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HILL AIR FORCE BASE — Monday morning, a contractor was busy painting the propellers and tires of a C-35 that once flew with the "Candybomber," Gail Halvorsen, during World War II.
"Repainting like this is exceptionally rare," Aerospace Museum Curator Justin Hall explained.
The C-35 is one of five planes and two missiles that are getting a fresh coat outside the museum at Hill Air Force Base. While they are often the first aircraft visitors see, they're also the ones that endure the most wear, sitting outside.
"It's really beneficial to the airplanes," Hall said. "It helps make sure everything is historically accurate and reflective of the way these planes would have looked when they were in service."
Hall said the contractors, based out of Atlanta, Georgia, are given detailed instructions on how the aircraft should be painted. In addition to keeping them looking nice, the paint protects the craft against corrosion.
"We think it's important," Hall said. "We have a lot of veterans and active service people in the community who take a lot of pride in our history."
In all, the repainting process is expected to take about three weeks.
