Warbird Information Exchange

F4U-5 Folks:

Would love to put at rest the real Buno Id of this fine flying machine. Buno 122179!

We know the real Buno 122179 is being restored somewhere in France. Now the Wix register shows its ID as Buno 123168 which is what I thought the Buno to be back in June '87 when I saw it at Ft. Lauderdale or Buno 124XXX when I talked to Pete Thelen.

Later on,... back in 2010 we found out via Wix forum discussions that its most likely Buno was 124493.

Will someone close to Jim Read or the Museum folks ask for a close-up picture of the mod id plate on the aft R/S near the radio compartment?? We are curious to know which tail number this id plate really shows?? I will solve this mystery before Dec 31, 2012!!!


Tks in advance

For what it's worth, all three were built under different contract numbers, which should be stamped on any Mod plate.

122179 contract number 8133
123168 contract number 9771
124493 contract number 10302.

All three were SOC at Litchfield Park as transferred to non Navy reipient, 28th December 1955.

Sid

Sidsiko:

Good day!

Beautiful cross-reference data! Now all that we need is to see some close-up pictures of the USA sample Buno 122179. (R/S AFT battery/radio compartment Mod plate). If it is the right aft section ..then it should read ---->#10332! We hope!

Tks a lot for the data!

p.s BTW The FAG 110 H-19 Mod id Plate POC is resurfacing for our ID H-19 project. Will keep you posted. I may be able to work something out before xmas!!