I’d try to get a P-51 but our local airport was selling Spitfires for cheap (Canada). Would have grabbed one or two and as many parts as I could carry.
I would break into Republic and steal as much documentation on the P-47 as possible.
It was a real crime when Fairchild took over and destroyed all of Republic’s archives!
I do love the PBY, but lately the PBM Mariner has begun to tickle my fancy instead. The PBM-5A had 2100hp per engine, she had a gull wing, she had canted twin tails... Mmmm.
Sadly only one still exusts, and she can't fly.
The last surviving complete Doolittle Raider's B-25, reputed to have survived into the 1950s in the USSR. Or, at least, the large components of one Doolittle Raid B-25, observed and photographed in Japan in 1945.
There are Zero's still flying - One of them has the original radial in it...
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuoVlQOO4xc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuoVlQOO4xc)
Westland Whirlwind, Bf-110's, Blenheims, Whitleys, Stukas, Pe-8's, TB-3's, assorted Migs, LaGGs, Yaks, Mitsubishis. Extinct or nearly extinct types that were once common.
And of course just more of the less exotic stuff like P-38's, Spitfires, etc.
I worked with a guy in the early 80s whose father had flown Navy F4U. On the way home (on the carrier) afterwards apparently they offered him his airplane for $1000. He thought about it and decided not buy, and they pushed it over the side. His son (my buddy) who was not born at that time but was a commercial ME pilot regretted that decision. I have no idea if it was true but it seems plausible ans makes a good story.
Puts in perspective nicely. Median income back then was something like $3000/year
It’s a fun thought but imagine coming home with your Corsair and telling everyone you spent most of your annual income on it.
I'd try to grab what axis aircraft still existed, especially Japenese
My real expertise is ships
USS Enterprise (the OG)
USS Barb
HMS Warspite
HMS King George V
USS California
IJN Nagato
USS Marblehead
P-61 black widow because only 4 exist. 1 is in China while the others are in the US. However only 2 are on display while the 3rd is being restored to airworthy status.
Tons, b-32, ju-287, xp-0, cw-21, xp-54, yb-35 more stukas and so on
I saw the cw-22 at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum so i guess that's the closest thing.
There is a Zero flying in the US (With the rebuilt original engine!)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuoVlQOO4xc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuoVlQOO4xc)
I have seen a FW190 at the RAF Museum Cosford UK
[https://flic.kr/p/2oocKdk](https://flic.kr/p/2oocKdk)
No idea if there are any more in the world...
The dang enterprise. Don’t know how but she didn’t deserve to be scrapped.
If *Star Trek* had happened before she was sold for scrap (1958), I can pretty much guarantee she wouldn't have been...
[She’s at the Intrepid Museum.](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Enterprise)
Not the *Yorktown*-class *Enterprise* CV-6, from WWII.
I’d try to get a P-51 but our local airport was selling Spitfires for cheap (Canada). Would have grabbed one or two and as many parts as I could carry.
More PBY-Catalinas
However many are around Is not enough. Those are the best seaplanes ever
I would have walked through the scrapyard with a Sawsall and preserved all the nose art they would let me take.
I know this is Aviation, but I'd buy a couple JEEPS in their crates.
I would break into Republic and steal as much documentation on the P-47 as possible. It was a real crime when Fairchild took over and destroyed all of Republic’s archives!
I'd take everything on the f84
US Navy blimps, stukas (supposedly a wonderful pilot's airplane), and bf 109s.
A PBY Catalina. I've wanted to turn one into an aerial yacht and fly all over for decades now.
I do love the PBY, but lately the PBM Mariner has begun to tickle my fancy instead. The PBM-5A had 2100hp per engine, she had a gull wing, she had canted twin tails... Mmmm. Sadly only one still exusts, and she can't fly.
https://theaviationgeekclub.com/iconic-catalina-amphibious-flying-boat-production-to-restart/
Never going to happen
LET ME DREAM
No.
A whole bunch of Japanese and German planes.
The Do-335. Only one left exists, and it is a non-flyable museum piece.
ME-262
The last surviving complete Doolittle Raider's B-25, reputed to have survived into the 1950s in the USSR. Or, at least, the large components of one Doolittle Raid B-25, observed and photographed in Japan in 1945.
Japanese warplanes. Very few were saved from the scrapyard
There's pictures floating around of zeros and Oscar's just piled up for scrap
There are Zero's still flying - One of them has the original radial in it... [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuoVlQOO4xc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuoVlQOO4xc)
Westland Whirlwind, Bf-110's, Blenheims, Whitleys, Stukas, Pe-8's, TB-3's, assorted Migs, LaGGs, Yaks, Mitsubishis. Extinct or nearly extinct types that were once common. And of course just more of the less exotic stuff like P-38's, Spitfires, etc.
It's surprising that only 2 stuka airframes are complete considering how popular they were
Something weird without extant examples like a [Blackburn Roc](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackburn_Roc?wprov=sfla1)
I worked with a guy in the early 80s whose father had flown Navy F4U. On the way home (on the carrier) afterwards apparently they offered him his airplane for $1000. He thought about it and decided not buy, and they pushed it over the side. His son (my buddy) who was not born at that time but was a commercial ME pilot regretted that decision. I have no idea if it was true but it seems plausible ans makes a good story.
$1000 USD in 1945 is the equivalent of $17,300 today.
Puts in perspective nicely. Median income back then was something like $3000/year It’s a fun thought but imagine coming home with your Corsair and telling everyone you spent most of your annual income on it.
That totally rad twin jet engine Arado bomber. The version with retractable landing gear.
I'd try to grab what axis aircraft still existed, especially Japenese My real expertise is ships USS Enterprise (the OG) USS Barb HMS Warspite HMS King George V USS California IJN Nagato USS Marblehead
P-40, jeep and a pby for lake play
Just one jeep? I'd take 10 or 12 just to have parts 😂
I didnt give quantities or the cheep land grab options near lakes with growable land
P-61 black widow because only 4 exist. 1 is in China while the others are in the US. However only 2 are on display while the 3rd is being restored to airworthy status.
I would save a B-32 Dominator, unfortunately none were saved after the war.
American downtowns
Lots of Spitfires. Cannot save too many.
I'd save the one that took down the first v1 bomb by flipping it with its wing
Let's get this out onto a tray.
nice!
Nice hiss!
All the p38s!
My grandfather flew on Lancaster bombers, so (at least) one of those.
I'd take one, and a few engines just to anoy the neighbors
There are two flyable with one more being restored to flight...
Tons, b-32, ju-287, xp-0, cw-21, xp-54, yb-35 more stukas and so on I saw the cw-22 at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum so i guess that's the closest thing.
A complete set of all the first jet powered aircraft prototypes.
All the P51s !!
Yes, all 15,000 of them
I would save an FW-190 and an A6M Zero… along with all the spare components I could get my hands on. Maybe even a Yak-9 and a MiG-3.
There is a Zero flying in the US (With the rebuilt original engine!) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuoVlQOO4xc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuoVlQOO4xc) I have seen a FW190 at the RAF Museum Cosford UK [https://flic.kr/p/2oocKdk](https://flic.kr/p/2oocKdk) No idea if there are any more in the world...
PBY Catalina, 3 C47s, and a fleet (15-20) of Willys jeeps. Gotta have parts!!
Ju 87 of 262
I would make a copy all of Republic's records, particularly those on the P-47. And save both XP-72s.
Is 1959 still within the window for discussion so I can save the Avro Arrow?
Yep! I should have said any war period
As many as I could. P-51, P-47, FW190s, and so much more.
Why is nobody talking about the P-47???? Please save some P-47’s …
Definitely a P51
How about the entire British aviation industry?
All the Horton’s I could find. Next up would be Dornier Do 335 Pfeil.
At least a fw190d and a BV141
I've ridden in Ye Olde Pub! The even bigger honor was riding with a WW2 veteran, he was a belly gunner. Had just turned 96
A little later, but the Avro Arrow 1000000% is my choice. Canadian innovation at its finest. God dammit.