In NYC, there is an aviation museum which very few know of or visit. Within that museum, there is a Vega, a beauty, along with other historic aircraft. The staff, all volunteers, are so friendly. I'll leave it to you to figure out where the museum is.
Aww man, you made me leak some coolant there at the end Kermit, you're a class act! Your end message, of what was already an incredible three part series about this beautiful Tempest V project, really resonated. I remember Richard's father, and Doug Arnold back on the warbird scene back then, thanks to my father's passion, passed on by his father who was a WWII navigator in the RAF. My father took me and my brother out on the Thames back in the early 80s, to crawl around your converted Sunderland (Short Sandringham) ML814 (Peter Smith's book about her, The Last Flying Boat is a must!) and that row boat ride out to her sitting under Tower Bridge is an indelible memory. At some point I'll make it out to Fantasy of Flight in Florida (from Montana now) to run my hand across her again. THANK YOU for everything you do for this community, for the preservation of history, and memories old, current, and yet to be made.
My dad flew 29 missions from France to Germany with the White Tails … the 323 thd BG/455th Sq out of Chartres and then Laon France. On 22nd mission 3/2/45 flak “shot up” on bomb run over Duren Germany with Left engine, hydraulics and gas line incapacitated. Completed bomb run and flew to emergency field A97 which is now Luxembourg airport. Crash landed just short of runway with tail end fuselage broken off 50’ from front remnants. NEVER FORGET SSgt James L Wooten waist gunner the only fatality but my dad and copilot wounded with flak and head injuries, plan burning dad discovered bombardier was still in nose with 2broken legs went back in and removed him from wreckage. 3 days in field hospital, then 14 day leave to Martinez Hotel Cannes France. Upon return to Squadron he was told he was eligible to return to USA but asked to stay to finish out the war. He flew 7 more missions and was decorated by the commanding General of the 9th Air Force at the base of the Eiffel Tower on August 14, 1945. I have his A2 jacket, 2 crush hats, throat mike, M1911 A1 pistol and shoulder holster, his medals and several chunks of 88 mm flak shrapnel removed from his body, official USAAF photos of crash site, a German helmet with blood spatters and name of soldier who died in it written on headband with photos of dad wearing it sitting in a crushed German vehicle with several of his crew, his diary and his briefing log book of all his missions in addition to a lot of other memorabilia. I was fortunate that he saved all that and also talked about his experiences to some degree with his family. He was studying pre Med at Marquette University in 1940 and as advised to join the Army Air Corp reserves because “they would let him finish his schooling” however by 1942 they needed pilots so badly they called up the reserves. He received his Wings and Commission June 22, his birthday, and married my mom June 24, 1944. He was in Chartes on Sept 21, 1944.
Wow Kermit simply amazing! She’ll be a handful but you’re absolutely the right man for the task. Study her takeoff characteristics and quirks. Make certain firewall is well sealed against exhaust leaks and vent cockpit. She’s a beauty but a beast as well. Best wishes for wonderful flight accomplishment.😊
The Meteor was once at Colerne, Wiltshire UK and my father and uncle put in a bid when it came up for auction in the 1970’s with the intention of displaying it on the front lawn at their home. Not sure when Kermit acquired it but hopefully he’ll display it at Fantasy one day!.
Wow I had no idea you had your mosquito there back then! It would have been amazing to come and see it as I went to WAP many times when I was young. Dad worked for BA and was a member of the flying club and it was great to see the spitfires based there. A mosquito would have been really cool!
Amazing work! That fuselage is a LOT smaller than I thought it would be. Imagine that being an executive airplane. I recently read “Around the World in Eight Days”, and this totally changes my perspective of the plane! Can’t wait to see more progress.
Love the edge welds on the tank. Beautiful uniform ripples done by someone who obviously welds almost every day. It’s obvious how you laminate the diaphragms which are flat but how do you laminate the door??
My Dad flew a bullet nose Vega for Wedell-Williams and the Vega 5 for Braniff. Hoping to see this fly. Fastest ship. Jimmy Wedell had designs for his version with retractable landing gear when he was killed. THAT would have been FAST!
My Favourite Aeroplane !!--just beautiful to look at,--just splendid "workman ship"--just "old-school"-brilliant !--I did my carpentary, apprenticeship,here in Sydney Aust,-back in the day,-& we used to use "casine-animal-glue"-heated-up,-on all joints,-& it was "old-school"-tough-stuff,-when those joints "set"-there was no-way,-your gonna "pull them "apart"--I wonder what sort of "glue"-they're using on the "Vega"-the original Lockheed stuff,must have been "pretty-good"--to last all these years !!
What incredible craftsmanship that this father and Son team are capable of, Kermit is so fortunate to have found them, so impressive to see the level of work they can put out !
