Projects A WWII Pilot's 31 5W.

For Vets Day -
Bringing to the top this thread from a childhood friend, who's A i now own...

WWII Ensign RH Wilson US Navy Pilot
TBF-1C Avenger / USS Hornet
Enewetok and Pelileu Central Pacific
Shot Down - survived.

 

BRILLIANT STORY and you are one luck SOB !!

Those fly fly vets would be proud that someone who GETS IT has the keys. God bless blokes like RH, BR and your Dad.

Keep us posted on the progress of the resto please !

 

incredible.

 

A true survivor and a memorial to three men that served our country with distinction.
If they were awarded any medals maybe a small rendering of one for each man somewhere on the cowl?

 

Very cool....and Steve & the guys at Limeworks are a great choice to ***ist in the project. Look forward to seeing the update's.

 

Sweet deal! Glad to see you are keeping it the way it was intended.

 

The car sounds like it is in good hands - great to see the original owners plans respected - hope it all goes well.

 

Nice Man.....Ya made me think about my dad who served in WW2 in the Navy.....I miss him.........

 

Nice score

 

excellent..this is what hot roddings all about..my old man served in the middle east fighting the Germans ( rats of tobruk ) then in New Guinea against the ****..i know the feeling of tradition..I'm building a inter coupe ute powered by a 346 caddy ww2 bomber style. on ya mate

 

Great car. Good luck with the project.

 

Were on the right track with this way cool project. What an honor to be entrusted with such a project . My own Dad was a WW II Veteran of the North Africa & Italy campaigns.
Thanks Ken for letting us complete the job that RH started.

 

Cool car, great history. Looking forward to seeing the progress. Congrats!

 

Oh, this is GOOD! How freaking cool. Keep us posted for sure. Veterans rock!

 

First of all I am sorry to hear of your loss...that being said congratulations on being granted custody of the car and further congratulations for your good intentions...can't wait to see progress pix.

 

Awesome !

 

Very cool. Sorry to hear about your Dad.

 

As the son of a departed WWII vet I grieve at your loss. On a brighter note the car that you've been entrusted with will live on past you as a tribute to those who served. Kudos to you for keeping the origional flame alive and finishing it in the tradition it was started.
Please keep us informed with words and pictures as it emerges from it's long sleep to honor those who served. I'm thinking you will not be able to drive it even once without thinking of those three men.

Frank

 

Truly an amazing story. Lets see some more photos sometime soon.

 

Very NICE ''A'', Great history.Can't wait to see it finished.

 

Sorry to hear about your dad. No words.
Great story and glad to see that the car is in good hands and please keep us updated.

 

Hey Hambers,

Thanks for all the amazing comments... Its enough to make this grown man cry.. but i didnt ...well maybe "96 tears"..

Here a few more pics of RH's ride... and Limeworks attention to p***ively restoring RH's little coupe.

Yes, every time I drive his coupe will be a memory of RH, Bill and Dad. The idea of honoring them on the cowl is something to think about ...hmmm..

I have the original license plate frame from George Sutton Ford Dealership in Inglewood, Ca where this 31 was originally purchased from RH's mom in 31', along with the RH's original 51 Cal Plates. George Sutton sponsored a beautiful lakester in the late 40's that i found in one of my HR publications.

My father and I went to get this coupe in Manhattan Beach in 2004, after RH's p***ing. His house was built somewhere around 1948. When we opened up the garage, we stepped into a time warp. There on the back wall were 2 calendars dated in the 40's. A flight jacket was hanging on a hook to the right of the calendars. We had to gingerly walk through a cocaphony of cylinder heads, steering wheels, nuts , bolts gas cans and hard hats....etc.. The 31 was on the right of this little one car garage, that had a little alcove just large enough on the left for a small workbench.

RH had been working on a 64 ( i think) Comet leading up to garage in the driveway. In front of the comet was my Uncles 64 Ford Truck that RH had borrowed. I kick myself now for not taking photos of his garage.

Warriors never die ...they just Hop Up...

To be continued... Ken

 

Random,

My Uncle Bill ( F6F Hellcat Pilot) is 86yo and living in Nevada. He recieved a distingushed Air Medal which I have. Great idea...!!

Thanks, Ken

 

Hot Rods and Fighter planes always seem to go hand in hand. When I read your post and your keeping the car as a tribute to these three great Americans I thought of all the art work done on nose cones of aircraft and also on cowls of hot rods.
My first thought was of Jim Ingleses' 32 Roadster's Full House then thought, hmmmmm what if Ken did something like this with medals? Or even campaign ribbons?
Just marking like they had on their aircraft for the number of kills.

Whatever you do I'm sure you will do these Vets justice.

 

Thank you for sharing this story with us. I am sure that this model A will turn out great.

 

31FordV860 - you had better have a smile on your face every time you hop in this little rod. Drive it without a care in the world as a tribute to those that left it to you

 

Ken, This is so neat that you inherited such a piece of history. I am really looking forward to progress on this "A" as it is returned to life. A tribute on the cowl does seem so fitting for RH, your dad and the other gentleman. Keep us posted !

41 Dave

 

Random,

You are so right. The medal and Kills idea is something to consider... As time marches on, many will gradually forget the real sacrifices and sufferings our warriors undured.

The Campaign ribbon idea is very interesting as well. Random, if you have any other ideas, send them my way. This should be a collaboration of all who honor our military.

Ken

 

Not that you should take it this far... ( I wouldn't on that particular car given your history with it) but this might give you some ideas.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=934

 

I think it should be kept subtle. You could go with an Eagle's head and a banner saying something to the order of.. In tribute to those who have served...

But that's going a bit over the top and loses what you are trying to achieve, a special Thank you to these three men. Maybe a rendering of the two planes and the carrier your dad served on, it doesn't have to be big at all.

Then again, I like the medals over campaign ribbons the best so far.