greatgonzo wrote:
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?
"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.