A true story: In summer 1945 Iceland a US goverment military surplus sales dept was opened.
The first aircraft mechanic of Iceland (Think educated in Tulsa) Mr. Gunnar Jonsson, went to
them and asked if they had any scrap aluminium. He had a small steel furniture biz, making chairs
etc. They took his details and later he was contacted by the Officers of the 33rd Fighter Squadron and
taken for a ride to Meeks Airfield (Now Keflavik International) Standing there where 32 each P-47
Thunderbolts aircraft, ready for flight, lined up on the flight line, remove before flight tags installed,
some with minor combat exp.Gunnar was told he could have these. He said to the officers, no no, this is a misunderstanding, I just
want “scrap” aluminum. They told him he could have these for scrap, how much do you offer? He made
a low offer of 10.000 Icelandic crowns which they at first did not accept, but after some time got back to
him and accepted his offer. This relates to about $4 per aircraft!!This is a true story. I have lots of photos and documents from the 33rd FS. I have photos of the aircraft in
use, in flight formation and scrapped in a big pile at the airfield. They where moved to the capital close to his
furniture biz. which was close to the Mercedes Benz dealership. Some of my older friends remember playing
in the wrecks when younger. In an old photo album at the MB dealership you can see P-47 wings piled up in
rows behind the guys shop close by………..If he would just of kept one of them!!
http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=36898&st=60
😮
By: TonyT - 9th September 2012 at 20:18
End of the War they dug a hole and shovelled a load of German aircraft into it, when they were building the new chinook hangar for 18 Sqn, the disturbed some of it.. One of the German Civi’s knew it was there as he had watched them shoving it in at the time.
By: HP111 - 9th September 2012 at 19:37
Didn’t farmers used to buy these old aircraft for the wheels so they could use them on their trailers and such, or is this another aviation urban myth?….
A “recent” example I know of – the Javelin from RAF Hartlebury gate guardian duty which sold for £1000 for scrap, the nosewheels ended up on a farm trailer. Apparently the split rims are considered very handy for changing tyres yourself.
By: Jayce - 9th September 2012 at 17:39
My uncle used to run a mushroom farm near Worksop. When he first bought it in the early 70’s, the growing sheds were surplus Nissen Huts, the carts were old bomb trailers and the storage shed was a chopped down blister hangar. Pretty the sure there were airframe parts dumped in the back of it too. Though there was no way to tell what from.
By: hampden98 - 9th September 2012 at 17:16
Didn’t farmers used to buy these old aircraft for the wheels so they could use them on their trailers and such, or is this another aviation urban myth?
Just look at cars. My Mondeo is worth about £300 but I bet in 100 years it will be worth considerably more!
By: Ian Hunt - 8th September 2012 at 21:42
Bargain!
I’ll give you a tenner for one of them. That’s a 100% return on your investment!
Ian
By: paul178 - 8th September 2012 at 21:11
Stick me down for one as well Andy we might as well have a forum group buy!:)
By: Arabella-Cox - 8th September 2012 at 20:34
£25.00 cash on its way, then…..!! 😀
By: Cking - 8th September 2012 at 20:25
My dear old Dad did his training at RAF Cosford when he joined the RAF, He remembers a line of “Late mark” spitfires being towed out of the hangars and the staff being offered them for five pounds each. There were two problems, they had to remove them from the airfield within two days and five pounds was a fortune back in 1954!
Rgds Cking
P.S. He bought five and they are in my shed. Please send CASH to……
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September 8, 2012 at 6:55 pm