Hunter’s Forgotten Memorial, Part 3

The fate of the F-105D at Hunter Memorial Park has been lingering in the fingertips of Douglasville for eight years, leaving the memorial without little care. Even though there are numerous problems concerning the aircraft, the memorial itself has also shared the same weathered disposition.

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force has loaned the F-105D to the City for the memorial, giving responsibility of upkeep to Douglasville. The Museum has the oversight to terminate the loan if any infractions occur within the loan agreement, allowing the plane to be removed from the memorial. However the NMUSAF does not assume responsibility for the memorial.

Recently Losing Georgia learned that the City of Douglasville is in search of conducting a major overhaul of the whole memorial, which will include repainting the F-105D. Yet questions remain as to why it has taken so long for any service to be done.

The City of Douglasville has had many opportunities to prevent issues and fund maintenance for the memorial and aircraft for the past eight years. Monetary contributions could have come from the General Fund, SPLOST, or proceeds from last year’s Sandy Koufax World Series held at Hunter Memorial Park. However, the City has never produced a budget of any funds to maintain the memorial itself.

Even in the debate over impact fees, Hunter Memorial Park is slated to have funds to construct a large multipurpose center, yet no funds are recognized for the Veteran’s Memorial. The popularity of the Sandy Koufax World Series has further put pressure to modernize the park, while increasing awareness of the weathered memorial in the public’s eye.

Losing Georgia is also aware that complaints have been filed to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force about the status of the aircraft and memorial. The Air Force has jurisdiction over the F-105D, but not the memorial grounds. Best case scenario is that the aircraft remains in place; worst case the Air Force pulls the aircraft, leaving an empty memorial.

Early this year Losing Georgia was contacted by residents who were inquiring about the memorial. Afterwards in July 2006, Losing Georgia photographed over 90 sections of the aircraft and memorial to record the current conditions. A 63 page document detailing the status of the memorial was sent to the United States Air Force Museum for analysis and documentation.

Included in the documentation were high resolution images regarding the problems concerning the memorial. Upon viewing the aircraft, many issues were evident that showed signs of the aircraft not being washed, improper upkeep of grounds, and lack of security.

Losing Georgia’s findings include rust being found on the gate and many parts of the fence around the memorial, including the fence underneath the aircraft. The iron fence has been vandalized in places with some fleur-de-lis being damaged. Weeds were found growing between the cracks of the engraved bricks, as well as in the stone pit beneath the aircraft.

Furthermore grass clippings were found thrown under the aircraft. The lamps that illuminate the aircraft showed signs of tampering and damage. Marble benches signifying each branch of the Armed Services indicated signs of exposure to the elements.

As for the aircraft, there are a multitude of issues that need to be addressed. Besides the faded paint, markings are peeling up all over the aircraft while in some places paint has chipped away. Some unknown individuals have opened access panels and left hand prints throughout the fuselage. From July to November, Losing Georgia has documented that the access panels remained open.

Hydraulic fluid and a bird nest were found at the tail section of the aircraft. The landing gear and many top surfaces have experienced corrosion. Mold or fungus has been found on the right side of the canopy and nose cone.

All of the issues that surround the memorial can be directed back to when the City of Douglasville attained official responsibility of the whole memorial in late 1998. Approximately few years later an offer was made to repaint the aircraft locally, but the City turned down the offer. Moreover, if the aircraft had been finished correctly with a layer of clear coat, then some of the problems evident today would not be present.

Losing Georgia’s intention is not harm the City’s image or have the F-105D removed. The issue here is to give a detailed account of the memorial’s history and why it was built. In this time where war has consumed parts of the world, parts of someone’s life, a debt of honor must still be repaid to those that have lost their lives in the pursuit of freedom.

For 1^st Lt. Robert Gerald Hunter, he lost his life flying an F-105D over the skies of northwestern Laos during the Vietnam War.

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