Monday May 27th, 2013 the B-25 Mitchell 44-30925 moved from Grimbergen to Gembloux (Belgium)
Acquired in 2005 thanks to a fund raising campaign organized by the bamf, the aircraft arrived in Belgium in June 2005. From 2008, the paint was removed on the airframe and anti corrosion processes were applied sparing years of manual operations and permitting a safe storage of the aircraft.
In 2010, an agreement was found with the Recreatief Vliegveld Grimbergen to store the aircraft. Unfortunately for environment reasons, it was impossible to start restoration activities there.
A quest for a suitable location and spare parts then started.
In 2011, one of the volunteers of the original B-25 team acquired a workshop in an industrial building in Gembloux in the heart of one of the most dynamic region of Belgium. An herculean work started to setup the place ready to welcome the Mitchell. A new organization the Belgian Aircraft Preservation association (BAPA) was funded to group the persons taking an active part in the project. The Bamf continued to support the project.
In 2013, a first transport was organized. The main spar and parts of the Mitchell arrived in Gembloux. Due to bad weather and the works still to be done in Gembloux, the final move was postponed to 2013. Incredible progresses were done with storage space being increased and a sand blasting machine being installed. Learning from the past, security, procedures and decent working conditions were in the priorities.
To avoid any administrative problems the ownership of the Mitchell was transferred to BAPA in December 2012. Although no communication was done about the new organization, some new and skilled talented volunteers already joined.
On Sunday May 26th, 2013 a small team went to Grimbergen to prepare 44-30925 for her next travel.
The ferry was successful and all the parts of the aircraft are now reunited in the new workshop of the BAPA.
The restoration can now start. BAPA is still looking for parts, tools (an air compressor and metalworking tools are on the high priority list), money and motivated volunteers to work on this projects and new ones we have already secured.
You can contribute via the bamf (please mention "Don B-25) from http://www.bamf.be/?Help_us
You can contact the BAPA via yduwelz@gmail.com vincent.jacobs.tipsy@gmail.com or campion@cfigroup.be
BAPA plan an official inauguration on her workshop soon.
Past events of the project http://www.bamfbamrs.be/B25/B25-en.htm
| B-25 arrival at Gembloux 2013 05 | ||
 | ||
 | | Pictures taken by Laurent, Eric, Robert and Gael during the transfert of the B-25 from Grimbergen to Gembloux on May 26 and 26th, 2013. 109 photos, |
