The detective investigating the burglary and vandalism at a Route 1 firearms store reported no new details about 10 days after the store sustained severe damages.

Detective Ron Nelsen said there is no surveillance video from the break-in at Maine Police and Fire estimated to have led $60,000 to $75,000 in damages.

The damages were discovered at around noon on July 26, Nelsen said

Nelsen said owner Mark Joyce found the rear door had been forced open and display cases broken. Other damages included doors and walls spray painted with messages about killing animals, blue paint poured over guns and crossbows, boxes of ammunition dumped on the floor, overturned desks and a smashed television.

Nothing was reported stolen in the burglary, but Nelsen said Joyce reported getting a visit from someone before the store was burglarized who had asked about killing animals.

Corrosion found in wreckage

Inspections of the wreckage from a South Portland airplane crash that killed two men July 17 found corrosion in a fuel pump and line.

A preliminary report the National Transportation Safety Bureau released last week indicated the fuel pump, normally driven by the plane’s engine, did not operate properly the second time inspectors attempted to start it.

The pump and associated fuel lines and filters will be tested and evaluated more as part of the NTSB investigation. Investigator Butch Wilson of the NTSB said the final accident report should be completed in six to eight months.

The report does not list a cause for the crash that killed veteran pilot Mark Haskell, 42, of Brunswick. Thomas Casagrande, 66, a resident of Portland and certified flight instructor, also was killed when Haskell’s Yak 52 crashed on Maine Mall Road shortly after takeoff from Portland International Jetport.

The crashed occurred around 3:27 p.m., according to the report, and came after three prior takeoffs. The first two were “touch-and-go landings,” and after the third, the plane came to a full stop and returned to a “run-up” area. Controllers told investigators Haskell said he wanted to do a systems check after taking off again and asked for permission to fly above the airport at 3,000 feet.

The permission was granted and Haskell took off for the last time.

Witnesses told investigators the plane’s wings began to rock as Haskell tried to climb to 3,000 feet.

Air controllers told investigators they asked Haskell if he wanted to return to the airport and he said yes before he began a slow left turn, according to the report.

Controllers asked Haskell if the plane had any problems. He responded no, “but it’s getting awfully hot in here,” according to the report.

Witnesses on the ground and in the tower reported the plane dropped nose first to the ground.

The report said he last had flew the Yak 52 in 2008.

Homer stamp goes on sale

The Winslow Homer painting “Boys in a Pasture” will be issued as a stamp by the United States Postal Service beginning Aug. 12.

To celebrate the first day of issue, Portland Postmaster David C. Guiney and his staff will visit the Portland Museum of Art to unveil the stamp in a special ceremony beginning at 10 a.m. He will then present a framed enlargement to the museum.

A special pictorial postmark, designed specifically for this event, has been authorized by the postal service. Portland Post Office staff will be on hand at the museum from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to imprint visitors’ stamps with a “Winslow Homer Stamp Celebration Station” postmark.

“Boys in a Pasture” is the ninth stamp issued in the American Treasures series.

Customers can request the special postmark free-of-charge by mail for 30 days after the event by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope containing the letter or envelope they wish to be cancelled to: Postmaster, 125 Forest Ave., Portland, ME 04101-9998.

– Compiled by David Harry