<Load Adjusters>

Long before electronic computers tried to simplify things, slide rules - affectionately nicknamed "slip sticks" - were used for everything from designing gigantic skyscrapers & huge, ocean-going ships to calculating weight & balance data for the proper loading of an airplane...

In the early 80's, one of the perks of working for S.A.L. Instrument Co. (decades before, the West Coast's largest dealer in surplus aviation gauges) was the ability to wander around in awe through warehouse after warehouse, each still piled literally 'to the ceiling' with former military items of all shapes and sizes. You see, ol' Buck had once worked for Wunderlich at Kingman during the post-War aircraft salvage operation (that period being the genesis, really, of the greatest surplus phenomon anyone will ever see) and he ended up with tens of thousands of instruments plus tons of other items taken out of the fighters and bombers. Among the treasures acquired were most of the bomber's Load Adjusters, which he for years handed out as souvenirs to friends and potential customers...

In any event, after years of negotiations with Buck and then his family after his passing, I ultimately ended up with most of the Load Adjusters from the Kingman bombers, each bearing the tail number of the aircraft from which it was taken.

The Depot 41 Museum Collection's

Load Adjusters...

In addition to those from many other Kingman

A-20 Havocs, A-26 Invaders, B-17 Flying Fortresses, B-24 Liberators, B-25 Mitchells, B-26 Marauders and B-32 Dominators, the

Depot 41 Museum Collection

also contains the

Load Adjusters from these bombers:

Surviving Artifacts from Kingman Army Air Field & Sales-Storage Depot No.41 Planes:	Long before electronic computers tried to simplify things, slide rules - affectionately nicknamed "slip sticks" - were used for everything from designing gigantic skyscrapers & huge, ocean-going ships to calculating weight & balance data for the proper loading of an airplane... In the early 80's, one of the perks of working for S.A.L. Instrument Co. (decades before, the West Coast's largest dealer in surplus aviation gauges) was the ability to wander around in awe through warehouse after warehouse, each still piled literally 'to the ceiling' with former military items of all shapes and sizes. You see, ol' Buck had once worked for Wunderlich at Kingman during the post-War aircraft salvage operation (that period being the genesis, really, of the greatest surplus phenomon anyone will ever see) and he ended up with tens of thousands of instruments plus tons of other items taken out of the fighters and bombers. Among the treasures acquired were most of the bomber's Load Adjusters, which he for years handed out as souvenirs to friends and potential customers... In any event, after years of negotiations with Buck and then his family after his passing, I ultimately ended up with most of the Load Adjusters from the Kingman bombers, each bearing the tail number of the aircraft from which it was taken. The Depot 41 Museum Collection's Load Adjusters... In addition to those from many other Kingman A-20 Havocs, A-26 Invaders, B-17 Flying Fortresses, B-24 Liberators, B-25 Mitchells, B-26 Marauders and B-32 Dominators, the Depot 41 Museum Collection also contains the Load Adjusters from these bombers:
	B-17G #44-6633 the 2nd Bomb Group's (name?)
		B-24J #44-40791 the 11th Bomb Group's Playmate
	Load Adjuster (and Bombsight DATA BOOK) from B-24L #44-41468 the 30th Bomb Group's THAR SHE BLOWS III
		B-24L #44-41534 the 90th Bomb Group's Say UNCLE
	B-17G #42-97276 the 91st Bomb Group's SWEET 17-THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS
		B-24J #42-50501 the 93rd Bomb Group's Solid Comfort
	B-17F #42-30382 the 94th Bomb Group's HORRIBLE HANKS
		B-17G #43-37716 the 96th Bomb Group's famous 5 GRAND
	B-17G #44-6537 the 97th Bomb Group's (name?)
		B-17G #44-8164 the 99th Bomb Group's (name?)
	B-17G #43-38983 the 100th Bomb Group's (name?)
		B-17G #42-38050 the 303rd Bomb Group's famous THUNDERBIRD
	B-17G #44-6009 the 305TH Bomb Group's FLAK EATER
		B-17G #43-38465 the 351ST Bomb Group's FAVORITE LADY
	Load Adjuster (and Manufacturer's Plate)
	from B-17G #44-6915 the 379th Bomb Group's (name?)
		...and the Load Adjusters from: B -24J #44-40434 the 380TH Bomb Group's Flak Fled Flapper
	B-17G #43-37675 the 381st Bomb Group's PATCHES
		B-17G #44-6097 the 390th Bomb Group's COCAINE BILL (on the Douglas, Long Beach assembly line)
	B-24M #44-50734 the 446th Bomb Group's MY DEVOTION
		B-17G #43-37797 the 447th Bomb Group's American Beauty
	B-24J #44-10621 the 451st Bomb Group's FULL HOUSE
		B-24J #44-10575 the 453rd Bomb Group's Becoming Back
	The Load Adjuster and Life Raft Release ACCESS PANEL from B-17G #43-38479 the 457th Bomb Group's THY WILL BE DONE
		...and the Load Adjusters from: B-24J #42-50912 the 458th Bomb Group's The TRAVLIN BAG
	B-17G #42-97907 the 463rd Bomb Group's BLUE CHAMPAGNE
		B-17G #43-39249 the 487th Bomb Group's Unfinished Business
	TB-24J #44-40164 formerly the 491st Bomb Group's Pegasus
	In addition to the 27 above, the Load Adjusters out of even more aircraft from these Bomb Groups, as well as scores of others representing at least 20 more Bomb Groups ...literally thousands of Kingman bombers... still exist today... Absolutely AMAZING ! Think of the countless lives that were touched by the airplanes at Kingman... from those who labored at defense plants designing & building them to male & female ferry pilots who delivered them to their initial Army Assignments; men who crewed them sometimes in training, but more often in combat (occasionally various bombers even having multiple crews); the lucky few who were able to climb aboard for that cherished post-War flight Stateside (avoiding the cramped, dank bowels of seaborn ships jam-packed beyond capacity); and coming full circle back again to scores of ferry pilots who guided them to their final destination in the Arizona desert, ultimately ending up in the hands of those who destroyed them... Depot 41 Museum Collection's Load Adjusters are, in most cases, the final remnant of those historic bombers, embodying both the memory of the planes and all those who once touched them, many having shared the exhilarating experience of flight during a fantastic event that can never, ever be repeated. The autographed Bomb Bay Door (details on the B-24 Page) may be one of the single most important pieces in the Depot 41 Museum Collection, but collectively its cache of Load Adjusters far surpasses, in every conceivable aspect, even that amazing Artifact... Conservatively, their monetary value has been estimated to be well into seven figures, but their historical value is unquestionably priceless. photo credits this page: Pat McGinnis/Boeing, Boeing/Seattle, William T. Larkins, Yankee Air Museum, B-24 Best Web, Depot 41 Photo Archives
	SOMETHING NEW ON THE HORIZON As with other Pages on this website, the information presented here is but a mere fraction of what's available in the Depot 41 Museum Collection. Plans are in the works to form a 501(c)(3) non-profit museum, with a brand new .org website as its cornerstone... You'll see larger & much clearer images, and loads of additional information will be given on the current subjects in the left column. PLUS, a list has been made of more than 50 additional unique & fascinating Kingman Army Air Field and Sales-Storage Depot No.41 Topics Viewers will be privy to photos & information available nowhere else on the planet, so STAY TUNED!