Warbird Information Exchange

I was told there was a natural metal USN Corsair in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. Anyone have pictures or info? My 13 year old is anxious to see it!

I don't have any pics of it on hand, but the plane you're referring to is most likely the F4U-1A belonging to Service Squadron 11 which was based at Espiritu Santos (Vanuatu). It ws basically a squadron "hack" aircraft that squadron engineers had built up out of major components from various wrecked Corsairs. It was overall bare metal with the name "Sally" written on the cowling. It carried the code 'SS11' just forward of the standard star & bar, where the standard three-digit buzz number would usually be found.

_________________
Rob Mears
'Surviving Corsairs' Historian
robcmears@yahoo.com
http://www.robmears.com

Hi,

The only Corsair in natural metal or silver that i see was on the RNZAF for training.
Pic on the Ajpress book.

SPang

Hi--

Knew this sounded familiar; found a pic in O'Leary's USN Fighters book. Nice starboard rear 3/4 view showing "SS11" and the name on the nose, also a black (?) antiglare panel forward of the cockpit. Text indicates "Sally" was actually painted Aluminum rather than being bare metal, and the pic does indeed look that way...the airframe is less reflective than it should be if bare metal. Text also says the same Corsair, a composite airframe built up by Service Sqn 11, was later refinished in Sea Blue, with a fictitious BuNo!

S.