'Butch' O'Hare memorial Wildcat

[Mike]

In a corner of the departure lounge in Chigago O'Hare airport's Terminal 2 (it took some finding!) is this memorial to Edward 'Butch' O'Hare, US Navy Medal of Honour winner, after who the airport is named.

The aircraft is a Grumman-built F4F-3 Wildcat. A non-folding wing variant, this is one of the Lake Michigan recoveries restored to static condition a few years back.





Some more details of O'Hare's life can be read here and here.

It's thirsty work wandering around airport terminals looking for old warbirds. Fortunately, sustenance was close at hand!

[TimAPNY]

Please tell me they are not severing beer (by the colour, Good beer) in plastic cups

That ‘s not right!

Nice shots, I wish all those A/C were there when I was flying around the country.

[Mike]

Please tell me they are not severing beer (by the colour, Good beer) in plastic cups

That ‘s not right!

I'm afraid so, Tim

And it was pretty good beer too!

Probably a result of some post 9/11 rule which says that you can't take glass within 100 yards of an aircraft, or some such.

[tom d. friedman]

their is another wildcat at midway airport suspended from the ceiling, not sure of it's origin but probably from lake michigan too

[Dan K]

Tom,

I know of the SBD at Midway, but never realized a Wildcat is there also. Where is it located in the terminal (in relation to the SBD)?

[tom d. friedman]

ya know what?? i've been known to have some flatulence of the brain on occasion..... you could be & probably are right come to mention it!!! but i still swear there is 1 there, but can't pin point location in airport. the flight from cleveland is only 1 hour, i haven't had time to drink to many airline cocktails enroute to the windy city, to hallucinate!! regards, tom

[Rob Mears]

Someone should begin a crusade around the country to every major airport located at or near an active or ex-Naval Air Station (i.e. Dallas, San Diego, Atlanta, Jacksonville, New York, Minneapolis, Akron, New Orleans, etc) and try to work out a tax exempt plan to have them include educational displays like the one pictured above. The US Navy could place the aircraft on permanent loan, and the individual static restorations could be completed for a relatively sane amount of up-front capital. It would be a logical way to empty out the US Navy's excess stocks of Wildcats and Dauntlesses, with the primary thrust being to stimulate the recovery of more Lake Michigan birds. There's a beautiful "birdcage" F4U-1 and F6F still rotting away down there that need a good home! I'd prefer to see them statically restored and on display in terminals around the country than in an ongoing state of deterioration with no plans for recovery.

[tom d. friedman]

an excellent plan !!!

[TimAPNY]

But I think they (NHC) need to be convinced that the A/C are not in an indefinitely persevered stated soaking in salt water or rapidly being incrusted with Zebra mussels.

Rant On:
They (the NHC) don't seem to care one-way or the other about what happens to the a/c as long as someone does not have the slightest amount of control of it. They will never have to account to anyone for their abuse of power and destruction of our heritage. Even if they were they’d be promoted for it. I saw that countless times in the Navy.
Rant Off:

What a great way to educate people about US history than to put an a/c with a historical story and information along with it. Most of us are dieing to see something a bit different while waiting to board the cattle car of the skies. That seems like a great idea.

[Pat Carry]

SBD Bu 10575 was installed at Midway Airport in August 2004. I havent heard anything about a Wildcat there. I should drive down there someday and have a look.

[tom d. friedman]

i'm probably wrong on the wildcat at midway. probably was at the bar during a long layover. i pass through chi town / midway once a year on business. sorry boys for all the confusion!!! tom

[Taras]

Yes, there is a F4F Wildcat at O'Hare Airport and a SBD at MidwayAirport. Both airplanes were recovered by A. and T. Recovery from Lake Michigan, restored by the National Museum of Naval Aviation (perhaps sent out). Both airplanes' exhibits were sponsered by MacDonalds. Boeing, South West Airline, and others also support the SBD exhibit

Taras

[tom d. friedman]

thanks taras, guess i was 1/2 right, but got my info ass backwards!!! best, tom

[corsair166b]

Cool! Thanks for the tip off Steve! I'll get to see this bird on my way to the Corsair show in Connecticut as I have an hour and a half layover in Chicago while waiting for my Hartford flight! Gives me something to do while waiting for my flight! The pint looks good too...

Already at DIA in Denver while waiting to depart I have to track down Carl Williams Alexander Eaglerock biplane for an article I hope to do on him and his Eaglerocks sometime this winter...I believe it is hanging in B terminal...

Mark