"My Gal Sal" Update

6 / 24 / 03

   As we move into the hot and humid summer, we are going to take an eight-week vacation.  The restoration team will reconvene after Labor Day.  These will probably be the last pictures until then.  The restoration has gone better than ever hoped for.  All the folks who have worked so hard over these past 3+ years have earned the rest.  To say the least, they have done the impossible.  Thanks everybody!  I'm proud to work with you in restoring this piece of history.

I would like to take this opportunity to say thanks to all of you who have followed our web site.  A special thanks to those who have signed in and left me messages of praise and encouragement.  Most of all thanks to all those who have served our country and the many who paid the Ultimate Sacrifice.

See you in the fall.

Bob Ready

The radio room is almost complete.  The next phase is to install the camera bay located under the floor of the radio room.

Navigator, Lt. Leo Frazier and Bombardier, Lt. Don Bone are at home in their newly restored workstations.

Sgt. John Patrick stands guard over the #4 prop that he cut the tips off of to free the prop from the ice.  When we assemble "Sal" this and the other three bent propellers will be mounted on their engines.

The heart of the hydraulic system has been installed.  "Sal" had a thermos stowed in the same area as the hydraulics.

Sgt. Tom Laskowski, radio operator and Sgt. Wayne Heckendorn, asst. radio operator, in the aft section of "My Gal Sal".

Lt. Stinson looks like he is happy with the restoration of his area.  The cockpit is complete.  If "My Gal Sal's" crew was able to see her one more time, I hope they would say, "Great job guys, great job".

We have had many visitors to see "Sal".  One very special visitor left the restoration team a message.

We are looking for Army Air Corp memorabilia to support the memorial.  All contributions would be greatly appreciated.

Have a great summer; see you in the fall.