Whoa Nellie - There's a Plane in the Pond!

So our anonymous commenter who I'll refer to as "Steve", for lack of a better pseudonym, nearly nailed the "What is it?" by at least somewhat connecting the part to a portion of an aircraft gone awry. If this had been an actual contest, "Steve" would have scored extra points for using the term "cowling". Instead, "Steve" wins the hand-painted pork chop, signed by Dennis and I. Maybe some of my hints helped lead the rest of you to this piece of WW2 hardware.

It's the front, right-side, engine cowling from a SBD Dauntless dive bomber. However, the picture below (public domain) is unfortunately of the left side.

Ok, now it's the right side.

So how'd this thing make it to Dennis' studio?

Dennis explains:
"In the early 1940's the SBD Dauntless crashed in the lake behind my grandfather's orange grove during a practice drill shortly after take-off from the DeLand, Florida Naval Air Station, only about two miles away. Fortunately, the pilot bailed and survived. Periodically, the lake dries up and, years later when we'd visit my grandparents, we'd go exploring on the property and find smashed up pieces of aluminum in the mud. This is the only identifiable part we found. When I brought it home from Florida a few years ago, my wife looked in the truck and said, "What's that piece of sh*t?!" Women...they just don't understand!"

You'll probably be seeing more vintage aircraft references ahead because Dennis digs planes (even out of dried up ponds.) Below he proudly displays his "Contact" backglass that he dug out of his woodpile, near the "Super Rack"...a follow-up theme to "WNBJM"?


Next time we'll get back to the project and dig into the guts of Continental Cafe.

Until then, I just have one question...was the Dauntless really "Silent But Deadly"?

G&D...SBD

All art, sketches, or photos related directly to "Whizbang Pinball" or "Whoa Nellie (Brand) Big Juicy Melons" or "Whoa Nellie (Brand) Sweet Juicy Melons" are TM and Copyright 2009 WhizBang Pinball, Greg Freres, and Dennis Nordman.

SBD Dauntless photos courtesy of the National Museum of Naval Aviation

"Contact" and "EM Close-Up" photos by G. Freres