F3F questions experts please

After seeing Lone Star F3F I had questions.

!. Is it considered a Warbird ??

2. Did it see action and where ??

thanks

Steve

[warbird1]

Sure, it's a warbird!

The F3F is technically a new build replica, built by Herb Tischler at the now defunct Texas Airplane Factory at Meacham Field, in Fort Worth Texas in the 90's. As I understand it, virtually the entire airplane is new build. I do think however, that they used some parts of a few crashed F3F's recovered from Hawaii and some parts off of the last "real" flying Grumman Barrel, the G-32, which crashed at Oshkosh in about '71 or so.

So, the replica's didn't see action, and I don't believe the parts from the crashed birds did either.

[ltdann]

F3F-2, BuNo 0976 resides in the National Museum of Naval Aviation. It was recovered from the Pacific in 1988 and restored by the SDAM.

Rich

[skymstr02]

After seeing Lone Star F3F I had questions.

2. Did it see action and where ?

I don't believe that any F3F saw "action", they were active between the wars.

[JDK]

!. Is it considered a Warbird ??

There isn't an agreed definition of 'warbird', as there is for dog breeds or old car eras. What does that tell us, I wonder?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F3F

Not ever used in combat AFAIK, but designed for military use, and now a recreational / historic aircraft type. It's cool, and a warbird to me.

[Tim L]

Of the 4 F3F/G-32s built by the Texas Airplane Factory, are any still flying or flyable? I know the one at LSFM was static and Kermit's hasn't flown in years. What of the others?

Tim

[Matt Gunsch]

the 2 seater is with the Planes of Fame at Valle, Az,

[old iron]

Hello,

Should this F3F coult as a warbird or a REPRODUCTION of a warbird.

I have no problem with a military aircraft being labeled as a "warbird" whether that individual aircraft or the type flew in combat or not. Certainly, if we apply the combat criterion too strictly, then very few flying aircraft would count as "warbirds".

However, I believe that we need to make distinctions between originals and reproductions. A reproduction was never built with any potential of flying in combat or in support of combat operations, and on that basis alone should not be given "warbird" status. Call it a reproduction of a warbird if you like.

There of course is also that fuzzy area where original aircraft have been rebuilt so many times that there is virtually nothing remaining of the original aircraft. We should be honest in labeling these as well - perhaps as reproductions that include original parts. But this is perhaps another thread.

Kevin,
.

[Second Air Force]

Here is a photo I took of the LSFM F3F in June of this year:


Scott

[warbird1]

Of the 4 F3F/G-32s built by the Texas Airplane Factory, are any still flying or flyable? I know the one at LSFM was static and Kermit's hasn't flown in years. What of the others?

Tim

They are all technically flyable, except for the LSFM's example which has now been submerged in salt water. So, I guess that would make 3.

A few years ago, (5 to 7?), at the annual POF airshow at Chino, they had all the F3F/G-32's flying (3), plus the Grumman Duck in formation. Somewhere, I have both still shots and video of the event. It was a very unique formation, unlikely to ever be repeated.

[tom d. friedman]

used in some training after pearl harbor...... otherwise it saw no action. i have a mk 7 gun camera from an f3f complete with box from squadron vb -7 which served on the enterprise. dated 1941, for sale....$450.00

[bdk]

The single seater in Chino flies.

In the 1960 I was polishing planes at Dupage for Bill Ross, he had the G32 and it has always been my favorite.

I thought the advent of the P-40 did in the F3F and the F2A Buffalo.
But the F3F was never used in combat

Bill kept a Boat tailed Auburn roadster in the hanger with the G32

Steve

Scott

We need a F3F Registry

Steve

[jdvoss]

FWIW, those of you who have a copy of the publication "Golden Wings 1941-1945" by Jim Sullivan pg. 51 has photo of a 2 place F3F on Guadalcanal in March 1945. It is seen in the background of the primary photo which is that of a Piper AE-1 rigged for malaria spraying. It is marked with the star and bar insignia. Is this strange or what??

Also, didn't the RCAF fly a variant of the F3F called the Goblin? If my memory serves me correctly it had a different vertical tail..and an ugly one at that.