Wildcat at Palwaukee Airport in '60's?

[Sasquatch]

Hi All,

When I was a kid growing up in the suburbs of Chicago back in the '60's, my Dad used to take us to a restaurant somewhere (I think) near Palwaukee Airport up around Wheeling, Illinios to look at an old Wildcat they had sitting out front as an attraction. My memory is a bit dim on this, but I believe the wings were folded as it sat out front in a stone parking lot. And I don't know if it was an FM-2 or an F4F...but I do remember it seeming very big to this (at that time) little kid, and the Dad's could hoist us kids up into the cockpit in nice weather.

Does anyone have any recollections of this old warbird, where it actually was located, any photos, what happened to it, etc.? I'd sure like to know more about what it was I was seeing back then.

Thanks to all who post responses.

--Tom in Seattle

[Warbirdnerd]

Hi Tom,
I think this the mildcat you are referring to:
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/f4fregis ... 86956.html

Welcome to the WIX.

[T J Johansen]

More likely this one!

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/f4fregis ... 46867.html

And by the way, just how "mild" is that cat actually...

T J

[HELLDIVERS]

T.J would be correct

[John Kerr]

Here are a couple of shots of FM-2 N46867 prior to becoming
N909WJ.

1st photo by Vince Reynolds, July 1964



2nd photo from Dick Phillips, date unknown.



Enjoy, John Kerr

[Sasquatch]

WOW guys...you just made my day! Thanks for the welcome, Bryan, and thanks very much as well to TJ for the link to where the bird is today, and to John for sharing the Vince Reynolds and Dick Phillips photos. That's definitely the Wildcat I was referring to. Amazing to me that you guys had the photos and data on it

I couldn't remember exactly what type of building it sat in front of, but do remember the white building shown in the background of the first photo. And I also recall the white stone on the ground, mainly because--as I mentioned above--us kids would be hoisted up on the plane by our Dads to play on it and sometimes slide down the folded wings...I can still feel that stone on my knees when my Dad missed catching me once...yikes!

I see the Wildcat ended up at the Victory Air Museum for awhile. That brings back great memories too...that was another place my Dad would take us. I remember having the run of the place while the Dads would hang out in the office talking with the WWII vets there...probably Earl Reinert as well, though I was too young to personally remember him.

I didn't have a camera back then...by chance do you guys have any great photos of the planes that were there at the Victory Air Museum?

Thanks again!

--Tom

[STEARMAN]

I too remember that Wildcat as a kid. I also spent alot of time at the Victory Air Museum with my dad. He has given me a bunch of slides and B&W negs that I will try to post. Anyone know where the P-47 that was at the museum ended up?

Greg

[Warbirdnerd]

More likely this one!

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/f4fregis ... 46867.html

And by the way, just how "mild" is that cat actually...

T J

Doh~
Jumped to soon to my answer. Thanks Mike and TJ for correcting my goof. And thanks John for sharing those cool old shots of it.

An old friend named Ferd always called the FM-2 the Mildcat, but then again he flew it in his suit straight from chruch one Sunday Morning...

Last edited by Warbirdnerd on Mon Feb 12, 2007 8:49 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[Warbird Kid]

Ya know that paint job doesnt look to bad on that "mild"cat.

[HELLDIVERS]

Hi

The P-47 is now with the Charlie Nichols collection Chino

Thanks Mike

[Jake Fendermen]

T.J. is correct. The FM-2 belonged to Earl Rienert and was at Victory Air Museum until October of 75 if my memory is correct. It was near the end of the row of planes and was parked near his PBY and F-6 fuselage.

Jake Fendermen

It was one of the first planes sold by Earl and I don't think it went for more than 5K.

[Chris Brame]

It's in the background in this shot - look behind the nose of the Buchon:

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0 ... photo_nr=5

Greg, PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE post your VAM photos - despite all the time I spent there, I didn't take nearly enough pictures! Thanks!

[planeoldsteve]

Hi

The P-47 is now with the Charlie Nichols collection Chino

Thanks Mike

Is This It?

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0 ... photo_nr=1

Steve

[HELLDIVERS]

Thats it

[Jake Fendermen]

Steve,
That's Earl's Jug, the one raced by Jane Page.

Jake Fendermen