drgondog
Major
I hate to tell this story on myself, but -
The Swoose came to Andrews AFB along with Enola Gay, a P-61 of dubious lineage and (I think) an XB-46. I was about 10 and dad was able to get me out where they were parked. I was able to get into the the P-61 and the twin engine jet bomber, but I couldn't reach the nose hatch on the Swoose - but I knew I could open the radio hatch (or thought so) so I went to the empennage and stepped on the left stabilzer to get up to top of fuselage - and my foot went right though the fabric. My father was mortified - and we 'went o base CO' to apologize,then dad called Silver Hill to explain to the restoration managers.
Their take - ' we gotcha covered kid'. But I never forgot that fabric was different from metal skin.
I never did know if they applied a temporary patch - but if so - and still visible, it is LH Stab.
I think the statute of limitations has passed over nearly 70 years.
The Swoose came to Andrews AFB along with Enola Gay, a P-61 of dubious lineage and (I think) an XB-46. I was about 10 and dad was able to get me out where they were parked. I was able to get into the the P-61 and the twin engine jet bomber, but I couldn't reach the nose hatch on the Swoose - but I knew I could open the radio hatch (or thought so) so I went to the empennage and stepped on the left stabilzer to get up to top of fuselage - and my foot went right though the fabric. My father was mortified - and we 'went o base CO' to apologize,then dad called Silver Hill to explain to the restoration managers.
Their take - ' we gotcha covered kid'. But I never forgot that fabric was different from metal skin.
I never did know if they applied a temporary patch - but if so - and still visible, it is LH Stab.
I think the statute of limitations has passed over nearly 70 years.
