I stumbled across this today. Does anyone know what became of the wreckage of this Corsair (BuNo. 52927).
more pictures can be found here along with explanations
http://www.postcardpost.com/f4u.htm
Oct. 29, 1946
BOARD PROBES PLANE CRASH,
DEATH OF PILOT
A four man inquiry board left the Rome Army Air Field for the scene of the discovery of a wrecked Corsair Navy plane and the body of its pilot, Lt. Robert L. Hollis, Oneida, a Marine Corps flier who had been missing since Sept. 24, 1945.
The group, consisting of an intelligence officer, Air Corps photographer, aircraft investigation officer and medical officer, headed into the almost inaccessible area in the town of Ohio, Herkimer County, about 5½ miles east of the North Lake road where a party of hunters came upon the wreckage Sunday.
Air field officials said a complete report based on the findings of the investigation group would be turned over to the Marine Corps which has charge of the disposition of the pilot’s body.
The hunters were Herbert Manning, Walter Shulsky, Ronny Boris of Utica, and Joseph Robenaki and William Plete of Hinkley. They estimate that the wreckage was about two miles from Twin Lakes.
Identification of the body was made yesterday, according to word received by his parents, Mr. And Mrs. Charles A. Hollis, 321 Carpenter St., Oneida.
Last month the pilot’s parents mailed circulars throughout the north country asking residents to search the wooded sections of farms and resorts for a blue Navy plane with the lettering FG 92527, which had been missing since Sept. 24, 1945, on a flight from Cherry Point, N.C., to Rome.
Intensive search was made over the Catskill Mountains for the plane in which Lt. Hollis, a Marine fighter pilot, had left Cherry Point en route to surprise his parents on the occasion of their 32nd wedding anniversary last year.
Lieut. Hollis and another Marine flyer, a Lieut. White took off together from Cherry Point, and White was to leave his buddy over the Catskills. White completed his trip to Buffalo and returned as scheduled to the Marine base. Then he was assigned to New York to direct the search.
Hollis was reported at the time to have radioed at 1:45 PM on Sept. 24, 1945, over the Catskills that he was having engine trouble and had only enough gasoline to remain in the air for four hours. Then his fate became a mystery until Sunday.
The hunters went afield from Hinkley about 7 AM Sunday and discovered the plane about two miles from Twin Lakes, usually reached by the way of North Lake road out of Forestport. They said it was late Sunday afternoon when they found the plane and a suitcase. They said the suitcase contained a pilot's license, issued to 2nd Lieut. Robert L. Hollis together with four $1 bills and a check made out to Hollis in September of 1945. After their return home Sunday night, they notified the State Police and the search began yesterday moning.
Lieut. Hollis enlisted in the Marines in June of 1942. He was accepted for the Navy's V-5 course. Further training was received at Middletown Conn., Chapel Hill, N.C., and Peru, Ind. He was commissioned in Pensacola, Fla. in March of 1945. On May 2, 1945, he married Jean Rankin of Port Washington, L.I. He was then assigned to Cherry Point.
(the last paragraph of this article was illegible in the archive)
Thanks
Shay
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