F4U-4 97286 Prior to Bob Bean - Deployments & Combat Tours?

[jollyrogerf14]

That's awesome famvburg! I have some more pics from that airshow. Sorry the quality is so bad. Just scans of the old 35mm photos. Don't have the negatives.













I also have these pics of Merle's T-6 that Steve flies now with the Aeroshell Team:






....sorry I got in the way in some of the pics!

V.

[famvburg]

Thanks for these pics too. FYI, the T-6 is not painted as a Messerschmitt, but it's based on a scheme worn by an Fw 190. A profile of it is in an early '70s issue of the now defunct Wings or Airpower magazine. I sure do miss that paint scheme on it! Not long after the VKS airshow, a couple of months that summer, I got a few hours in the back seat of the T-6 with my dad. A bit of trivia for you. In those pics of the T-6 at Scott Field, those airplane tires cut in half and painted white to mark where the tie down ropes or chains were, I did those! I started out with my dad there at Scott Field as a young teen around 1974 before we came (back) to VKS. Sure brings back some memories! Here's a link to a display model of one. IIRC, the unit badge on the cowl of Merle's/Steve's is like the one in the profile, but this model is basically the Fw scheme on the T-6. http://www.scalecraft.com/focke-wulffw-1904.aspx

[Robbie Stuart]

From the top of the page 1st pic white T-6 (Actually A SNJ-4) CAF Cajun Wing Aircraft N224X now painted as an SNJ-4 Pensacola 1943 colors, 2nd pic I believe is the late Roland Harrington in his "Tora Zero", 3rd pic Don Weber's P-51 "Damnfino", now in Germany, 4th pic ??? B-25, 5th pic I think was Howard Pardue's TBM, &6th I believe is Tom Gregory in a CAF "Tora Bird", might be wrong on a couple of those, been a long time, but I am positive on the T-6, & P-51.

Here's a few more Merle pics, I sure do miss him!

We thought we had a magneto problem in Harlingen TX, I think it was 81, in the pic L To R Myself, Rick Sharp, & CORRECTED Jerald Burns (Sorry Jerald)

Harlingen 83, don't know who the lady was, looked nice so I took her picture.

Lafayette LA. Merle & Ronnie Mount, I don't remember the year

Taken from the Cajun Wing B-23, Ronnie Gardner flying, Don Weber's B-25 Merle flying, & Don in his P-51, going to Pine Bluff for a show. Year ???

Harlingen TX 83, Merle getting ready to test fly the P-47.

Harlingen TX 83, Merle after test flying the Buchon after Annual Inspection for myself & Herb Puckett, Merle was busy that year, & sadly that was the last year we went to Harlingen before his death.

This my favorite, taken by myself from the back seat of SNJ-4 N224X with a cheap camera, I don't remember who was up front flying,.............in the German T-6 (Steve's Airplane now Aeroshell #3) Ben Cunningham with Julie ???? in the back, Merle in the P-47, & Doug Hall in "Old Blue", last day of Airsho, after the air show, 1983.
Robbie

Last edited by Robbie Stuart on Fri Jan 02, 2015 9:36 am, edited 1 time in total.

[famvburg]

The B-25 and both Sea Furies were owned by John Stokes of San Marcos, Tx. I can't remember if he had anything else up here or not. I was thinking the Avenger was from Arkansas. Whatever became of John Stokes and his 'air force'? He had quite a collection in the late '70s.

[Brad]

That was Howard Pardue's TBM. It ended up with Tom Suffy and it burned up in an accident several years ago. That was the first airplane I ever flew in. John Stokes has been gone for several years now. He did have quite a collection for a while and did a LOT to support the CAF back then.

[zorro9]

F4U Folks:

Good day!

Found another interesting shot of Buno 97286 showing off its colors! Poss Blythe, Calif c. 1970s. Via Flicker/AEC.