Palm Springs Air Museum on mission to save fighter-bomber

PALM SPRINGS, CA — The Palm Springs Air Museum is trying to raise funds to rescue a Vietnam War-era fighter-bomber headed for the scrap heap.

 

Meanwhile, the coveted Republic F-105 Thunderchief awaits its fate at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas.

 

These supersonic speedsters conducted the majority of strike-bombing missions during the early years of the Vietnam War.

 

“They will give us the plane, we just have to pay to bring it over,” said Fred Bell, Palm Springs Air Museum managing director.

 

“I need to raise about $10,000.”

 

The U.S. government periodically auctions surplus military aircraft as scrap metal and the museum has about 30 days to get the money together.

 

“We’ve got to go get this airplane by August,” Bell said.

 

Read more: http://www.mydesert.com/article/20130616/NEWS01/306160020/Palm-Springs-Air-Museum-mission-save-fighter-bomber?nclick_check=1