F8F data plate

Pardon the noob...I am attempting to feel my way on the issue of the value of a data plate for an early F8F-1 that I found after the death of my father.

He was in VF-19, the first Bearcat squadron, when they transitioned from the F6F to the F8F and went to the factory in Bethpage to pick up new aircraft. In mid-1945 they carrier-qualified in the new birds. They were en route combat when the war ended; convinced that they would all be aces with the Bearcat, of course.

When I googled the buno from this plate, I saw on Joe Baugher's web site that the F8F-1 in question was written off in a carqual accident in mid-1945. I'm not sure how my Dad ended up with the plate, although he was the squadron's maintenance officer for part of his tour. His log book shows he never flew the aircraft in question.

I have watched eBay now and again for the past couple of years and feel some of these plates can be valuable. Can anyone comment? Thanks!

P.S. My first "warbird" memory; flying into Hayward, California, with my father in an aero club T-34 and seeing one each P-51 and F4U in 1963, I think it was. The F4U had a "for sale" sign on it with a few details, including a price of ?$5,000? I have no idea whether it was airworthy, but remember that it looked okay to my unpracticed eye. I guess I should've borrowed $4,980 and stuck my own $20 in there and bought it, huh?

Last edited by Llarry on Thu Oct 13, 2005 2:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Jack Cook]

Would you're dad be Larry Cauble???
He was, I believe from Oregon, has was my friend Bruce Williams who lives about a 1/4 mile from me.

[Jack Cook]

Shameless self promotion here but you might enjoy this photo I have up on ebay now.'
http://cgi.ebay.com/F6F-Hellcat-Vf-19-Crash-Landing-on-USS-Lexington-Photo_W0QQitemZ6568690625QQcategoryZ4727QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Would you're dad be Larry Cauble???
He was, I believe from Oregon, has was my friend Bruce Williams who lives about a 1/4 mile from me.

(Then) Ensign Larry Cauble (my father) was LT Bruce Williams' wingman!
After 26 years of the Navy, my Dad retired to Oregon; I know he corresponded with Bruce Williams, although I don't know whether they ever met.

I've seen that VF-19 F6F photo published somewhere...

Small world, Jack!

[Jack Cook]

I just saw Bruce 2 weeks ago give or take. He looks good considering he's 87. If I remember your dad had at least 2 possibly 3 kills. I think I have a photo of a F6F he flew that got a big flak hit in the wing. A friend and I put together a aviators room at a Pizza Parlor in Monmouth with photo displays of Oregon military aviators inc. Bruce and your dad a couple of years ago. When the place sold the new owners were allowed to keep the displays up has a loan to them but then they turned around and promptly sold the whole display to a third party who's ID they refused to disclose. ************ (explitives deleted!)

[Rob Mears]

Llarry,

Here's what your Corsair looks like today.



Fresh out of the paint shop with Gerry Yagen's Fighter Factory in Norfolk, VA.

[RMAllnutt]

Hi Llarry,
Based upon what I have seen on e-bay, dataplates from the more interesting fighter types typically go for between $250 and $350. However, with the added provenance of the aircraft's association with your father, and the first cruise of the F8F it should go for considerably more... probably closer to $1000. If you do sell it on e-bay, make sure that you give a very detailed description, and it would be a good idea also to also show images of your father in his navy dress or better yet on the carrier to add authenticity. Hope that this helps.

Cheers,
Richard

Thanks for the photo, Rob. Pretty airplane -- worth well more than 5K in 2005, I'd guess...

Thanks for the feedback, Richard. Oh, I've got all sorts of historical tie-in stuff from VF-19 circa 1944-47. I commissioned Stephen Mudgett (www.stephenmudgett.com) to do a number of profiles/paintings for me. One is supposed to represent my father's first carrier landing in the F8F in 1945 and another, hopefully attached if I've got this photo thing figured out, is a profile from a couple of years later.

[Jack Cook]

Here's the photo I earlier referred to.

[Eric Friedebach]

I have watched eBay now and gain for the past couple of years and feel some of these plates can be valuable.

Please post a link if you decide to eBay it.