CORSAIR SQUADRON IDENTITY

[TOM WALSH]

I am trying to identify an F4U-4 Corsair BurNo 97148 which carried USMC markings EA-25.

I am assuming that it was a training aircraft and the time frame is May, 1947.

It possibly was assigned to MCAS Cherry Point or Quantico.

I need the base and squadron for a story that I am doing.

Any ideas? Better yet - any photos?

Cheers,
Tom Walsh.

[Rob Mears]

I've got the history card for that one, but it's on microfilm. I'll have to try and make it by the library to take a look at it.

I don't show EA as a code carried by any squadrons deployed to Korea, so I would presume it was used by a Stateside training unit. Should be easy enough to determine if I can get a look at the film.

Does anyone know of a way to have microfilm copied (in bulk) onto CD-ROM?

[Robbie Stuart]

From: members.aol.com/thefifthace/

Remembering Captain Donald Nathan Aldrich USMCR, The Fifth Ace

Captain Aldrich's biography
Served in the Royal Canadian Air Force 1940-1941.
Entered USMCR when Congress allowed married men to serve in the US Military after Pearl Harbor.
Captain Aldrich did three tours in the Pacific Theater in 1943. During the first tour, he shot down seven Zeroes, the second he saw none, the third he shot down thirteen, including four in a single day, for a total of twenty confirmed and an additional 6 probable victories. He returned to the States a hero, received a ticker tape parade, and went on a tour to sell war bonds. He was Chicago's top Ace, and the fifth highest scoring Ace in the history of the Marine Corps.
His list of decorations include the Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart, and numerous others.

On March 4th, 1947, Captain Aldrich was flying enroute from Marine base Quantico, where he was a flight instructor, home to Chicago, destination Chicago Midway Airport, in an F-4U Corsair bearing the markings EA-25. His engine seized, and he was forced to attempt a landing at Ashburn Field, cinder-over-dirt paved runway, just two miles short of Midway. He tried to land at about 60 MPH, but the runway was closed due to muddy conditions. His Corsair rolled down the runway a ways, then the main landing gear sunk into a soft spot. The plane flipped on it's back, the tail section was torn off and flung a hundred feet away. Captain Aldrich was killed instantly due to a crushed chest and broken neck.

He was buried with honors at Chicago's Oak Park cemetary. He is survived by his widow, Marjorie Aldrich, and his son Frederick.

July 2004 update: At age 89, Marjorie passed on to her final reward at the end of May. She lived a long, full life, and her son Fred was at her side when she expired.

Rest in peace, Grandma Marj

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am not an authority on USMC Aviation, I just did a couple of search's & came up with this. Hope it helps some.
Robbie

[Eric Friedebach]

Does anyone know of a way to have microfilm copied (in bulk) onto CD-ROM?

A commercial service can do it for about 30 – 35 cents per image.

However, there is the issue of CD Rot. The owner of an imaging firm told me that the DHS requires all their material be stored on Eye Readable Media – a fancy term for microfilm. Burned CDs will start to degrade after 3 to 5 years.

[Rob Mears]

I'd probably be looking at copying up to 20,000 images in the long run, so my best bet would probably be to puchase some type of scaning system that could efficiently transfer microfilm directly to hard drive.

That's the first I've ever heard about CD rot BTW! Thanks

[TOM WALSH]

ROB MEARS:

WHEN YOU HAVE TIME TO LOOK UP THAT AIRCRAFT'S HISTORY, THAT WOULD BE SUPER.

I HAVE A SUSPICION THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN FROM VMF-332 "POLKA DOTS".

CHEERS,
TOM WALSH.

[Rob Mears]

I'll try to get over to the library this afternoon. I'll update you asap.

[Jim MacDonald]

Rob,

I have a "Microfilm Scanpro" microfilm reader/scanner by Info Graphix. I've had it a couple of years & it's great. It hooks to the computer by USB & also connects to a printer. The image program that came with it is Paperport, a pretty common program with nothing fancy to learn. There's a reconditioned one on Ebay now for $1900.

Mac

[Rob Mears]

info inbound in the next couple of hours...

[Rob Mears]

F4U-4 BuNo.97148

Acceptance Date: 8-23-1945
Delivery Date: 8-28-1945

NAS San Diego, CA – en route (August 1945)

NAS San Diego, CA - minor repair (September 1945 – March 1946)

NAS Norfolk, VA – aircraft pool (April 1946 – June 1946)

NAS Jacksonville, FL – awaiting reconditioning (July 1946)

NAS Jacksonville, FL – repair (August 1946 – October 1946)

AES-12 (November 1946 – April 1947)

Stricken : May 31, 1947

There is also a code “6-5-F” listed next to the stricken entry. I haven’t yet located an index that defines these codes. As you can see, the plane was flying with Air Expeditionary Squadron 12 at the time it was lost. That might explain the “EA” markings it reportedly carried.

[TOM WALSH]

Rob Mears:

Thanks for the history on Aldrich's Corsair. I very much appreciate your efforts.

Cheers,
Tom Walsh.

AES-12 (November 1946 – April 1947)

As you can see, the plane was flying with Air Expeditionary Squadron 12 at the time it was lost. That might explain the “EA” markings it reportedly carried.

AES = Aviation Engineering Squadron, i.e., maintenance unit

[Rob Mears]

That makes more sense Llarry, thanks

As I understand it, they did a bit more than simple maintenance as well. A lot of experimental modifications and upgrades were performed by the AES squadrons. Somewhere I have a series of photos showing some strange and unique experiments they performed using the F4U series aircraft as guinea pigs.