Nestled in one man’s back garden, in Newbury/ Ohio, is this collection of more than 30 military jets – salvaged by Walter Soplata over a 50-year period. He bought the planes amid fears they would be dismantled and destroyed, and, upon his death in 2010, his relatives kept his prestigious collection a secret so that scrappers wouldn’t steal his prized possessions.
In the mean time, most planes are now away. The Goodyear F2G Super Corsair was restored By Bob Odegaard but sadly crashed, resulting in the death of Pilot Bob Odegaard, on 7 September 2012. The B-25 “Wild Garco” went to California and is restored and flying! The XP-82 is being restored by Tom Reilly
Can you help with more recent images or information to the planes and engines etc., feel free to contact us. Credits: Johnny Joo Photography (Architectural After Life). Do not reproduce, republished or copy the images.
A B-25 cockpit in the graveyard. Mr Joo said that the abandoned planes were almost like an outdoor museum.
A Boeing 707 lies on left, while on the right a Beech 18 sits collecting rust. After Mr Soplata’s death in 2010 the aviation graveyard was kept a secret by relatives fearing scrappers
‘…It creates its own post-apocalyptic view and it’s like art in a sense. It’s totally deserted and forgotten and the atmosphere is really eerie.’
Around 50 engines and 30 aircraft currently lie in the cemetery of wreckage.
Cold War Jet
Planes from other conflicts are also included in the collection – such as this F-86D Saber plane.
The collection also features ex Navy machines, and a Fairchild C-82 Boxcar fuselage.
These eerie pictures show all that remains of a fleet of World War II U.S. Air Force fighter planes. With their livery almost obscured by rust and moss these abandoned metal skeletons are almost unrecognisable from the once great air crafts they were. Pictured is a B-25 Mitchell.
Other planes in the abandoned plane graveyard were a T-6, F-82 Twin Mustang, a Cutlass Jet and B-36 Fuselage.
FATES OF THE PLANES
- The Goodyear F2G Super Corsair was restored By Bob Odegaard but sadly crashed, resulting in the death of Pilot Bob Odegaard, on 7 September 2012.
- The B-25 “Wild Garco” went to California and is restored and flying!
- The XP-82 is being restored by Tom Reilly
LAST UPDATED 6.2.2015
Can you help with more recent images or information to the planes and engines etc., feel free to contact us.
Credits: Johnny Joo Photography (Architectural After Life). Do not reproduce, republished or copy the images.
