Corsair ID? Mojave 1980

[Steve Nelson]

Greetings, all,

This pic was posted over on a couple of model building forums. The poster says it's him posing with a Corsair at Mojave in 1980, and he's curious as the aircraft's ID and fate. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Steve

[bdk]

I also vaguely remember a Corsair at Mojave in about 1979 that had polka-dots on the cowling. Anyone got an ID on that one?

[zorro7]

F4U Folks:

Good day!

While I dig in my archives for something similar.. I remember a F4U #46, here in Wix somewhere in S. Calif c.1980s that was used in a movie in a simulated carrier crash landing. Sitting outside & just under the sun!! Tks for the picture!

Could it be the same aircraft??

[RobC]

I think you will find the name, Wally McDonnell, associated with both Corsairs. The polka-dot cowled one went to the Pima Air Museum, where it resides today in a more bland scheme. Don't know which one this pictured one is. I remember that he also had a -1 Corsair fuselage that someone had taken an axe to. Your pictured one is far too complete to be that one. Or maybe it is the same one, but I saw it earlier or later? One of them he traded to the Marine museum for a Bearcat, that later was sold and restored as Gulfhawk IV. All this is from memory, so I hope it is at least mostly accurate.

Wally was a family friend and was quite a character. When I first met him, he operated out of a T-hangar at Fox Field, which was jammed full of an F-9-F and all kinds of parts, while outside was parked a black A-26. That would have been early '70's. He later moved ops to Mojave. Not much detail, but maybe a lead you can use.

[Jerry O'Neill]

I think it's Merle Gustafson's F4U-4 now at the Fantasy of Flight.
Check out Rob Mears answer here; http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.o ... f=3&t=7649
Jerry

[JohnB]

The film wheels-up carrier landing mentioned...was that the one for the IMAX film "Flyers" (or something similar)? I saw it at the NMUSAF years ago.

[Jerry O'Neill]

It was for "Flyers". It's funny to see the incorrect national insignia on a NASM
IMAX project!

[jamesintucson]

I think you will find the name, Wally McDonnell, associated with both Corsairs. The polka-dot cowled one went to the Pima Air Museum, where it resides today in a more bland scheme. Don't know which one this pictured one is. I remember that he also had a -1 Corsair fuselage that someone had taken an axe to. Your pictured one is far too complete to be that one. Or maybe it is the same one, but I saw it earlier or later? One of them he traded to the Marine museum for a Bearcat, that later was sold and restored as Gulfhawk IV. All this is from memory, so I hope it is at least mostly accurate.

Wally was a family friend and was quite a character. When I first met him, he operated out of a T-hangar at Fox Field, which was jammed full of an F-9-F and all kinds of parts, while outside was parked a black A-26. That would have been early '70's. He later moved ops to Mojave. Not much detail, but maybe a lead you can use.

Actually this is the one that is here at Pima. We have a bunch of photos of it looking just like that coming off the trucks and undergoing restoration. The Polka-Dot nosed one was supposed to come here but it ended up at Pensacola.

James

[famvburg]

Definitely not Merle's, his didn't look like that in '80.

[zorro7]

James:

Good day!

Will you plz post some pics of that F4U when it came off the truck at Pima, AZ??

I tend to agree with you. The Merle.G F4U did not look like that c. 1980s!

I found a similar FG-1D N46WB #46 at Macdill AFB c. 1974-75 but I'm not sure if its the same a/c. Will post some pics of it later. Tks

[Robbie Stuart]

Definitely not Merle's, his didn't look like that in '80.

I Crew Chiefed some for Merle in 80, & that sho ain't "Old Blue" (Angle Of Okinawa) .

[C VEICH]

My father, brother, and I went "airport hopping" around So. Cal. just a few years after this, including a stop in Mojave. I'm guessing it must have been about '84-85 as I remember speaking with Rutan about Voyager which was nearing completion at the time. (He wouldn't let us look in the hangar though!) I recall sitting in the shade of a Corsair wing while eating lunch. Don't remember much about it other than it seemed to be in better shape than the one pictured here. Somewhere I've got a picture of the interior of the wheel well taken during our lunch break! I seem to recall the wheel wells being painted white and it still had all it's gear doors. Might that have been the -4 now at Pensecola or was it already gone by then? I've always wondered just what Corsair we saw that day.

[jamesintucson]

James:

Good day!

Will you plz post some pics of that F4U when it came off the truck at Pima, AZ??

I tend to agree with you. The Merle.G F4U did not look like that c. 1980s!

I found a similar FG-1D N46WB #46 at Macdill AFB c. 1974-75 but I'm not sure if its the same a/c. Will post some pics of it later. Tks

Here you go...


F4U unloading by planecurator, on Flickr


F4U reassembly by planecurator, on Flickr


F4U restoration by planecurator, on Flickr

All photos property of Pima Air & Space Museum.

James

[Clifford Bossie]

I had never seen your airplane before it arrived at Pima, James. It is interesting to see the "before" shots.

I like the way it looks complete. Any plans for unit markings?

[jamesintucson]

I had never seen your airplane before it arrived at Pima, James. It is interesting to see the "before" shots.

I like the way it looks complete. Any plans for unit markings?

Nope. For now it will remain generic.

James