The Stratford Corsair restoration reached a major milestone today when the aircraft was moved on its' own landing gear for the first time in 45 years!
I have to say that I was very much choked up and had a few tears in my eyes when I came around the corner and saw her on her landing gear early this morning! It was a long road that, when I started it back in 2008, I wasn't quite sure how it would end. Ed, Mark, Drew, Ezell Aviation, the late Howard Pardue and everyone else at CASC deserves a huge THANK YOU for their effort and amazing work!
With the Chance Vought plant in the background, the Corsair is towed across the intersection at Sniffens Lane where, 70 plus years ago, EVERY Corsair built at the plant was towed over to the airport for testing!
70 years ago, same location! (Courtesy of the Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Archives)
Nice to see this on the Corsair! Ezell was instrumental in helping this project move along!
By Building 6, just starting to roll, the Corsair heads out to the car show. This hangar houses the Connecticut Air and Space Center and was the experimental hangar during WWII. It was later used as an engine test facility for AVCO. Inside, many of the test cells are standing in silent vigil over the FG-1D!
Morgan Kaolian and Nick Mainiero pose with the plaques from the old pole and a photo of the Corsair Memorial dedication back in 1971.
Both these great gentlemen were on the Corsair memorial committee with me back in 2008 when we negotiated the removal of the Corsair from the pylon. Nick was the airport manager back in the 1960's and 70's and he was the one who went to San Salvador and got them to donate the Corsair to The city as a memorial. Nick was also a Marine Corps F4U pilot who flew 51 missions and was awarded the DFC for returning to base with his tail almost totally shot away. I am proud to have worked with both these men and the others on the committee to save a piece of history.
GREAT JOB GUYS!
Jerry
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