Sorry to raise this again but I had a clear out of my video collection this afternoon and came accross this old chesnut Thing is, I find it hard to work out where fact stops and fantasy begins. From a quick look on the www it seems that he really did rebuild a Zero for the CAF. A man who can do that clearly would have nothing to do with “The Defender” unless the whole documentary was a practical joke (which I think it is) but the programme was supported by the Canadian Film Board who still seem to talk about it in a serious manner and many other people within newsgroups seem to think that Diemart was genuine in his faith in the concept.
If you have no idea what I’m on about:
By: Dave T - 12th October 2005 at 15:54
bump
By: Corsair166b - 8th January 2004 at 00:31
Yeah…Ray Middleton’s shop in Fort Collins CO is Q.G. Aviation of America, not ‘QA’…..WB518 is alive and well thanks to Ray, saw it at Oshkosh this year.
Mark
By: Flood - 5th January 2004 at 01:08
Taken fromADF Aircraft Serials Numbers
WD840 AS6 c/n F8668
Delivered to King George V Docks, Glasgow, Scotland on 16 October 1950 and was embarked in HMAS SYDNEY. Landed at Jervis Bay 07 December 1950 and towed by road to RANAS Nowra. It is understood to have flown with 817 Squadron, then with 816 Squadron, and on 02 September 1952 while landing on board HMAS SYDNEY it sheared off its undercarriage on the barriers and came to rest in the deck part. Later it was with 851 squadron in as 272/K also as 241/K. It was converted to a Target Tower. On 08 July 1966 it was sold to Aircraft Engines Overhaul and Service, Peakhurst NSW – Tender No.12393 for $627 (included other items). Who in turn sold it to Bob Diemert of Canada. Shipped to Vancouver and then transported to Manitoba where many parts including the engine were found to be missing. The owner then fitted it with a Merlin 500 complete with a chin radiator from an Avro York. The aircraft was later stripped out and converted to a seven seater and on 17 September 1972 it was registered as CF- CBH. Later sold to Gene Fisher of the Confederate Air Force for restoration as a Firefly Mark 6. Then sold to Don Knapp and the aircraft moved to Abilene, Texas. Don Knapp was killed at an Air Show. The aircraft then moved to the Lone Star Museum and parts were taken off it for the restoration of WB518. (In 1991 pole-sitter WB518 was brought down from it’s pole in Griffiths, NSW, and swapped with Firefly WD828 by Classic Aviation Company, Bankstown NSW. It was then sold to Captain Eddie Kurdziel in 1994 who took it to the USA where it was restored to Flying Condition by Ray Middleton’s QA Aviation of North America in Fort Collins, Colorado USA. In 2002 it was successfully flown and attended Oshkosh Airventure Air Show in Wisconsin, USA where it won a swag of prizes for the best restored aircraft.) WD840 was once again sold and was being transported to Florida when it was in a road crash (no date given). Now believed to have reached the end of its days.
🙁
Anybody know anymore?
Flood.
By: airic - 5th January 2004 at 00:20
Warbirds Worldwide 3rd edition has it listed in Lone Star Flight Museum in 1996
Eric
By: Flood - 5th January 2004 at 00:09
The former WD840 as CF-CBH. I understand it was involved in a road crash after being used as a Christmas tree for WB518…
Anyone know how it is?
Flood.
By: patb - 4th January 2004 at 23:56
Oh, that really does look a horrible mess. What a dreadful way to treat a Firefly 🙁
By: airic - 4th January 2004 at 23:52
Bob Diemart
All of Bob’s restorations were a mess and had to rebuilt. From what I heard he often used non aviation parts from the local hardware store. I heard he did more harm to the vintage airframes than good.
This is a photo of a Lancaster Merlin powered 6 or 8 seater Firefly !
Eric
By: Septic - 4th January 2004 at 23:40
Legal System, Not a wanna be ‘Rocky’.
By: patb - 4th January 2004 at 23:27
intriguing, what do you mean by ” not to mess with”?, does he have a good left hook?
By: Septic - 4th January 2004 at 23:20
Re: Bob Diemert and “The Defender”
[QUOTE]Originally posted by patb
I find it hard to work out where fact stops and fantasy begins.
Strange but True.
Bob Diemert, has rebuilt many aircraft over the years, BoB film Hurricane, an Aichi Val, a Griffon Firefly (fitted with Merlin), Zero, Mustang and numerous other projects, during this time he has gained a reputation of someone not to mess with!
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January 4, 2004 at 11:03 pm