Why not a Wildcat gathering?

Wed Nov 19, 2008 4:41 pm

I was bored today and started looking through the warbirdregistry.

I was reviewing the F4F Wildcat registry and noticed that there was a fair number of flyers. Has there been much thought of organizing a fly-in for the type?

Sure they're not the flashiest of birds, but I believe they deserve some respect, and a "gathering" would be a neat tribute.

Thoughts?

Cheers,

David

Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:26 pm

Yeah and line up a bunch of Tora Tora Tora birds as "targets" so they have something to shoot down........

Mark H

Wed Nov 19, 2008 6:16 pm

That would be magnificent. Wish it would happen soon so as to get as many F4F veterans before they pass away.
To get the maximum F4F attendance, a gathering would need some good-strong sponsorship. (read: money & lots of it)
VL

Wed Nov 19, 2008 6:20 pm

I would like to see this happen. Who has a list of the ones flying today?

Wed Nov 19, 2008 6:21 pm

No sponsorships needed Vlado, gas is cheap! :lol:

Rich

Wed Nov 19, 2008 6:45 pm

Hmmm...with so many F7Fs now flying, why not have a Grumman Cats get together.

<pause for "herding cats" jokes>

Seriously, though...all those kitties purring away would be sweeeeeeet!

SN

Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:46 pm

I'm glad you all like the idea. Like Vlado mentioned, part of my interest in such a gather was to give recognition for the veterans that flew and/or serviced the Wildcat during their period of operation. So much attention is given to the "stars" of the war, but less attention is afforded to the supporting cast.

It would be cool to have some of the Tora Tora Tora guys show up to like P51Mstg suggested. That would make it a very cool show. Add in some ground re-enactors and we've got ourselves a really cool and potentially very educational (But don't tell the kids that) event.

I also like Mr. Nelson's suggestion of a "Grumman Cat" get together. That too would be neat to see.

Cheers,

David

Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:48 pm

By the way,

For Pat's benefit and anyone else interested, here's the like to the warbird registry F4F page:

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/f4fregis ... istry.html

Enjoy,

David

Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:59 pm

Thanks David but I looking for an updated list as several Wildcats have changed hands in the last year or so ie: Lone Star's and the one that has room for passengers in the back. There maybe be others also that I can not recall at this time.

Wed Nov 19, 2008 8:01 pm

No worries Pat. I've also noticed that the registry is out of date in a few areas. 'Tis a big job though, so I'm not complaining.

I'm sure the WIX brain-trust can inform us of just about all of the F4F's in operation.

-David

Thu Nov 20, 2008 3:46 am

Oh Yeah a Grumman cat reunion would be awesome. Try and get all of the men and womean that built, flew, and maintained the cats.

Thu Nov 20, 2008 4:07 am

There's one Wildcat flying outside the America that I'm aware of - the Fighter Collection's example in Fleet Air Arm colours. Otherwise all the flyers are in the USA - that makes quite an opportunity that can't be matched with other gatherings.

Like the P-40, it's hardly a second-line machine, but actually IMHO, far more important than the later glamour types. The Wildcat pilots fought the hard fighting when the enemy were in the ascendant, and they should get more credit. The Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm Wildcats were critical in the Atlantic convoys and the Arctic runs to and from Russia, as well as both RN and USN Wildcats in the Med.

Thu Nov 20, 2008 6:46 am

Maybe we will just have to wait and see what the news will be about next years Geneseo airshow. :wink:

Thu Nov 20, 2008 7:32 am

daveymac82c wrote:By the way,

For Pat's benefit and anyone else interested, here's the like to the warbird registry F4F page:

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/f4fregis ... istry.html

Enjoy,

David

It's amazing how many of those survivors were ditched and recovered from lake Michigan. How many are still down there?

Thu Nov 20, 2008 7:57 am

JDK wrote:There's one Wildcat flying outside the America that I'm aware of - the Fighter Collection's example in Fleet Air Arm colours. Otherwise all the flyers are in the USA - that makes quite an opportunity that can't be matched with other gatherings.

Like the P-40, it's hardly a second-line machine, but actually IMHO, far more important than the later glamour types. The Wildcat pilots fought the hard fighting when the enemy were in the ascendant, and they should get more credit. The Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm Wildcats were critical in the Atlantic convoys and the Arctic runs to and from Russia, as well as both RN and USN Wildcats in the Med.

Great points as usual James! Not to take anything away from the accomplishments of the guys later in WWII flying the Corsairs, Hellcats, Mustangs etc., but it really got me to thinking particularly about the huge challenge facing early WWII Wildcat and P-40 pilots in the Pacific theatre who faced a Japanese force that hadn't yet suffered devastating losses of experienced pilots. Amazing what guys like Thach, McCluskey, O'Hare, Foss, and the AVG accomplished against highly skilled and experienced enemy pilots in aircraft superior in performance, though they had their weaknesses with the lack of armor and self-sealing fuel tanks.