Infrared Heat Seekers disposal?
Hello all Military Munitions Collectors.
My name is Julie and my father John asked me to find a place that has Military Munitions Collectors so here I am.
When I was young my dad would go to what he called "Government Surplus Auctions". He had to bid on the whole "lot" and everything that was in it. He placed a sealed bid on a gross of "empty" shipping containers -that were various sizes. He bid $25.00 and won.
He noticed prior to bidding that some containers were very heavy.
After he won, he proceeded to bring them to his shop. He opened one of the big cans and wasn't sure what he was looking at but knew it shouldn't be in there. He later found out by opening others and talking to a person from that auction that they were Infrared Heat Seekers that were attached to the front of the F-4 Phantoms, also know then as REDHEADS I have a lot of photos but not sure how to post them yet.
They are an amazing piece of American Engineering and history. The Infrared Dome is beautiful and behind it is an amazing gyroscope. We have some complete and other were semi complete and parts.
We found out that they cost $26,000 to build and were sold to the Government for $40,000.
Ours were built in the 60's I believe. We have a form that shows one of them being taken out of service for a crack or something.
It took a hell of a long time for my dad to keep possession once he notified the Government that he had them. Finding the right jurisdiction was the toughest part - nobody ever sued the Government before for something like this.
We have the documents that shows he won the court case and was declared the legal owner of the "Redheads". (1987) He sued them by himself. Many trips to the law library.
The Pentagon, acting as brokers, at one time offered him $100,000 for them. At the time, get this.......Pakistan was still using them and wanted them for replacement parts. Apparently there wasn't enough profit it in for the Pentagon guys and the deal fell through.
That was his last attempt to sell them. He needs to sell them now because he is 84 and my mother needs an operation as soon as possible. She refuses to put the $250.00 daily hospitalization co pays on their credit card. Having some cash will give her no more excuses.
Along with a shop stuffed from bottom to top with his prizes the other big item he has is
one fathom (less samples taken) of 1 1/2" or 1 3/4", not sure, Uniline - still on the original reel. He paid $800.00 for the Uniline and planned to use it for research on his patented Porpoise Escape Panel. He never used the Uniline.
It's not military munitions but it is an example of the stuff my mom calls Crap.....lol
Anyone have any suggestion on the best way to help him get rid of them...?
He actually wants to clear out the entire shop and not have it always used against him in an argument with my MOTHER....he never wins.
