History of Tanker 87

Got an interesting email today from Delaware.
Ted Waltz, Kenny Chapman, Steve Whitby, Tom Wenk?
Can anyone help this guy out with some history or photos?
Some info is available online from Warbird Alley.

From: Dennis Krepil
<fairchildboxcar@gmail.com>
Subject: C-119B Tanker 87 is alive and well.
Message: Hello Fire Aviation: Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Dennis Krepil. I am currently the volunteer crew chief in the restoration project of Tanker 87 — N13746 from the Hemet Valley Flying Service.

T-87This C-119B is currently at the Air Mobility Command Museum in Dover, Delaware. It is in its original status as USAF C119B : S/R # 480352. It is in the color scheme of its time in the Korean War. I am unable to send any pictures; however, it can be seen on the Air Mobility Command, Dover Delaware website progress report.

I am trying to honor this aircraft for its military and civilian service. Researching its history has led me here. Can you help me? I have looked on the Hemet Valley and Cal Fire websites but have been unsuccessful so far. I am trying to find out how this aircraft was set up as a firefighter, how the fire retardant was loaded, where it was located in the aircraft, and how was the fire retardent disbursed? The jet engine is removed. The bomb bay doors are sealed. The lower half of the cargo bay is off limits due to the fire retardant. Any reference to documents, procedures, or other organizations would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your time.
Dennis Krepil C-119B crew chief
AMC Museum Dover DE

Air tankers in Tucson’s Pima Air & Space Museum

Grumman AF-2S
Grumman AF-2S in the Pima Air Museum. Photo by Steve Stenkamp.

Steve Stenkamp sent us these photos he took at the Pima Air & Space Museum last March. “It’s an excellent way to spend 3-4 hours,” he said.

Thanks Steve!

C-123
C-123 in the Pima Air Museum. Photo by Steve Stenkamp.
P-2V
P2V-7 in the Pima Air Museum. Photo by Steve Stenkamp.
DC-7B
DC-7B in the Pima Air Museum. Photo by Steve Stenkamp.
C-119C
C-119C in the Pima Air Museum. Photo by Steve Stenkamp.

Over 400 historic aircraft are on display at the museum that encompasses 80 acres of exhibits.

We grabbed this photo of the museum from Google Earth:

Pima Air and Space Museum
Pima Air and Space Museum. Google Earth, August 18, 2018.

If you go:

Location: 6000 E Valencia Rd, Tucson, AZ 85756
Tickets: $10 to $16
Website: pimaair.org

It is just south of Davis-Monthan AFB AMARG Facility and the military aircraft “boneyard” with over 4,400 planes in storage. From the Pima Museum you can board a bus to tour the boneyard but you have to apply for a security clearance at least 10 business days in advance of the desired tour date. You can apply for the clearance up to 90 days in advance.

USFS history museum to be built in Missoula

USFS fire lookouts
USFS photo

A non-profit group called National Museum of Forest Service History plans to raise $9 million in public and private funds in order to build a national museum to commemorate the 100+ year history of the U. S. Forest Service. The group expects to build a 30,000 square-foot building in Missoula, Montana, perhaps as early as 2012.  Their vision began in 1994 when they obtained 36 acres west of the airport and since then have built a road and a parking lot.

Two structures have already been erected on the site. One is a ranger station from the Clearwater National Forest in Idaho that was dismantled and reassembled piece by piece in 2000. The other is a replica of a 1930s era lookout which was built in 2005 on the National Mall in Washington for the 100th anniversary of the Forest Service, then disassembled, moved, and restored at the Missoula museum property.

The U. S. Forest Service has contributed $500,000 towards the museum as part of an agreement that the two organizations first signed in 2003.

The building will have room for more than 40,000 artifacts, with many of them coming from the USFS, including daily diaries of activities that were required for Forest Service employees until the 1960s.

More information