F4U "lifeguard", Tuscon AZ 1973

John Kerr · **Posted:** Mon May 14, 2012 9:59 am

Bureau #: 97349
Construction #: 9503
Civil Registration:
None
Model: F4U-4 Corsair
Name: None
Status: Display
Last info: 2010

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History:
Delivered to U.S. Navy as Bu. 97349, 19??.
Robert Bean, Hereford, AZ, July 1956-1969.
- Planned sale to Honduran AF, not completed.
- Stored unconverted, Moseley Field, Phoenix, AZ, 1959-1969.
Tucson Inn, Tucson, AZ, 1973-1976.
- Displayed on Pole as Marines/MR15.
Arthur W. McDonnell, Mojave, CA, 1978-1980.
USMC Museum, Quantico, VA, 1979-2010.
- Loaned to Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson, AZ, 1979-2002.
- Owned by USMC Museum.
- Displayed at Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, FL, 2010.

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Reported id plates swapped between Bu97142 & 97349 during restoration at Mojave.

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Source(s):
Chapman, John & Goodall, Geoff, Edited by Paul Coggan - Warbirds Directory,Warbirds Worldwide Ltd., Mansfield, England, 1989.
Goodall, Geoff - Warbirds Directory-4th Edition, 2003.
Photo Source(s):
Chuck Gardner

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Research Assistance:
None

Xrayist · **Joined:** Wed Jun 08, 2005 12:51 am **Posts:** 331

I attended the University of Arizona starting in 1975 and remember that plane well. Always wondered what happened to it. Just for laughs, it was located a few doors down from another motel, and I kid you not, it was called the No Tel Motel.

JohnB · **Posted:** Mon May 14, 2012 11:47 am

Looks like my dream pool. Having a naval fighter above a pool seems fun.

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7862

Warbirdnerd · **Joined:** Fri Apr 30, 2004 7:34 pm **Posts:** 2933

Mark Allen M wrote:

Just did a quick Google search for current photos as Displayed at Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, FL, 2010, didn't see much, anyone have a few better shots?

Here is one I took in 2007

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Mon May 14, 2012 12:48 pm

Here are a couple of my snapshots, first one from 2005, and the second from 2010.

SN

The Inspector · **Posted:** Mon May 14, 2012 1:09 pm

Somewhere in my 'Archives' (OK, boxes of junk) I may have a couple INSTAMATIC 110 shots of it @ Mojave sitting amongst lots of bits and pieces and partial airplanes with it's polka dotted and huge P&W decaled cowling just down from Rutans hanger where he was having a 'show and tell' for some biggies from ROCKWELL when I swung by in June of '78 while dragging my happy heinie back to Seattle in a RYDER 24 footer.

Wildchild · **Posted:** Mon May 14, 2012 1:57 pm

That looks like the corsair my dad's friend used to own before he died in a T-6 crash in Hillsborough State Park. His widow even donated his Corsair to NAM, but the history doesn't line up. The last time my dad saw that Corsair it was sitting on the fake carrier deck. Does anyone have any pictures of that plane?

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Mon May 14, 2012 2:21 pm

The Naval Air Museum does have this F4U-1 done up in rather inaccurate Pappy Boyington markings, and the main display floor is done up as a faux carrier deck. Could that be the one you're thinking of?

SN

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7862

TROJANII · **Joined:** Thu Oct 27, 2011 6:18 pm **Posts:** 178

Seems like the complaints on paint schemes is that the owner should be able to paint the aircraft the way they like and not be criticized.
Since we the public "own" these aircraft, we should be safe commenting on the paint schemes.

deltascrew · **Joined:** Thu May 13, 2010 9:38 pm **Posts:** 41

the Corsair on display in Pensacola is in the markings of 97349, but it is actually 97142
http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDos ... rial=67360

97349 is on display @ Pima

http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDos ... erial=4042

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Mon May 14, 2012 3:12 pm

The NMNA never had the budget that the other National Museums had, nor have they been around as long. Many of the aircraft on display are painted as they were when donated.

Wildchild · **Posted:** Mon May 14, 2012 3:16 pm

Steve Nelson wrote:

The Naval Air Museum does have this F4U-1 done up in rather inaccurate Pappy Boyington markings, and the main display floor is done up as a faux carrier deck. Could that be the one you're thinking of?

SN

It may be, but whats the Bu #? I'm trying to look it up here at WIX, but i can't find anything yet...

EDIT: Yup, thats it. Wayne Thomas was his name. It was nice of his widow to donate it wasnt it?

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F4U "lifeguard", Tuscon AZ 1973

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