#926 Restoration is now complete!

FINAL RESTORATION & REASSEMBLY COMPLETED ON 10-22-2019

We are ready to mount Mohawk #926 on its Display Stand!

BOTH PROPELLERS REATTACHED ON 10- 21- 2019

Right Propeller is lifted into position & secured

Left propeller is lifted into position & secured

THE SLAR ANTENNA & WING FUEL TANKS ARE REATTACHED ON 10-20-2019

FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES ARE REATTACHED ON THE WINGS & TAIL ON 10-17-2019

Ailerons, Rudders, & Elevators are installed!

Propellers are cleaned, prepped, & painted

ENGINE COWLINGS ARE REATTACHED TO THE ENGINE BASKETS ON 10-04-2019

COCKPIT WINDOWS ARE TINTED ON 9-23-2019

ENGINE BASKETS WITH PROP GEAR BOX ARE REINSTALLED ON 9-18-2019

Milon Whittier, Floyd Jones, & Art Mauer prep the engine compartment on the right wing, while Jim Brown, David Libby & Grant Rush check the engine basket as it's lifted into position.

Next is the Engine Basket for the Left Wing

THE TAIL'S HORIZONTAL & VERTICAL STABILIZERS ARE MOUNTED ON 9-6-2019

Active Guard Members help with the heavy lifting!

WINGS ARE REATTACHED ON 8-17-2019

Richard Voltin provides a lift truck, and Grant Rush, Milon Whittier, Art Mauer, & Bob Swift prepare to mount the left wing on #926.

Left wing is aligned with a bit of "wing tip persuasion" by Stan Rolfness, Steve Forster, & Len Kauffman, while Grant Rush installs & tighten the wing bolts. With the left wing on, the right wing is next!

Patti Nopp (Wife of LTC Robert Nopp) arrives to see both wings reattached to Mohawk #926!

REPAINTING IS NOW COMPLETE! #926'S FUSELAGE COMPLETE WITH DECALS & PLACARDS WAS RETURNED FROM THE JEFF LEWIS PAINT FACILITY IN KEIZER BACK TO THE SALEM AASF ON FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2019

Volunteers: Milon Whittier, Gary Clark, David Libby, Jim Brown

JUNE 21,2019: OUR THANKS TO JEFF LEWIS AUTO BODY PAINT & HOT ROD SHOP IN KEIZER OREGON FOR A PAINT JOB WORTH CELEBRATING!

IN PREPARING TO LOAD, MICHAEL LEWIS IN THE BOBCAT PULLS #926 OUT TO THE STREET WITH MILON WHITTIER CHECKING THE TOWBAR

#926 IS READIED FOR TRANSPORT WITH CHAINS SECURING IT TO THE LOWBOY TRAILER

WITH RIVERBROOK'S OWNER STEVE DOWNER BEHIND THE WHEEL, #926 IS SAFELY TRANSPORTED TO THE SALEM OREGON AIRPORT!

RIVERBROOK'S OWNER STEVE DOWNER PREPARES TO UNLOAD #926 WITH SALEM AIRPORT OPERATIONS' JOEY LANGENHORST LOOKING ON!

PATTI NOPP & BRUCE NOPP, WIFE & COUSIN OF LTC ROBERT NOPP WHO'S BEING HONORED AT THE #926 DISPLAY,
POINT TO #926 AIRCREW NAMES

JUNE 19, 2019: DECALS ARE APPLIED TO THE #926 FUSELAGE

BRENT JOHNSON, OWNER OF QUICK TRIM STARTS PLACING DECALS

JUNE 11, 2019: STENCILS FOR THE #926 FUSELAGE WERE APPLIED & PAINTED !

NOW TO PAINT "US ARMY" LETTERING ON THE TAIL!

IN APPRECIATION FOR THEIR CONSIDERABLE CONTRIBUTION TO THE SALEM OV-1 MOHAWK PROGRAM, WE ARE PLEASED TO HONOR
MAJ STEPHEN HAMMONS & 1SGT RICHARD DEARBORN AS THE #926 DISPLAY'S OFFICIAL AIRCREW!

JUNE 5, 2019: JEFF LEWIS ADVISES THAT THE PAITING OF THE FUSELAGE WITH THE OVERALL GREY PAINT
IS NOW COMPLETE!

WITH OVERSPRAY MASKING REMOVED, JEFF & MICHAEL LEWIS HAVE STARTED APPLYING BLACK PAINT TO THOSE AREAS REQUIRING IT.

MAY 10, 2019: WITH ALL BUT THE FUSELAGE NOW PAINTED, IT'S TIME NOW TO HAUL THE #926 FUSELAGE TO THE JEFF LEWIS PAINT FACILITY IN KEIZER FOR A NEW COAT OF OVER ALL GREY IMRON PAINT.

MATT SHELTON ARRIVES WITH A BIG RIG FROM RIVERBROOK HAULING COMPANY OF BROOKS OR, AND MILON WHITTIER IS THERE TO ASSIST!

#936 IS THEN GENTLY PUSHED BACK UP & ONTO A LOWBOY TRAILER

MATT & MILON SECURE #926 TO THE TRAILER AND THEN MATT REPOSITIONS HIS TRUCK TO ATTACHES IT TO THE TRAILER

JOEY LANGENHORST FROM SALEM AIRPORT OPERATIONS ARRIVES TO ESCORT US ACCROSS THE AIRPORT RAMP TO THE GATE

#926 IS ON THE ROAD TO JEFF LEWIS AUTO BODY PAINT FACILITY IN KEIZER OREGON

ARRIVING AT JEFF'S FACILITY, #926 IS OFFLOADED THEN TUCKED AWAY INSIDE TO AWAIT FINAL PREP & PAINT!

MARCH 15, 2019: THE REPAINTED RIGHT WING WAS RETURNED TODAY FROM THE JEFF LEWIS FACILITY TO THE AASF BY GRANT RUSH WITH THE HELP OF MILON WHITTIER, FLOYD JONES, & JIM BROWN

WORK PARTY FRIDAY, MAR 1st 2019 TO TRANSPORT THE RIGHT WING TO JEFF LEWIS'S FACILITY FOR PAINTING.

Volunteers: Grant Rush, Floyd Jones, Milon Whittier, Dave Libby, & Gary Clark

SAT, FEB 23rd 2019 WORK PARTY TO WASH & PREP THE RIGHT WING FOR PAINTING.

Volunteers: Floyd Jones, Milon Whittier, Steve Forster, Art Mauer, Bob Swift, Dennis Stallings. Jason Baldy, Aero Larson, Jim Brown, & Gary Clark

With help from Grant Rush and the boom truck provided by Richard Voltin of Dick's Heavy Equipment Repair in Lyons Oregon, the newly painted left wing was removed from the wing carrier now at the AASF and the right wing was then uploaded to the carrier and moved to the wash rack for cleaning & paint prep. Both Grant & Richard have been a tremendous help with logistics throughout this project! Our considerable thanks to them both!

FRI, FEB 1st 2019 GRANT RUSH, MILON WHITTIER, FLOYD JONES, & JIM BROWN BRING THE PAINTED LEFT WING BACK TO THE AASF FROM JEFF LEWIS AUTOBODY IN KEIZER!

FRIDAY JAN 25th 2019 WE MOVED A LARGE GROUP OF PAINTED PARTS FROM JEFF LEWIS AUTOBODY IN KEIZER BACK TO THE AASF!

Participants: Grant Rush, Arlan Schendel, Floyd Jones, Allen Barss, Dennis Stallings, Milon Whittier, Joe Meek , & Gary Clark

SATURDAY NOV 10th 2018: WE CONTINUED PREPPING THE FUSELAGE FOR PAINT.

Work Crew: Gary Clark, Stan Rolfness, Matt Christensen, Floyd Jones, Jim Brown, & Milon Whittier.

SUNDAY OCTOBER 21st 2018 WE WASHED & STARTED PREPPING THE FUSELAGE FOR PAINT!

Work Party: Floyd Jones, Jim Brown, Milon Whittier, Gary Clark, Arlan Schendel, & Art Mauer

A #926 WORK PARTY WAS HELD ON WED, OCT 10TH, 2018 TO PREP THE LEFT WING, LEFT& RIGHT TAIL ASSEMBLIES, & SLAR BOOM

In preparation for this work party, the painted parts from the Jun 5th work party were relocated to a commercial self storage unit near the Salem AASF on Sep 4th with Aero Larson, Art Mauer, Allen Barss, Phil Bruner, Floyd Jones, Dennis Stallings, Gary Clark, & Milon Whittier providing the manpower for that move. Monday afternoon Sep 17, Milon Whittier, Dave Libby, & Mike Becker cleaned the left wing at the AASF. Tuesday evening Sep 18th with help from Milon Whittier, Floyd Jones , & Jim Brown, the left wing was then transported to the Jeff Lewis Auto Body facility in Keizer by Grant Rush utilizing the great "Wing Transporter" Grant had built for the Project! On Sat Oct 6th, Milon Whittier, David Libby, Floyd Jones, Mike Becker, & Dave Welter cleaned the left & right tail assemblies and SLAR boom, then Milon & Floyd transported those to the Jeff Lewis Autobody paint facility that same day. With a great turnout of 11 volunteers, the Wed Oct 10th Work Party made quick work of prepping the left wing, SLAR boom, and left & right tail assemblies for paint. Work Party Volunteers: Milon Whittier, Pete Nunenkamp, Phil Galvin, Art Mauer, Lonnie Lucas, Floyd Jones, Len Kaufman, Phil Bruner, Allen Barss, & Stan Rolfness, and Gary Clark.

Painted parts are moved to Self Storage on Jun 5th, followed by the "Wash Down" of the left wing at the AASF on Sep 17th

The left wing is moved on Sep 18th to Jeff Lewis Autobody using the "Wing Transporter" designed & built by Grant Rush

Oct 6th "Wash Down" of the SLAR Boom & Tail Assemblies

Oct 10th Work Party to prep the Left Wing, SLAR Boom, & Tail Assemblies for paint

#926 PAINT & RESTORATION WORK CONTINUED AT JEFF LEWIS AUTOBODY ON JUN 5TH, 2018.

Volunteers: Aero Larson, Milon Whittier, Jim Mair, Philip Galvin, Pete Nunnenkamp, Bob Swift, Allen Barss, Dennis Stallings, & Gary Clark.
Aided by Jeff Lewis shown working on the grinder in the 3rd photo center column.

#926 RESTORATION WORK CONTINUED AT JEFF LEWIS AUTOBODY ON MAR 17 & 24, 2018.

Volunteers: Arlan Schendel, Milon Whittier, Jason Baldy, Jeff Warden, Lauren Paine, Floyd Jones, Gary Clark, Dale Lampson, Bob Swift, & Phil Bruner

A 2ND #926 RESTORATION WORK PARTY WAS HELD AT SALEM AASF ON TUESDAY, OCT 24, 2017

These items & the fuselage will undergo final prep for repainting at the jeff lewis autobody facility in keizer oregon where fine-grit walnut shell media blasting will be used to remove existing paint & surface contaminants.

Progress!
We moved #926's Fuselage to Salem Auto Body's Paint Hangar for Initial Restoration Evaluation

On Thursday 5/26/2017 Mohawk #926's fuselage was moved from Salem Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) across Salem Airport's Runways to Salem Auto Body's paint facility for final prep & re-paint. Paint samples were matched with Mohawk #902 in the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, OR to verify 641st MI BN unit colors. Paint color was a perfect match!

David Libby Ready to Tow

About to leave the AASF and enter the taxiway

Route to the Salem Auto Paint Facility

Through the AASF Gate and cleared across Taxiway B by Salem Tower to hold at Runway 13/31

Crossing Runway 13/31 & Approaching Runway 34/16

Across Runway 34/16 and headed for Taxiway C along the Parking Ramp

Left turn onto Taxiway C at the Parking Ramp, continuing Southbound.

Gary Clark & David Libby carefully moving #926 Southbound on Ramp Taxiway C

Right Turn Westbound toward Exit Gate to Salem Auto Body's Paint Facility across Airway Dr SE

Crossing 25th St SE/Airway Dr SE and entering Salem Auto Body's Paint Facility

Safe inside Salem Auto Body's Paint Facility!

Jim Brown unhitching the tow bar with Salem Auto Body's Mgr. Jimmy Bernard standing by.

Gary Van Dusen & his son Eric visit from Alaska!