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Air Zoo Blog

Category: John Lendo

Monday, Nov 1, 2021

A Long Farewell to the SBD-2P

A few weekends ago we completed the 5+-year restoration of the world’s only SBD-2p Douglas Dauntless Dive Bomber on Friday, hosted a wonderful and emotional Aloha party to say goodbye to the aircraft on Saturday, and began taking it apart for transport on Monday.  Bittersweet to say the least, as we are preparing to send the SBD back home to the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum (PHAM) in Honolulu, HI after our team spent over 40,000 hours restoring her to her former glory.  With a... Read More
Posted by Nikki Statler at Monday, Nov 1, 2021
Aloha 2173 Douglas Dauntless Flight Discovery Center John Lendo Pearl Harbor restoration SBD-2P

Friday, Oct 29, 2021

WWII pilot’s family reunited with restored plane at Air Zoo - Featured on WMUK

After more than five years of meticulous restoration at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo, a restored World War Two dive bomber that crashed into Lake Michigan during World War Two is heading to a new home. The Douglas S-B-D “Dauntless” will be on display at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum in Hawaii. Earlier this month, it was celebrated at a family reunion. Enjoy the article & Interview now! By Leona Larson, WMUK Reporter  Read More
at Friday, Oct 29, 2021
Flight Discovery Center John Lendo navy restoration SBD-2P WMUK

Wednesday, Oct 13, 2021

Celebrating the end of an exciting chapter at the Air Zoo’s Restoration Center

The time has come to celebrate the hard work and dedication the volunteers and staff at the Air Zoo have put into the restoration of the Douglas Dauntless SBD-2P Dive Bomber, a historic WWII Navy aircraft once thought lost forever in Lake Michigan.   The SBD-2P (Bureau Number 2173) currently housed at the Air Zoo’s Flight Discovery Center is the last of its kind. It was thought to have sunk to ... Read More
Posted by Nikki Statler at Wednesday, Oct 13, 2021
A and T Recovery Aloha 2173 Collection dedication Events Family Friendly Flight Discovery Center Honolulu Hawaii John Lendo Lake Michigan Military Aircraft National Treasure Pearl Harbor restoration SBD-2P

Monday, Mar 1, 2021

SBD-2P Recovery and Restoration

Taken from original 2016 Press Release: The Douglas Dauntless Dive-Bomber Bureau Number SBD-2P 2173, an historic World War II Navy aircraft built by Douglas Aircraft Company1 and once thought lost forever in Lake Michigan, will soon begin a very important phase of her long history. This aircraft will soon be transferred to the Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum2 to undergo a full expert restoration over the next several years. This rescue effort that was begun by Mr. Fred Turner3, the former ... Read More
Posted by Nikki Statler at Monday, Mar 1, 2021
A & T Recovery Aircraft airplane Fred Turner John Lendo Naval Aviation Museum Foundation navy Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor restoration SBD-2P

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    Great place! Very interesting educational and informational! Great place to take the whole family as there is something for young children up to adults!

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    We took our grown daughters and young grandsons to the Air Zoo. It was very entertaining for all of us. There is so much to see and do. Rides for the whole family!

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