Warbird Information Exchange

I compared the number of -4 rivets on the horizontal line of rivets and the stringer material. It looks like it came from the starboard side aft of windscreen and down from the canopy rail to the first horizontal line of of none countersunk rivets. Water decals were used by the Navy during WW2. Good luck as to which aircraft!

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John Lane, Jr.

In pensacola at the library in the museum look in the VF-15 folder. There is an original letter from Mr McCambel about all his "Minsi's" I believe it was addressed to the editor of finescale modeller magazine.

I had a copy of it but now cant find it in my records. He describes the paint jobs of each aircraft had and I also thought it had the BuNo to each also.

A family friend bought McCampbells home in Hypoluxo, Fl. in the late 1970's.

Along with the purchase of the home McCampbell gave him his S&W 38 sidearm along with his sweat soaked shoulder holster he carried during his time in the Pacific.

In the collection there is a letter from McCampbell and S&W tracing the gun and it's history.

He would like to see it end up in a museum or an in country collector that could display it for generations to see.

John, based on this information are you saying that it's possible that this is an authentic piece?

23 hours to go, still no bids. right up their with the grilled cheese sandwich that looked like the christ image of the shroud of turin. have you heard about the run away bride stuff offered lately?? makes a mockery of the whole forum which used to be pretty cool, exciting, & adventuresome. now?? elmer gantry himself would be ashamed. lower than garage sale stuff. regards, 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!!

Hey I just refinanced my trailer how about that Amelia earhart douce bag? for a deal 8,000.00?

very humorous

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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!!

Yes! Randy

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John Lane, Jr.

auction's over. well.... i guess the goose egg zero in the bid column sums up the majority opinion. as i predicted too!!

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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!!

pardon the pun.... but i guess the panel was shot down by a zero!!

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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!!

Very interesting topic! Now that I’ve finally had the time to look at that thing and see what all the fuss is about....

I’m very hesitant to make assertions about items such as this when it pertains to authenticity and what not, without actually holding said item in my hands and examining it with my own eyes. That being said, from what I see in the pictures, it is my opinion that what we have here IS INDEED an actual piece off an F6F. Now whether or not it’s a McCampbell bird, I doubt it, but we’ll probably never know for sure anyway.

Some have mentioned the existence of a stateside Minsi, here’s a pic. Note the kill flags -- what's wrong with this picture??

Looks like a double exposure. I can make out a second image, but can't really tell what it's of.

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It's you and me against the world.

We attack at dawn.

I think the picture was taken with a piece of glass over it and you can see the reflection in the glass

They seem a bit closer to the nose, forward of the cockpit, than most pictures I've seen.

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www.tailhookstudio.com

I'm probably the last one to spot this, but...

On other photos of "Minsi III" posted on the web (colorized versions show the Minsi lettering in yellow), the meatball on each kill flag is on the right half of the decal/stencil. The photo posted here has kill flags with the meatball on the left half.

Did I win the cookie?

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

Paging Jack Cook, Mr. Jack Cook,

Hey Jack,

Could you tell me the name of the VBF-83 pilot you mentioned earlier in this string. I was involved in the search for an MIA VBF-83 pilot who went down near here. We didn't find the plane (still hope to look again sometime), but the pilot's daughter came over here for the search. It rekindled her interest in finding info on her father. If the pilot you mentioned isn't already on her list of squadron contacts, I'm sure she would like to get in touch with with him.

Thanks,

Jim