AU-1 or F4U-7?... Rob Mears to the rescue?

[jaldo]

Gents,
In the negative for the above picture,I can see the first four numbers of the BuNo of the other aircraft,which are "1336..".This is indeed the Corsair BuNo 133652 since I can see some of the cars in the background match in both pictures,among other things.
I hope this helps resolve some of the mystery.

[airnutz]

Jaldo, are you sure that's Grand Prairie, Nebraska and not Texas?

[jaldo]

Grand Prairie,TX.

[jaybird]

With the Bu# visible, it just wouldn't make sense to be an AU-1, since they were a 129 series instead of 133...

Also, an ignorant question- what is the open access panel just inboard of the star on the bottom of the starboard wing? (with ground wire, maybe?) I found another photo of a -7 with the wing folded and I could see the outline of this panel, even while it was closed. I found a picture of an AU-1 with the wing folded, and could not pick-out this access panel. So, did the AU-1 have this same exact wing access panel?

I would think (read hope) that there has to be a Vought officianado/former employee that could tell a story about the photo.

Anybody ever take a photo of a -4 or -7 in which a prop blade covered the entire chin scoop from a similar angle? I'll have to try next chance I get!

[RMAllnutt]

- what is the open access panel just inboard of the star on the bottom of the starboard wing?

The panel opens up and there's a sturdy steel ring on a swivel there for tying the wing down to the carrier deck or what-have-you. I am not certain that it's on all corsairs, but it seems likely.

Cheers,
Richard

[DanteC]

Very interesting to see...

I posted a question kind of on subject a few weeks ago.

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4534&highlight=f4u7

Thank you for sharing