From Del Mitchell: Feb. 2011

“AOC Clark Warren was a former BN on A-3's during his Navy career, and he flew on 135434 when he was assigned to VAH-9 at Sanford, FL.  Chief Warren is a personal friend of mine, and he was assigned with MC Glenn, and the rest of the Edward's restoration crew when we were all in VP-65 at Pt. Mugu, CA.  Chief Warren came down from Price, Utah and spent a long, hard week helping us on the A-3, and despite his 80 years, he is in great shape, and he enjoyed working with all of us.  We even had the Edwards AFB Public Information Office do a story on him for their base newspaper.  Andy Barbre, Bill Grant, and my twin brother Delwynn Mitchell are also in these pictures. 

We finally got the cockpit canopy completed and sealed.  Bill Grant made a beautiful patch for the starboard fuselage to repair and cover a corroded section just above the bomb bay door.  He was also instrumental in repairing other areas of the fuselage requiring patchwork.  A very valuable asset to our team.  Delwynn Mitchell, Clark Warren, and Delbert Mitchell finished sanding old paint from underneath the fuselage from the nose to the tail, and will start on the underneath portion of the wings during the March session.  Dennis Lundin and Ty Wilcox finished off the cockpit canopy, and sealed it.  MC Mike Glenn continues to do a stellar job of supervision and leadership, and his knowledge and expertise on the A-3 is making this project go very smooth and on track.  And, with MC's connections to the heirarchy at Edwards, our project continues to get much needed support not only from BG Nolan, but also from Col Schwarz, CO of Edwards AFB.  The Edwards Museum Foundation is also pivotal in getting, and keeping our project on track.” 

146453 Cowtown Skywarrior

This message is essentially the long awaited “official” kick-off of our donation drive for an A-3 Skywarrior re-location to North Central Texas.  Why Texas and why Fort Worth?  The A-3 Association has had several successful drives (Yorktown, Whidbey, Castle, Edwards) in the last couple of years but the drawdown of skywarrior aircraft is quickly approaching.  I think we have the time to save at least one more aircraft and place it near to DFW so that others can easily view our bird due to our central US location.  Our focal bird is 146453 but in case there is an opportunity for a flier from Raytheon, we want to be prepared by having the fuel costs ready.

The Plan:

• Raise $50,000 – That should be simple enough, we’ve done it before.  For me it’s $100/mo for ten months, I just need 49 more people to do the same.
• A volunteer or two to go on the websites of corporations and fill out their grants requesting donations
• 6 volunteers to spend a week in Tucson removing the parts off of EA-3B 146453 and prep her for shipment to FW
• 10 local volunteers in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to restore the aircraft and prep her for paint
• Painting will be done by a local outfit at Meacham Field and display will be at the Veterans Memorial Air Park
• From that point forward, DFW volunteers will maintain the Whale and support the museum as required

Beginning this month, I’ll be ramping up the drive in anticipation of collecting the money needed by year end.  Note that if we fail to raise the money needed to do it right, all donations sent to the A-3 association will still be allocated to an A-3 museum project.

Thank you and best regards,

Mark Swisher

A-3 Assn Treasurer
4225 Inspiration Dr
Benbrook, TX 76126
mark.swisher@att.net
cell - (817)819-6623

The VAP-61/62 RA-3B is at Castle Air Museum in Atwater, CA. Most of you are aware that the Castle Air Museum volunteers headed by Bruce Anderson and Doug Allen removed the wings from our jet right before Thanksgiving. They then came back about a week before Christmas, finished removing items from the aircraft and loaded those parts and the aircraft on a lowboy donated by a local trucking company near Atwater, CA. What was not donated is a $2,500 charge to properly position the fuselage on the trailer by a crane.

From the Exec Director of Castle Air Museum, Joe Pruzzo:

"After the Holidays we will begin the process of reconstruction. First reattaching the wings to the fuselage, then of course horizontal and vertical stabilizers, engine pods and so forth. Castle really wants to restore this aircraft correctly and reconstruct the aircraft the right way. In speaking to our Restoration Department and staff there will be a significant cost in purchasing the correct bolts for wing attachment along with all of the correct bolts for the "scab plates" on the upper and lower wing roots where they would attach to the fuselage. Then of course there will be paint and eventually display site preparation. I have listed the estimated costs below:

1) Proper bolts and hardware to reattach the wings and plates to the fuselage correctly. $5,000 approx. ( Please note there are hundreds of them.)

2) Paint: Gloss Gull Grey and Gloss White. $ 4,500 approx. ( Note that this is for polyurethane automotive finish.)

3) Display Site Prep: Bender Boards, posts, chain , concrete for pads, and lava decorative rock. $ 4,500 approx.

As you can see the approximate minimum amount to restore and to get the aircraft on display is $14,000. Ideally $15,000 would be ideal and allow for a bit of a cushion. We are in need of help from the A-3 Association and need your help to bring 144843 back to her glory and proud heritage.”

Essentially this is the only RA-3B to be displayed as a photo recon aircraft, it is the only RA-3B that is at a museum….half the battle is getting her there and the easiest/fun part is the restoration phase. Joe indicates that this bird is virtually rust free. This jet spent a good majority of her life in the desert country after service with VAP-61 and VAP-62 so she will be a perfect display bird.