Warbird Information Exchange

my best friend who was the big kahuna with the faa as an air traffic controller in cleveland / cleveland hopkins airport up to his retirement in 2002, informed me of a possible crashed corsair located in wingfoot lake, akron ohio. during the early 1970's my buddy worked at akron airport & recalled some of the old timers used to talk about a a corsair that landed in wingfoot lake 10 miles east of the airport. the wingfoot complex at that time was owned by goodyear. he still thinks they still have the field & they winter their lighter than air fleet their. any comments or feedback?? tom

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

Sounds like thats up nears the MAPS museum guys. Might check with them. If it is there, then the MAPS museum might be agood base of operations to recover it.

Shay

I'm from akron as well...I have heard these stories for years. Goodyear still maintains the facility for lighter than air use. It is actually been in service since 1917 or so. I have also heard that this is the dumping ground for parts that did not pass inspection. I would take these stories with a grain of salt...it is a very small lake and I think the only way a Corsair could ditch there would be straight in. There is a site at Akron Fulton that Goodyear did use for a dump. My father went to Thomas Town Grade school located on what was airport property...both he and my grandfather retrieved Corsair stick grips, instruments, and bits of small metal a/c parts from the factory. My great grandmother worked in the fabric shop of GA covering Corsair tailfeathers...she liberated many yards of fabric to make dresses and such...all of which I still have.

Jim Harley

I say give it a try. Take a weekend, and make a camping trip out of it. Camp out by the lake with your boat, and do some fishing for a big fish w/ your sonar in tow.

This is a story that makes the rounds often. Sometimes the lake changes (Often it is Lake Anna in Barberton.) In fact, it was just listed as a myth in an article on Akron Myths in Beacon Journal. Yes a FG did crash in a lake in the 40s (I can't remember which one)...but it was recovered pretty soon after the accident. In fact, my understanding is most of the local lakes are pretty shallow.

This is up there with the myth that a FG was stored in the blimp hangar and then went missing (or could still be there somewhere.) Well yea a FG was stored in the blimp hangar but it went to the USMC Museum.

Jim

While attending Akron's WWII factory workers reunion and airshow this past summer, I overherd some of the old Goodyear factory workers talking about a Corsair cockpit section that had been placed inside one of Goodyear's Corprate office buildings during war time. They indicated it still exsist today, located in a room which is not used. They indicated the only way to get it out would be to tare a hole in the side of the building. Having not seen this, maybe someone local could elaborate!! Also they were saying that one of the test pilots waited for a day when both ends of the large blimp hanger were open and flew a Corsair through the building full of final assembly aircraft. He was fired, but back to work in a week or so!

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John Lane, Jr.

That one is still there I understand. I've seen photos of it (maybe by Jim Harley?) but never seen the center section. It was part of the Goodyear World of Rubber and I understand Goodyear was interested in loaning it to MAPS, but they couldn't get it out of its location without taking out a wall.

Jim

The Akron Myths article from the Beacon Journal with the Corsair reference. Different location this time... We are so Corsair blessed we have one in every lake in the area.

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/10663981.htm?1c

Jim

Hey AirJim...What's sacred about this wall? Has it got some NHC protection
preventing the Cockpit section from being removed? Or is it built of
boiler-plate or something?

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He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

Hi,

I remember going thru the Goodyear World of Rubber many years ago and seeing the Corsair front section ......Oh yea, I touched it too but was not daring enough to sit in it.

As I recall, it is on one of the upper floors of the building as you had totake an elevator to reach it. I also don't recall cameras being allowed as I remember having to leave mine in my car or else I would have probably take a roll of film on it. Ie was in really good shape when I saw it.

TTFN....Kenn

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May all your bent wings be F2G Corsairs!

Hi,

I just didi a search. The Goodyear World of Rubber is still open on weekends. It is on the 4th floor. Phone number:330/796-7117

TTFN....Kenn

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May all your bent wings be F2G Corsairs!

Hey maybe they would sell it..

this must be a real historical treasure, almost like a time capsule after all these years!! why do they keep it away from the public?? tom

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

...Ahhhh...4th floor..that changes the complexion of the project. How did
they get the the Cockpit up there? There must have been some sort of
freight elevator...or a crane??

_________________
He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

A dozen or so Goodyear employees, the stairs greased in pig fat and a couple of motivational "Whippings" Egyptian style. J/k

Shay