F9F Panther---At Kansas City Zoo

[Versatile]

Back in the 60's there used to be a Panther(jet) at the Zoo. It was located down by the river where the Locomotives were. Where it went. Nobody ever knew or would even admit to it having been there when i inquired. Inquiring minds would like to know.

[GARY HILTON]

There used to be a F9F Panther at KCI..Downtown Airport on the west side of the field...back when the commercial airliners were operating there. There was a place on what used to be called Richards Rd., that you could park your car and watch the Connies, DC-3s, 4s, 6s, 707s, 727s, Bac111s (Braniff Int.) and Gen. aviation a/c take off and land.. Our family had a lot of picnics there along with others...The jet was a dark sea blue....Navy markings? I really don't recall any markings...but everybody climbed on the wings and had their pictures taken...I'll see what I can find...Sometime around 1972-73...the aircraft was scrapped. Just east of the airport terminal, in a small comunity called Harlem (naturally) ..there was a small scrap yard there, where a friend and I was looking for car parts...I walked thru an area that had a lot of aluminum pieces, and recognized the blue paint and zinc-chromate alum. I found the instrument panel..The guy that ran the place wouldn't sell me the panel..He told me that he was offered the F9F if he would remove it....Sad...Gary