Warbird Information Exchange

Corsair #122, Stratford, 1946

Navy Day 1946 at the Chance Vought Plant in Stratford, CT. Corsair "122" was the only aircraft to receive and individual citation during WWII while flying with VMF-111. Over 100 Combat missions, 400 Combat Hours. Sikorsky Historical Archives.

The famous "Ole 122", a Chance Vought F4U-1 of VMF-111, "Devil Dogs", completed 100 dive-bombing missions against Japanese positions of the Marshall Islands. The only official citation ever given to an aircraft in World War II was presented to its plane captains, Sgt. Walter Eason and Sgt. G. H. Miller, by Major General L. E. Woods. The citation was then varnished into the cockpit. It logged more than 80,000 miles and 400 flying hours without having to return to base for mechanical trouble. Note the 100 mission markers under the cockpit. “Ole 122” was returned to the States because of age. Squadron Flight Officer, Captain William C Bickel from Pennsylvania, was given orders to fly it around the country to the various plants that contributed parts to the finished Corsair.

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[Thread title is ridiculous btw]

Great pics and new to me!
Yet they rise some eye brow too. Note the prop being changed. The pic with the crowd presents original thin blades. The others show later paddle blade propeller. Changed prop is no big deal, but the aircraft also carries the HVAR stubs and central section pylons which are a bit strange for early raised cabin version, strongly suggesting 1D.
Is there any information of changes being done to the frame, or should we suspect the fake 'Ole 122' was used for the tour?

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That is interesting. Didn’t notice those differences. Also notice the photo with crowd shows 122 with far less missions.

And what was the ultimate disposition of Corsair 122? Does it still exist??

JDVoss
www.fuselagecodes.com

To me, it looks like they used multiple aircraft painted as #122. Too many paint and configuration differences. They also did the same with Pappy Boyington and “ Lulubelle and General Doolittle. Doolittle said he thought he’d been photographed in every existing B-25.

"122" did return to the states and did visit the Chance Vought Plant in Stratford, in 1946. I have other photos from its visit and they all show the differences that you point out. It was there for a post-war Vought Open House. No one has mentioned the other interesting issue with the 1946 Corsair is that it has the over all late war blue, not the tricolor scheme, AND, the mission marking are in a different location and smaller.
I've been working on this one since 2009 after locating several photos of the open house in the Sikorsky archives, as well as trying to track down where it eventually went.
At this point, I'm pretty sure that the aircraft arrived at the plant in its wartime, weathered paint and was re-painted to make it look prettier for the open house. No hard confirmation at this point, but I'm still working on it.
As far as where it might have gone after this, I'm also not sure BUT, there have been reports from multiple sources over the years, with names and dates, that "a" Corsair was at a homeowners front yard in Connecticut for several years after the war. CAP Cadets were given tours of the aircraft and eventually, as reported from some, the aircraft was the buried in the yard.

I have yet to locate a photo of it, so it very well could be a different type of aircraft, but everyone so far have said it was a CORSAIR.
If it was a Corsair, could it possibly be "122"?
I don't know, but I'm still tracking it down.
Please don't ask me what town this was supposed to be in, as I don't want to have everyone descend upon that town with metal detectors! I haven't even been able to narrow the exact house down yet. But I'm working on it.

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

As others have already mentioned, I tend to believe we are looking at different airframes representing 122.

The photo below shows details that are typically seen on F4U-1D’s.
1. Paddle Blade Prop
2. Lack of Canopy frame.
3. Rockets Stubs
4. Center Section Bomb Rack
5. Instructional/Service Decals.

All these items are lacking on the original 122. It also looks like the Dark Blue paint has weathered in a Natural/Normal way, doesn't look like a Tri-color that has been repainted.
The amount of Bomb marking rows also differ from original.




This photo shows what is perhaps a Dark Blue over spray?(Hard to tell.) Also has the thinner blades.


An additional row of Bomb markings. Also short tail wheel. (Extended tail stared with C/N 2275 (BuNo 55945?))


Getting more into the weeds, the range of BuNo's for an F4U-1A with Tri-Color paint and a Short tail wheel is fairly limited.
Perhaps in the 17xxx - 18xxx range.
https://donmooreswartales.com/2010/05/1 ... ySeerBf40w