Myrtle the Turtle on Taussig

[rkpuma]

MyrtleTurtle.jpg

Long before Taussig & Granby the "Turtle" had been aviation history; setting an endurance record, flying nonstop from Australia, to Ohio, in 1946. It took 55 hours, a crew of four, and a baby kangaroo named Joey bound for the National Zoo, for flight time.

It was converted into a gas tank with wings, so the extra fuel weighed Myrtle down earning her the name of the "Truculent Turtle", which weighed 85k in pounds-- 2½+ times of when empty. Myrtle went on a publicity tour and then retired in 1953 to Granby &Taussig until it was moved for I-64 (see construction of overpass).

She was disassembled in '77 and shipped to the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Fla. My dad was editor of the Approach Magazine and a few years back, I donated all bound volumes to the Pensacola museum --and was promised a special tour for myself, and surviving sisters-- but my traveling days (especially airlines) are pretty much in the rear view mirror. The Pilot writer and old friend, Tony Germanotta, put me in touch with a museum representative. I believe he is retired now, too. --ro

[comet29in59]

as with many things, we remember the thing but forget the particulars. it was interesting to hear the history again. I passed this plane twice a day (school day) for five years, when you do that most things become almost like trees. thanks for refreshing the memory.

[donnie hussey]

That truly is a great memory. I remember at Christmas time (back when the Navy went full bore with decorations and lights), they used to put a Santa Claus on top facing forward as if he were in his sleigh.