There is a film called “Harry Brown” with Michael Cane as the protagonist which follows a very similar plot line in many respects. You could sum it up as “fragile Korean War veteran OAP fights the local drug gang after his friend and fellow veteran is killed”. It sounds simplistic, and silly when you frame it like that, but the finished product is a terrific film, full of nuance, heart and character, with a very well earned ending….so you shouldn’t pre-judge these guys efforts so quickly.

The guy asked for a little help, and he deserves a lot more courtesy from our brethren than he’s received. There’s no harm in offering real help, or advice on where he might find help. The very least he deserves is a little politeness.

Richard

Many congratulations Tony… I’m sure your grandfather would be thrilled to know his story is finally being shared with everyone. You must be overjoyed to have been able to honor him so… I look forwards to reading the book!

Cheers,
Richard

Yes, Doug Champlin had plans to raise the one off the coast of Miami about 15 to 20 years ago. I believe he was supposed to be working in conjunction with the Navy Museum whereby he would recover the aircraft for the Navy in exchange for two Wildcats. His team recovered one of the canopies as proof that they had actually located the aircraft. However, the Navy changed tacks, and impounded the recovered canopy (which was in very good condition… I’ve seen it in the Navy Museum stores), and nixed the recovery. From what I remember reading, the Navy Museum (Pensacola) were given the location of the wreck for free by the guy who’d initially located the wreck (not Champlin) and decided not to deal with Chaplin. It was all a huge mess, and resulted in several law suits and the aircraft sitting under water for another 20 years, when it could already be gracing the floor of the Navy Museum. This is all going off my memory though, and I am sure there are more details that I am missing, but I believe it more or less sums up the situation. Since that time though, the three other wrecks were located. My guess is that they will be trying to get the one up off the California coast, as it is the least problematic of the four possibilities. All it will take is someone, not the Navy, coming up with the dosh to pay for the recovery… but any that are recovered will almost certainly end up in the Navy Museum.

Cheers,
Richard

From the earlier thread on WWI survivors

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=66462

The DH-4 list, as of last update back in 2007, stood at:

Is there really one in the San Diego Air & Space Museum? I don’t think I’ve seen one there on my visits.

Peter Jackson -I believe this is one of Century Aviation’s replicas

Kermit Weeks has two, a mailplane (rebuilt original) and a bomber (replica), both under restoration.

There is also a second one in the Smithsonian collection, a mailplane on display in the National Postal Museum in Washington DC. Is it an original or replica?

Does anyone know which of the above list are replicas, and which are rebuilt originals? Are there any more out there?

The DH-4B at the National Postal Museum is a replica, whereas the one at NASM’s mall museum site is original.

Cheers,
Richard

These two images are from a clock. You can clearly see the watch spring and gearing. I’m not sure what brand of clock it is though. Nice finds!

Cheers,
Richard

Thought you might like to see these 😉

Great photo, but I believe these are Grumman Widgeons.

Cheers,
Richard

Going to spend a bit of time today thinking about this brave pilot as a few of us have been thinking about Copping for a couple of months now.

RIP Dennis Copping.

That and the opening of the Bomber Command Memorial and Armed Forces Day on Saturday, there is a lot for everyone to spend a few minutes thinking about.

Mark

Thanks for this Mark… it puts a lot of things in perspective for me today. When I saw Sgt. Copping’s face on your posting, all I could think about was how exhausted he looked. What a price he paid for all of us? I do hope his family can finally feel some peace now after the recent discoveries. I am glad that we can pay tribute to his sacrifice at the very least. One of so very many.

All the best,
Richard

Bob Odegaard does not own an F2G (not FG2) any more. However, he has restored two to flying condition. You will find cockpit shots if you do a google search. A couple of magazines (Warbird Digest and Classic Wings) did pretty impressive spreads of his latest restoration (Race 74) in the last few months.

Cheers,
Richard