looked at him wrong. He did intend for me to learn what I was doing and I had to read every TO from cover to cover.

I remember going to Tachi in Dec.65 with 6 Officers and 5 NCO,s and staying on the ramp for 3 days in the snow, while there was a mysterious problem with the radar that none of the shop people could find. The radar people would come out and work on the plane and I had to wait for one of the officers to come out and tell me the radar still wasn't fixed, then he would disappear for half a day. They all finally got back with a truck load of packages and the radar was good to go. I found out it was a shopping trip to Japan for them while I froze my ass off. The radar shop was pretty pissed also.

Hopefully this will help. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_C-130_Hercules_crashes

In the 60,s it called for a 5 man crew. Pilot, Co pilot, Fe, Nav and Loadmaster. That was what they used on the "A" models. I think the amount of people changed according to the mission the plane was flying at the time. Meny times I went with the plane as maintence and helped the loadmaster as needed, also if we had mechanical trouble I would help the FE.

How did they get it there. When we went to Clark in 64, I think we left from Edwards with a full fuel load on an "A" with external tanks.32,000 pounds of fuel. Without external tanks was 28,000 pounds. When we got to Hickham we had declared a fuel emergency and given permission for a straight in approach and landing. We ran into 50 knot headwinds after the PONR. One engine had a flameout when we landed. Also how much did fuel weigh back in the mid 60,s? I am thinking that 8 pounds per gallon was what the loadmaster figured it at. Also 150 pounds for each person. was my understanding. I wasn't a loadmaster just in crew maint.

http://herkybirds.com//gallery/files/1/0/5/3003r.jpg

The latches on the Fwd cargo door were blocked so as not to let the door come open in flight in 64 or early 65 after Gary Back was sucked out in flight. I was working on one of the A,s when one of the shopes came out and put a piece of metal behind the latch to keep it from moving. I don't remember if the hand Hyd. pump was disconnected at that time or not. On the A,s the only way to open the door was with the hand pump. Never flew A's but on the B's we kept the forward pump because we used it to pump down the nose gear as needed. The only time I flew 1961 E's was at Sewart and I think They were the same. Starting with the first 62 E's the doors were not installed. Bob

http://herkybirds.com//gallery/files/1/0/5/3003c.jpg http://herkybirds.com//gallery/files/1/0/5/3003d.jpg

Bob where did you find the picture? Don't know? Probably sent to me? Bob

Did the front L/G doors open to the side? I was told some of the early ones didn't have the plumbing for the external tanks, or the hangers for them. It's been a long time ago, I may be wrong. Yes they opened to the side, the first aircraft thru 54-1628 had side opening nose gear doors, some of those were remoded to aft opening. Bob

OK Dan it has been a month or so. Time,s up.

We always carried the screwdriver in the back belt loop, except when in use. That was our only weapon the first trip over to SEA in 64.

From what I remember about 28,000 was about it for us.

That no windmill order must not have got to our flight crew. We did them all over SEA as late as Aug 66. All of our Hi speed taxis worked. Of Course I was on the "A,s" Pappy Hayes always said he saw one come in sideways with all four engines caged, flying on the GTC.

I still got my P-38. It's been in my wife's old jewelry box for the last43 years.

I remember going there 3 times in 64 then 65 and 66 are somewhat of a blur.

Where was the concrete runway? Was the psp torn out and the new one built where it was? I think they had a psp ramp for a while also. Not sure.

The rules said never tow a plane without someone riding breaks. Good to see you back Tiny.

I guess this must be the one I am thinking about. If we needed a part at Naha the line chief would say to get it off the plane that had crashed. CRS is getting to me. March 26, 1966 : C-130A 56-0506, c/n 3114, of the 41st Troop Carrier Squadron, damaged landing at Tuy Hoa, South Vietnam, due to propeller reversal problem. Swerved into ditch to avoid truck at end of runway. Crew survived. Destroyed when towed by tank. Fuselage adapted for use as Officers Club building at Tuy Hoa.

Thanks Will, but I don't think these are the ones I saw.

It happened while I was at Naha. Late 65, or first part of 66. The number I am thinking was 533 or 5033. It was an "A". We would land on the PSP and turn around and go back to the wide space at the start of the runway and unload then turn around and take off. We didn't stay on the ground any longer than to unload.

Then that was at CRB??? Someone PLEASE HELP Mike! If we see a picture it will help me know I ain't lost it all yet>

I remember a little village outside one of the gates where we would go to a bar and drink San Magoo in 12 or 16 oz bottles. It didn't taste as good as the small bottles we got outside Clark. Would then go back on base and take a cold shower. No Hot water at that time.