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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (April 22, 1962)
SUNDAY. APRIL 22. 1962 A W MEDFOHD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD. OREGON f t- SrWfiM- b "U ' -St' A' . f , ' - - j....y4M, Like a scene from a World War II airfield, these newly renovated and reconditioned B-26 bombers stand in a row at the Medford municipal airport. All military equipment and armaments have been removed and SOO-gallon borate tanks installed. These planes must be kept ready to get into the air only minutes after being called into action by U. S. Forest Service Dispatcher Doug Finch. tifx i 4f$4 - -Ai f A.t-Af -;?!'' f -"'.fy'ii- WW. -ftfc-f., -a. - It: - ; Bombers Converted To Keep State Green 3 n It fit JUW-tttoUCTUS Bill Rosenbaum, left, and his chief me four-engined aircraft is the only plane yel chanic, Tim Keffer, go over plans for the to be completed, but Rosenbalm said h installation of four 500-gallon borate tanks expects it to be finished in plenty of tim in this partially reconditioned PB4Y2. The for this year' fire season. J Seen here making tune-up adjustments to one of the PB4Y2's four engines, is Ro senbalm Aviation's chief mechanic, Tim Keffcr. This and the other planes will have to meet the rigid standards of the Federal Aeronautics Agency. They will be thor oughly examined by an FAA inspector be fore an operating license will be issued. By GEORGE H. BELL Mail Tribuna Staff Writer Mechanics of Rosenbalm Aviation, Inc., have nearly completed work on the last of eight World War II bombers designed to convert them into borate tankers for use in fighting area forest fires this summer. The bombers were purchased from a private individual In California late last fall, and were flown to the Medford mu nicipal airport. Included in the purchase were five B-26's, two PB4Y2's, and a Lock heed PV-2, all surplus aircraft which still contained military fittings and equipment from their war service. Conversion work was started by Rosen halm's four mechanics under the direction or chief mechanic Tim Keffer, at the end of the fire season in October, and about five to six weeks was necessary to transform each plane from a weapon of war Into weapon for fighting forest fires. Plants Renvoated The planes were renovated Inside and out. New "skin" had to be applied in several instances, the military equipment had to be removed, and bubbles and machine gun turrets taken off and scaled over. Since several of the planes hadn't flown in years, it was necessary to go completely through the engines, liberally replacing worn parts, and to instal new brakes, wheels, interior wiring and tires. Most of the spare parts can still be ob tained through government surplus, Rosen balm said, so the cost of replacement was reasonably low. However, the supply is ex haustible, and when it runs out, costs for parts are expected to soar as much as 50 per cent, Re said. Two 500-Gallon Tanks Two huge tanks, each capable of hold ing 500 gallons of the fire-smothering borate solution, were installed in the twin-engined B-26 s and the PV-2. The larger, four-engined PB4Y2's were fitted with four of the 500-gallon tanks, making them the most formidable Instru ments in the forest service's arsenal of weapons against the fire-enemy. Following completion of the renovation work on one of the PB4Y2's (the other planes have already been finished), an official from the Federal Aeronautics agency must inspect the planes to see that they conform with government standards and specifica tions. If the planes are found airworthy in all respects, the official will issue a license which will permit the aircraft to operate. Planes R-Examind At stated intervals thereafter, the planes will be re-examined to insure that they continue to meet the FAA's standards. This Kind of conversion work is not new to Rosenbalm and his crew. They have, during the past few years, converted some 12 or 13 tankers for use by other borate operators in the region. These newly-converted planes bring Ro senheim's total complement to 10 aircraft, making his the largest operation of Its kind in the area, and one of the largest on th Pacific coast. Some 11 pilots will be main tained on his staff this summer during the fire season, ready to fly the planes wher ever the U. S. forest service directs. Rosenbalm's planes and equipment ar leased to the U. S. forest service, and over all control of their operation during th fire season is directed by Dispatcher Doug Finch, whose offices and command post during fire operations are located In the Medford post office. Forest Servics Has Charg "When the fire season starts," Rosen balm said, "I just take orders. The forest service has complete charge." Last year, Rosenbalm's planes operated as far away from Medford as Wenatchee, Wash., and the forests of Idaho. The planes are dispatched to other areas in the region as the need occurs. But it is comforting to know that the home base of the planes is the Medford municipal airport, from where, on min utes' notice, they can fly to any fire in the area with their borate loads, and with calm dispatch take effective action to keep southwest Oregon green. z- tarn ; i ibc'. mmn 1 r f vyv wi I In the interior nf the ".tz, the only renmrs In some hydraulir fittings Several plane on which the renovation work is nf Mir World War II hnmhrrs had not been not yet complete, Ed Cannose, pilot and tlnwn nr ikiH fnr yr,irs. and were in need mechanic for Rosenbalm Aviation, makes ol extensive repairs. Bill Ro.sonbalm, owner of Rosenbalm still available. A tire can be purchased Aviation Ine , stands under the vving of the from surplus supplies for about $80. but huge PB4Y2 and insnrrt the crafts worn the pnre for a new lire of this tue ii tire It will have in be replaced Fortunste shout :'00 ly, Rnsenhalm says, wsr surplus tires are A vl i W. C. (Bud) Purdin. a fa ... .... Kiuuirir nsur generator control panel. In some instances, n uir niHimiiMi a.rpnri. statins in i i,r rocK Hill Rnsenhalm said extensive rewiring ml nf th PRlV't anA .kk, n,,t n i 1 . l j . ie done in the renovated homberj.
