Warbird Recovery: The Hunt For A Rare Wwii Plane In Siberia, Russia
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Author Gordon Page takes you on a harrowing adventure to the east and west coasts of Russia in his hunt for rare World War II aircraft. Encountering greed and bribery at every turn, Page risks his safety for a lifelong dream.
I called Mike minutes after I hung up with Peter and asked him if he would join me on an adventure to Russia to acquire a Messerschmitt 109. Once again, he laughed at me. I didn’t know anyone who traveled as often as Mike or who had the expertise to recognize if I was buying a Messerschmitt 109 or a pile of junk. I practically begged him to join me, even bribing him by saying that we could come back through London for an extra day and he should plan to meet up with a long-time German friend of his who he had talked of often. Eventually, he began to take interest. He agreed to join meâ€"but only for the three days that I had promised. I told him to prepare his passport and apply for a travel visa to Russia. We would leave within the month. He would also need a money belt. I had no desire to carry all of the cash for the purchase on my own.
Before we hung up, he asked me what my wife thought about a return trip to Russia. I told him that I was just about to go buy a few dozen roses to improve the odds of her approval but that his agreeing to go with me would go a long way with her. At least I hoped it would.
Customer Reviews
Warbird Recovery, December 30, 2005By Randy LeVitre
I found Gordon Page's book "Warbird Recovery" to be a very enjoyable and compelling adventure. I was not able to put it down from the time I started reading it until I finished. I would highly recommend this book to everyone.
I appreciate the fact that there are people willing to put so much on the line in order to keep our rich history alive. It's this drive that will keep these planes flying long into the future and help all to remember the struggles and sacrifices that were made for us.
Thanks Gordon to you and the people working with you that made this story possible.
A dream of mine- read....., December 16, 2005By Rick Apitz
For years I have been an aviation buff. Gordon Page put a dream of mine into words. I was there with him on every page. I have collected several bits and pieces of warbirds and can only dream of what Gordon has done. It is a very easy fascinating read, very tough to put down and leaves you wishing for more and more chapters. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone or any age.
A terrific read!, October 31, 2005By J. Calano
I confess: I'm not an aviation buff. But I do appreciate a great story and Warbird Recovery is a gripping, real-life tale, filled with turn-the-page intrigue, shady characters, Russian history and laugh-out-loud humor. Take a journey with the author as he risks his life in pursuit of a childhood dream. Warbird Recovery is a terrific read!
Not just for aviators, October 7, 2005By Connie L. Peterson
Take a safe journey to Siberia Russia through the pages of Gordon's book. This is a story that can be enjoyed by everyone, not just aviators. You will find adventure, uncertainty and suspicious characters in every chapter. It is also a great reminder to pursue your dreams and never let them die. `Warbird Recovery' is an easy, inspirational read.
Warbird Recovery isn't easy!!, September 14, 2005By J. Iverson
I couldn't put this book down! I had been aware of the Bf 109 Project from the Warbird Recovery website and was very eager to hear the whole story. What a story it is! Wow, few of us who view restored warbirds can appreciate the effort that goes into them. This is a rare look behind the scenes and is quite an adventure story. Gordon Page does a great job at transporting the reader in time an place to experience the journey to Russia along with him. The many side trips along the way are the real gems! I kept reading to find out what would happen next! I can't wait to see what happens next and look forward to seeing these rare fighters take flight once again!
Just Put Oil and Fuel In It and Fly it Home, August 17, 2005By John Matlock "Gunny"
So the phone rings and someone asks if you'd like to go to Russia and get a P-63 King Cobra.
'What condition,' you ask.
'Just put oil and fuel in it and fly it home.'
Your first thought has to be, 'you gotta be kidding.'
But then, a flyable P-63 has got to be worth a small fortune. A million dollars wouldn't be out of order at all, depending on condition. Although there were some 3300 P-63's built, only a handfull remain, and most of these are not in flying condition.
Would you go to Russia?
Gordon Page did. And he found lots (30 perhaps) P-63's. From the photograph on the back, with the engine over here, the wings gone, the tail missing; I don't think that you can just put fuel in it and fly it away.
His story of traveling to Russia leaves me with the impression that he is lucky to be alive. And he reports that his wife has refused to let him go again.
Then after that, he made another trip, this time in search of a Me-109. He found it, he bought it, and another miracle, they shipped it. Not only did they ship it, but they included a second Me-109. Now, with a million dollars, you can get a flying Messerschmitt.
I'm passing this book along to a friend of mine who goes to Russia (not far from the P-63's) a couple of times a year (gold mining) to see if he can find a P-63 -- it would be almost worth it's weight in gold.
He went to Russia in 1993. This was one of the first to begin to try to do business in Russia. I don't get the feeling that things have improved very much.
Superb story, May 17, 2007By M. E. Amyatt-leir "mungojumbo"
This is an excellent book for anyone with even a slight interest in aircraft.
Although the book won't tell you much about WWII planes (hey you can get that in a 1000 boring tomes on the subject), it is a gripping and well-written read. You get a true sense of adventure and wonder if Gordon Page was either brave, lucky or determinedly stupid in his quest for the ultimate wreck!
I enjoyed it immensely from the first to last page.
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