SPECIAL RESOURCE SECTION www.warbirddigest.com RESTORATION FACILITIES & AVIATION PARTS COMPANIES The Flying Finn PBY GoesPBY Dutch Friends of Jenny MILITARY AVIATION MUSEUM Biplanes & Triplanes 2014 Marinell A Combat Veteran P-51D Mustang LL WARBIRD restorations are worthy of praise, but every once in a while something pops up that makes you raise your eyebrows. During A the summer of 2014 a newly restored Hawker Hurricane emerged from the workshop of Phoenix Aero Services at Thruxton Airport, U.K., after a 12- year restoration. There are approximately 13 Hurricanes flying around the world today, so why is this one so special? Well, besides being very carefully rebuilt, it The Flying is unusual in that it carries the colors and markings of a Hurricane of the World War Two Finnish Air Force. The Man Behind the Restoration The owner of this Hurricane project is Phillip surest ways to get it done.” The Hurricane is his Lawton, a very positive and generous gentleman. first step into historic aviation. Previous aviation He has an engineering background and ran a related experience involved touring aircraft and Story and Photography by Bjorn Hellenius successful company in the hydraulic and water modern aerobatic machines and he used to fly pump business together with his brother for many displays with an Extra 300. Before learning to fly Finn years. He decided to retire at 50, and the sale of his he also built plastic and radio controlled models. (main-photo) The basis of this fabulous Finnish Hur- business provided the funds to get involved in the “I still build plastic models for my children as well ricane was a Canadian Car & Foundry built Mk.XII Warbird industry. Phillip says with a smile, “You as R/C aircraft. It’s the only way I stay sane in the that served with the RCAF, but it also includes parts don’t make any money in this business, but if you winter in Finland; you need something to do,” he from the Finnish AF Museum in Tikkakoski. want to spend a small fortune, this is one of the says and smiles again. 10 WARBIRD DIGEST #58 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 WARBIRD DIGEST #58 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 11 (main-photo) Rob Davies flying Maurice Hammond’s P-51D over its wartime base at Fowlmere Airfield, August 13, 2014. It was seventy years to the day that this airplane and pilot Lt. Myer Winkleman were lost in action. Marinell A Combat Veteran P-51D Mustang Story and Photography by Richard Paver HILE THERE are many fully restored, airworthy P-51D Mustangs flying in the United States, the type is also very popular in Europe, Walthough in smaller numbers. Examples that possess a traceable connection to actual combat are extremely rare; therefore, a combat veteran 3(inset-right) A memorial to the aircraft flying the skies above European soil would be quite unique. The history, 339th FG’s situated across the road from Fowlmere Airfield, restoration and current operation of one such combat veteran, P-51D 44-13521 where the group was based in Marinell, which was fully restored to airworthy condition by its owner, Maurice the final 12-months of the war. Hammond, is a story that needs to be told. 3(inset-left) In 1944, Captain Bradford V. Stevens of the 339th FG poses with his D-model First Stop Fowlmere Mustang, Marinell, which he named after a former sweetheart. The 339th Fighter Group (FG) was one of the final (RAF) as a satellite to Duxford, which was only Photo: 339th FGA 8th Air Force (AF) fighter groups formed during a few miles away. Fowlmere had a long history World War Two. The group became operational at with the RAF, having first been used for active Fowlmere airfield near Cambridge on April 30, operational flying in 1918. After the First World 1944. At that time Fowlmere was a small grass War the hangars were demolished and the field airfield that had been used by the Royal Air Force returned to agriculture. During the rebuilding of the 20 WARBIRD DIGEST #58 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 WARBIRD DIGEST #58 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 21 Rolls-Royce Heritage Museum – Allison Branch AA HistoryHistory ofof FirstsFirsts inin AviationAviation Story and Photography by Stephanie Carlson Rolls-Royce VIATION HISTORY took flight in 1903 when Orville Wright flew the first Heritage Museum power-driven airplane over a windy beach in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Allison Branch A Air-bound a mere 12 seconds for a distance of 120 feet, the home-built Rolls-Royce Meridian Center 450 South Meridian Street aircraft sparked the imaginations of inventors who dared to dream of flying. Once Indianapolis, IN 46225-1103 aviators got off the ground, significant advances in American airpower soared Phone: 317-230-4071 and progressed at a phenomenal speed. This catalyst to cultivating the aviation 4(op-left-top) Allison’s industry was further energized by the demands of two world wars. crew manufacture’s avia- tion parts in the 1920’s in James Allison adventured into aeronautics after Indiana. David Newill, President of Heritage the Plant 1 shop. (op-left- middle) The introduction establishing a small specialty machine shop in 1915. Trust explains that the mission of the museum is of machines run with Located near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, to, “Locate, collect, preserve, protect, restore and electric motors created which he built in Speedway, Indiana, his business put on public display the legacy of the companies an organized workspace fabricated and supplied parts for race cars. A established as Rolls-Royce and the predecessor here on the factory floor. couple of years later, in support of the war effort, in Indy known as Allison.” The gallery has restored he converted the shop to subcontract for the United and sustained an extensive collection of artifacts, 4(op-bottom-left) Engine States government, hiring additional personnel to piston aircraft engines, gas turbines, and aerospace cutaways allow visitors to see the compressor inside manufacture tools, equipment and vehicles for use memorabilia, including the most recent turboprop, this J33 jet engine. in World War I, specifically making parts for Liberty turbofan, and turboshaft engines. aircraft engines. As the story goes, Allison continued to supply Historic contributions to aviation pioneered by superchargers and high-speed reduction gears to the the Allison Engine Company and its employees military after World War I. Meanwhile, engineers are chronicled at The Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust recognized the need for a geared engine. Subsequently, Museum — Allison Branch, based in Indianapolis, design teams generated a functional reduction gear 28 WARBIRD DIGEST #58 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 • GossHawk Unlimited, Inc. • Heritage Aero, Inc. SPECIAL RESOURCE SECTION • Aero Accessories, Inc. RESTORATION FACILITIES & • ACE Allisons AVIATION PARTS COMPANIES • Code 1 Aviation Restoration Facilities and Aviation Parts Companies Introduction by Greg Morehead ARBIRD DIGEST’S mission statement, “The magazine for serious These are the warbird enthusiasts,” aims precisely at its market. The warbird companies that Wcommunity comprises many thousands of people worldwide but ask can be counted a warbird person and they’ll tell you that their “warbird buddies” are a sort of on to “Keep second family. Another reality is that not only friendships but also business ‘em flying!” dealings are more intimate and firms that service the industry tend to be very specialized, with crafts people who have learned how to fulfil some service or skill, and companies that provide important products that contribute tangibly to the warbird creed, “Keep ‘em flying.” Because this is a niche market, word of mouth our magazine is a perfect avenue for businesses represents a critical component to perceptions and and customers to connect. These special resources opinions about restoration shops, parts suppliers, sections aren’t simply advertising. To think so and every other conceivable organization that feeds would be short sighted. A high percentage of people the warbird world with conversation worthy content. who want and need the services of restoration shops Word of mouth marketing is simply people the act and parts companies are regular readers of Warbird of a person expressing their opinions, therefore Digest, so we proudly offer this special section as a the information that people ingest in order to feed valuable resource. their opinions largely relies on the effectiveness of a company’s marketing efforts. How do they reach These are the companies that can be counted on to their target market? At Warbird Digest we think “Keep ‘em flying!” WARBIRD DIGEST #58 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 33 FLYING THE FORTRESS FORTRESSStory by Nathan Harnagel Aluminum Overcast has been restored with a lot of original equipment and fittings. The 398th Bomb Group markings are of the aircraft flown by Col Hal Weekley in combat over Europe. Transparent hatch above the radio room is normally removed for ventilation in summertime flying. HE NUMBER one quality desired by crew members for an aircraft used in battle is that it bring them home safely. In spite of horrific casualty rates Tduring early daylight bombing operations in World War Two, the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress established a reputation for making it back to base after receiving phenomenal amounts of damage. Only a few B-17s survived the war and post-war mass scrapping to fly in civilian hands to the present day. I had the rare opportunity to train in Fortress N5017N named Aluminum Overcast and operated today by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). 5(above) Instructor pilot Bob Davis and Flight There are times when the choice of name for a new his way through flak and fighters every week with Engineer Michele Da- aircraft begins a myth that lasts for generations. engines shot out and wounded men onboard stirred vis congratulate Nathan The Flying Fortress name for the B-17 was the imagination of every kid and adult watching to Harnagel on B-17 Second- In-Command qualification.