Com-Central.net

Don,
Back before the Air & Space Museum various rockets/missiles, planes and yes armor was displayed at the Smithsonian Castle on the National Mall.

Here's a 1920 photo that Trevor found.

preservedtanks.com/Ima...hotoID=312

Back in the 1930s some aircraft and armored vehicles were displayed at this shed.



www.nasm.si.edu/imaged...ageID=2879

(I suspect the tank is the "First US Sample Tank;" previously on loan from the Smithsonian Institution to the Air-Ground Museum/National Museum of the U.S. Marine Corps at Quantico and then on display at the Ordnance Museum at APG).

When the (first) Air & Space Museum was built, the rockets/missiles and planes went to it. A corresponding "National Museum of Military History" never materialized, so shortly thereafter (sometime in the 1960s/1970s) the Smithsonian shed itself of its "Ordnance collection" which had apparently languished in storage somewhere in Virginia (according to an old edition of AFV News). We've discussed this before, some of the Smithsonian vehicles made their way to Fort Knox.

com-central.net/index....mithsonian
www.com-central.net/in...;start=150

Here's a picture of the old "Rocket Row," pretty certain I've seen pictures with tanks outside too



So it would be kinda funny - full circle - for historic armor to be displayed on the Mall again..

Neil

Armor for the Ages has been updated with new photos taken by Don of Cobra King's hull being primed. Go to armorfortheages.com/ for details.

Garry

- C_Sherman

- Dontos

Yes, that is the plan.

I hope to be able to be onhand to see that. It would be a personal sense of gratification to see it completed.

At least that is the goal of the current project.

Regards
Don

Hi,

So, reading between the lines of your post...is it too much to hope for that CK will be staying at Knox? Or do they (Benning) plan to snap it up once all of the restoration is complete?

C

You know the old saying,....'possession is 9/10ths of the law...'

Lets see if I can clear up a few things.....

1)Ft Knox / Patton Armor Museum got CK,...but moves to Ft Benning

2)Ft Benning Armor Museum is the 'owner' by 'property book' and will keep her,....,

3)The Army Museum has 'layed claim' to CK for the Grand Opening in ...2013(!?)...

4)oh yeah, I've even heard 'rumors' of CK being exhibited on 'The National Mall'...(Smithsonian?)

Clear as mud, ....huh?
Basically, your guess is as good as mine...

Regards
Don

- P_J_SMITH

I am curious about the manner in which Cobra King is supported.

Generally, supports that are not significantly wider than they are tall will be prone to rolling.

In this case, the supports are three timbers wide and three timbers high.

The supports are also composed of multiple individual timbers, which would seem to make the situation less stable.

I know that safety is a major part of training as a volunteer at the museum and would like to know what is done that is making this safer than I think.

She is resting on 6 railroad ties in the front and rear and is very stable. The 4x4s were added temporarily to remove the final 3 bogie assemblies over the past few days. The tank dollies will be put back under CK, if not already. They had to be used under the Mark 5 removal from the museum and are now back at RMP.

Safety is always a consern and although it may not appear stable, it is.

Regards
Don

The Army's original plan is for Cobra King to go to the National Army Museum. The Armor Museum director, however, wants it to go to Benning, and he will most likely ship it there until some point in the future when the Army museum is up and running and they want it shipped backed. I think it should stay at the Patton Museum because it and its crew served under Patton and because there is a historical connection there.

- C_Sherman

Hi,

So, reading between the lines of your post...is it too much to hope for that CK will be staying at Knox? Or do they (Benning) plan to snap it up once all of the restoration is complete?

C

Wasn't it established that it would probably going to the "Museum of the Army" or something, whatever that is? Not Benning, necessarily. I think Don posted something about this earlier.

- Dontos

Yes, that is the plan.

One of the issues has been trying to figure out the stencilling under the 'First In Bastogne'. Since only the one photo seems to exist, its been a bit difficult trying to 'read' the side of CK. With the assistance of a number of sources, we think we have an idea of what is stencilled on the tank based on photographic examples of other tanks.

Its amazing how much background information has been learned from 'photo-forensics'. This way, once CK is finally completed and exhibited (where ever that might be...?!) she should be near identical to the Dec 44 photograph.

I hope to be able to be onhand to see that. It would be a personal sense of gratification to see it completed.

At least that is the goal of the current project.

Regards
Don

Hi,

So, reading between the lines of your post...is it too much to hope for that CK will be staying at Knox? Or do they (Benning) plan to snap it up once all of the restoration is complete?

C

I am curious about the manner in which Cobra King is supported.

Generally, supports that are not significantly wider than they are tall will be prone to rolling.

In this case, the supports are three timbers wide and three timbers high.

The supports are also composed of multiple individual timbers, which would seem to make the situation less stable.

I know that safety is a major part of training as a volunteer at the museum and would like to know what is done that is making this safer than I think.

Yes, that is the plan.

One of the issues has been trying to figure out the stencilling under the 'First In Bastogne'. Since only the one photo seems to exist, its been a bit difficult trying to 'read' the side of CK. With the assistance of a number of sources, we think we have an idea of what is stencilled on the tank based on photographic examples of other tanks.

Its amazing how much background information has been learned from 'photo-forensics'. This way, once CK is finally completed and exhibited (where ever that might be...?!) she should be near identical to the Dec 44 photograph.

I hope to be able to be onhand to see that. It would be a personal sense of gratification to see it completed.

At least that is the goal of the current project.

Regards
Don

Will it be restored with the famous "First in Bastogne" graffiti?

I received some welcomed news last night. Work continues on CK and with the greatful help of the Motor Pool Staff, here is how Cobra King appears now.





With some work to remove the troublesome #1 L/S & #1 R/S bogie asseblies the entire suspension is removed.

Here is another sample of original paint from under the #1 R/S assembly.


Thanks to Chun for the photos & update. I hope to be able to spend some time on CK tomorrow. Work will continue...

Regards
Don

A staggering thought, that an unknown individual (or family) could have Cobra Kings logbook stashed away.....!?

Someone might have, but they probably got thrown out along with other stuff when that person got too old and shuffled/pawned of to a retirement community and their possessions were rifled through by greedy opportunistic distant kin trying to make a quick buck that have no idea that old junk "Grandpa" kept might be of some historical value.

My advice to all that have stuff like this is to make it known to family or have a will to prevent it's loss. Remember, the old saying works in reverse too,

"One Mans' treasure is another Mans' trash"

Someone actually put the manuals where they are supposed to go-impressive!
Dan

Kurt

I was thinking that these suppliments were handed out during the 'upgun' modifications.

Since they appear to be 'new' or at least not showing any signs of day to day field use, I assume the manuals were never used by the crew, just stashed away.

The more common use manuals would have been 'dog-eared' and dirty. Perhaps kept in the BOG or drivers compartment for easier access by the individuals more likely to use them. In which case, those manuals and/or maint log book would have been either destroyed by the interior fire, or taken by a 'Souvenir hunter' at any point in CKs, post war years.

A staggering thought, that an unknown individual (or family) could have Cobra Kings logbook stashed away.....!?

THAT would be an unbelievable find....!

Regards
Don

Interesting that they have the preliminary operating instructions rather than a TM, and a M10A1 SNL (same engine and drivetrain) rather than one for the M4A3 or the M4A3E2 supplement.