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HOW THE T-33 PROJECT STARTED
Team leader,
Ed Fennell started the restoration process with a simple
question asked of the Johnson City Police Chief, Ron Street
namely “What ever happened to the airplane that used to be at
the Kiwanis Park?” “Oh it's behind the National Guard Armory”,
the chief answered.
Around
Christmas 1997, Ed saw Colonel Harry Gibson of the Tennessee
Army National Guard and talk got around to the T-33. Gibson
explained that the Air Force had sent orders to destroy the
aircraft.
Ed then asked
his fellow members of the Johnson City Radio Controllers if they
were interested in restoring the T-33 and if they would commit
to what was obviously going to be a long-range task. After they
showed interest, Ed then discussed the intended project with
Johnson City Manager John Campbell, as the city was the official
caretaker of the aircraft. Campbell said, “If you guys are
willing to clean it up I am willing to support it.” A formal
request was placed to the Air Force who gave the group two years
to restore the T-33.
RESTORATION HIGHLIGHTS
A few of the
group took a trip to the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and
Museum in Dayton, Ohio to take photographs of similar T-33
aircraft. Knowing the tail number of the T-33, Ed was able to
contact Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama to get the history of
the aircraft.
Ed and his
wife, Nancy took a vacation trip to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
which is the junkyard of military aircraft. They returned with
an undamaged T-33 canopy and wing tanks.
It took a lot
of water and 4000 pounds of sand to strip away the coats of
thick camouflage paint that the National Guard had added. The
T-33 was stripped to its aluminum surface. Rod Snyder, the owner
of Snyder Signs and one of the key members of the project, was
able to match closely the original paint. A chemical was added
to the epoxy-based paint that made it adhere to the aluminum. By
paying close attention to detail, the T-33 was restored with its
original color and details.
The T-33 is
now on display at Bowser Ridge Model Airplane Field. It
definitely catches your eye as you approach the field.
“I'm proud of
it” says Ed Fennell. “It looks the way the airplane should look.
It's a great landmark for our model airport, and now it's
protected and insured since its part of Johnson City property.
THE HISTORY OF THE JOHNSON CITY T-33
1948 –
Lockheed designs the T-33 trainer airplane to help pilots learn
to fly the T-80 “Shooting Star” combat aircraft.
1953 – This
particular aircraft (52-6009) is built.
1955 –
Commissioned to the Air Force, the plane is stationed in the
Training Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
1955-1964 –
The aircraft flew missions in Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma.
1964 – The
T-33 was transferred to NASA, painted white and given NASA
logos. It transported astronauts between Cape Canaveral, Florida
and Houston, Texas (among the notables to fly the aircraft was
Apollo I astronaut Gus Grissom)
1965 – The
City of Johnson City requested a flyable airplane from the Air
Force through the efforts of a group headed by businessman,
Mitchell Thorp.
1966-
The Mayor of Johnson City requested an aircraft from the US Air Force to be displayed.
In April, a T-33 was delivered to the Tri-Cities Airport and presented to the City of Johnson City.
Bobby Jobe led a group to disassemble the aircraft. Thereafter the
aircraft was mounted in Kiwanis Park and dedicated. The
airplane's logbook accompanied the T-33 but was later destroyed
in a fire at the Parks and Recreation Building.
1986 – Due to
vandalism the aircraft is moved to the Boys Club location on
West Market Street. It was moved to different places on the
property and gradually deteriorated.
1995 – The T-33 is finally removed
from public display and moved across the street behind the National
Guard Armory adjacent to the motor pool area.
1997 – A group
of five JCRC club members begin the restoration project as detailed above.
1998 –
Mounting posts for the plane at Bowser Ridge were finished in
February. The aircraft is mounted in May. In August Ed Fennell
goes to Tucson and picks up a new canopy and wing tanks.
1999 – The
airplane is sandblasted down to bare metal and re-riveting of
the airframe begins.
2000 – The
metal work and painting is completed. Re-stenciling begins in
April and landscaping is completed on June 2nd. The T-33 is
re-dedicated at the Bowser Ridge Model Airport on June 3rd.
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The T-33 and F-80 were built by Lockheed and designed by their famous Engineer and innovator, 
