Birds on Sticks and in Parks

[JohnB]

There's a seldom seen Hellcat on a pole on the Navy side of Andrews AFB (I suppose it's now called Joint Base Andrews).
At one time the "pilot" turned his head and waved.

Don't see many real WWII fighters on poles any more...thankfully. But at least this one is well taken care of.

[Chris Brame]

More from Leon (Woodsy Airfield). Now for birds not on sticks but in parks, or thereabouts. This is a big batch so I'll load it in three parts.
Part 1:

A-4B 145008 NAS Oceana, 7-73 (Photo by G.W. Johnston). Per Nathan Decker at Forgotten Fighters:

A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk 145008
*6/1959-60: VA-83 as "AJ-305".
*1960: VA-43.
*1960-61: VA-172 as "AB-3xx".
*1961: VA-12.
*1962: VA-44.
*1962: MARS-27.
*1/1964: Put into storage at NAF Litchfield Park, AZ.
*Returned to service.
*1965-66: VA-125 as "NJ-xxx".
*1966: VA-216.
*1968: VA-146.
*1968: VA-152.
*5/1970: Put into storage at the AMARC bone yard.
*Was preserved at NAS Oceana, VA, falsely marked as "143008". Gone by 1973?

F-4A 148261 NAS Oceana, 7-73 (Photo by G.W. Johnston). Per Nathan:

F4H-1F (F-4A-4-MC) b/n 148261
*1961: VF-101 as “AD-108”.
*1964: VF-101 as “AD-xxx“.
*10/16/1964: Written off in a landing accident at NAS Key West, FL.
*Currently preserved at NAS Oceana, VA, falsely marked as “152310“.

F-4C 64-0683 Newark AFS 3-19-92. Per Nathan:

F-4C-22-MC s/n 64-0683
*1970: USAF 4453rd CCTW.
*1970: Flew with the Thunderbirds acrobatic team.
*12/11/1970: Burned out in a ground fire and written off.
*Was preserved at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.
*Currently preserved at Newark-Heath APT, OH.

FJ-4B Fury 143610, Lockport AFS, NY 9-2-76.


XF5D-1 Skylancer 142350, Neil Armstrong Museum, Wapakoneta, OH 1-23-98. Per Baugher:

142350 used at Edwards AFB as flying test bed for radar systems, instruments and armament. Assigned to NACA Ames Aeronautical Laboratory, NAS Moffett Field, CA, later the NASA Ames Research Center Aug 20, 1957 to Jun 15, 1961. Registered as NASA 213 (later NASA 213, then NASA 802). Used for flying qualities, stability and control, and performance evaluations. Used as test bed for supersonic research and to train pilots for the X-20 Dyna-Soar program. WFU 1970. In Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta, Ohio, the hometown of Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon. Armstrong flew the aircraft.

BT-15 N9806H at daycare center playground, Dearborn Heights, MI 12-23-74. I've seen other shots of this one on the net; anyone know its fate?


DF-8F 144449 behind fire station, Centerville Rd., Chesapeake, VA 4-22-79. Per Nathan:

F8U-1 (F-8A) 144449
*Fleet Air Gunnery Unit as “105”
*1967: PMTC as “NMC-105“.
*Converted to DF-8F.
*10/22/1971: Struck off charge at NARF Norfolk, VA.

F9F-8 144275 (or 276?) in park, Richmond, VA 7-10-75. Some confusion re the BuNo on this one? Per Nathan:

F9F-8 (F-9J) b/n 144275 *Upgraded to F9F-8B.
*1958: VA-81 as “AM-203”.
*Converted to QF-9J drone.
*9/13/1966: Struck off charge at NAS Point Mugu, CA.
*Was preserved in Richmond, VA.
*Currently preserved at NAS Patuxent River, MD, falsely marked as “144276”.

F9F-8 (F-9J) b/n 144276
*1957: VA-44 as “AD-310”.

Can anyone verify this? Sure looks like original but faded markings.


RF-84F 52-7421 at Master Craft Engineering, Romulus, MI at I-94 and I-275. Per Nathan:

RF-84F-30-RE s/n 52-7421
*1/1956: Delivered to the USAF.
*USAF 2723rd ABS.
*USAF 45th TRS (67th TRW).
*USAF 2723rd ABS.
*1962: Michigan ANG 171st TRS.
*Currently preserved with the Yankee Air Force at Ypsilanti, MI.

B-25J 44-30324 N3161G, Port Columbus, OH in front of the 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant, 4-21-81
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/b25regis ... 30324.html

Part 2 next.

Last edited by Chris Brame on Thu Mar 16, 2017 6:48 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[kalamazookid]

The Skylancer is still on display in Wapakoneta. I visit it regularly when I have to travel that way. Here's a somewhat recent photo:

F-5D Skylancer by Matthew Vader, on Flickr

[Chris Brame]

Dinner done - now Part 2; Sabres etc.:


F-86D 51-5896, McCollum Airport, Marietta, GA, 2-21-74. Per Nathan Decker at Forgotten Jets:

F-86D-25-NA s/n 51-5896
*1959: Florida ANG 159th FIS.
*Upgraded to F-86L.
*Georgia ANG.
*Was preserved in Gabhoun, NM?
*Was preserved at Dobbins AFB, GA.
*Was preserved at Mercer Field in Calhoun, GA.
*Currently preserved at Robins AFB, GA.

F-86D 53-665, American Legion, Imperial, PA, 11-11-93. Per Nathan:

F-86D-55-NA s/n 53-665
*Upgraded to F-86L.
*10/1961: Struck off charge.
*Currently preserved in Imperial, PA.

F-86D 53-724, Urbana, OH, 7-14-74. Sadly, not a survivor. Per Nathan:

F-86D-55-NA s/n 53-724
*Upgraded to F-86L.
*1964: Nebraska ANG 155th FIS.
*Was preserved at a VFW post in Urbana, OH.
*Eventually salvaged.

It made an appearance in the 1955 short film 24 Hour Alert:



F-86D 53-919, American Legion Post 117, Maxton, NC, 6-23-77. Converted to F-86L. Per Nathan:

F-86D-60-NA s/n 53-919 *1959-61: North Carolina ANG 156th FIS.
*Currently preserved in Maxton, NC.

Aerial Visuals has been trying to locate this plane - Post 117 now has its meetings at a seafood restaurant in Pembroke; and Google Earth freezes my computer after a couple minutes, so can anyone help verify whether it still exists?


AH-1 Cobra (serial unknown), near main gate, Ravenna Arsenal, OH 7-12-05.


UH-1 Huey (serial unknown), near main gate, Ravenna Arsenal, OH 7-12-05.


UH-1H 70-16349, American Legion Post 551, Rte. 83, Holmesville, OH 8-13-03.


F-105G 62-4425, American Legion, Blissfield, MI 11-4-95. Per Nathan:

F-105F-1-RE s/n 62-4425
*USAF 36th TFW.
*USAF 35th TFW.
*Upgraded to F-105G-1-RE.
*1971-72: USAF 17th WWS (388th TFW).
*1978: USAF 561st TFS (35th TFW).
*1982: Georgia ANG 128th TFS.
*Assigned as a battle damage repair trainer to Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.
*Was preserved in Blissfield, MI.
*Currently preserved at Dobbins AFB, GA.

T-38A 67-14956, Plainwell, MI Airport, 8-16-97.

Part 3 next.

[Chris Brame]

Part 3 - Lockheed Shooting Stars. Since there are a couple current threads about F-80s:


TO-1 BuNo 33840, Cuyahoga County Airport, OH, 2-10-73. Can't find any reference to it but it was in good shape; anyone know more?
Edit: Found more. Per Nathan Decker at Forgotten Jets:

TO-1 (TV-1) b/n 33840
*9/1948: Delivered to the US Navy.
*1948-50: VMF-311 as "WL-28".
*1950-51: JTTU-1 Whiting Field, FL.
*1951-52: ATU-3.
*1952-54: ATU-200.
*7/1954: Put into storage at NAF Litchfield Park, AZ.
*4/1956: Struck off charge.
*Was preserved at the Cuyahoga County APT.
*Was preserved at NAS Pensacola, FL.
*Was preserved at MCAS El Toro, CA.
*Currently preserved at the Flying Leathernecks Museum, Miramar, CA.

F-80 (and Matador missile at right) at Mother Goose Land Park in Canton, OH, 11-23-79. Tentative ID is 47-171, and it's another one whose fate is uncertain. Per Nathan Decker at Forgotten Jets:

F-80C-1-LO s/n 47-171
*4/30/1948: First flight.
*Modified as NF-80C.
*Wright Air Development Center.
*Sole example constructed of magnesium.
*Michigan ANG 171st FS?
*Was preserved in Canton, OH?
*Was preserved at WPAFB Museum, OH but removed due to fire risk. Where now? At Rickenbacker ANGB, OH? Or salvaged?

Now for some T-33s:


51-8513 at park in New Kensington, PA, 7-19-74. Still there?


51-9263 behind fire station, Brooklyn, OH 6-19-76. Fast forward 25 years:


Much nicer! It's now in front of the City Hall on the southwest corner of Memphis Avenue and S. Parkside Drive.


51-16988 at Montgomery County Airport, Gaithersburg, MD, 7-15-75. This one got around; per Nathan:

T-33A-1-LO s/n 51-16988
*1965: Withdrawn from use.
*Was preserved in Rockville, MD.
*Was preserved in Centreville, OH.
*Was preserved in Gaithersburg, MD.
*Currently preserved in Gibsonburg, OH.

52-9633 (1st FW) at Cook County Airport, Adel, GA, 4-11-78. Per Nathan:

T-33A-1-LO s/n 52-9633
*1954: USAF 330th FIS (4700th ADG).
*USAF 1st TFW.
*Was preserved at the SST Museum in Kissimmee, FL.
*Currently preserved at Robins AFB, GA.

53-4932 at Bowling Green, (edit: Ohio) University Airport, 12-1-73. Per Nathan it was SOC on 8-10-65 and is still at Bowling Green.


53-5545 at Wadsworth, OH Municipal, 6-6-76. Spar and nose wheel cracked. Per Nathan it was SOC on 5-4-71 and is still at Wadsworth.


53-6064 at Niagara Airport, NY, 9-1-76. Aerial Visuals shows it currently at Eielson AFB in Alaska since circa 2002.
2004 photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/shanair/13177908424

And finally, to finish on a lighter note:


Folk art fighters! Near Logan, OH on Rte. 33, 6-10-92. Proprietor made WWII fighters from scrap metal objects; they are approximately 4' long.

Hope you enjoyed seeing all these aircraft photos, and many thanks to Leon for sharing them with us!

Last edited by Chris Brame on Thu Mar 16, 2017 5:34 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[Woodsy Airfield]

A couple of notes in reference to Chris Brame's photo additions:

BT-13 at day care center - A photo appears in Air Classics Vol. 17 No. 4 (April 1981 issue)...Looks about same condition

F-80 at Mother Gooseland Park, Canton - Photo appears in Air Classics Vol. 14 No. 3 (March 1978)...Looks good

F-80 at Richmond Heights - I have a note that the aircraft at US Naval Museum Circa 1972

F-86 in Urbana Ohio - Scrapped April 27, 1979

F-86 in Maxton North Carolina - A phone call made to a person indicated aircraft was to be returned to Fort Bragg as a classroom aid, call made November 18, 1980...

T-33 at Bowling Green is in Ohio, not Kentucky

I for one am glad that Chris takes on the printing of the miscellaneos photos....Its always interesting to see what WIX members bring to the forefront in regards to dispositions of aircarft...

[AG pilot]

I saw this from an old WIX thread in 2005, about the identity of this BT-13 or BT-15, that Chris posted a photo of.

"The underside of the wing was marked with N39806H, or NN9806H, I couldn't tell for sure."

[quemerford]

F-86D 51-5896, McCollum Airport, Marietta, GA, 2-21-74.

51-5896 is an F-86D-26, ex-128th FIS GA ANG and initially donated to Dobbins AFB for display on July 3, 1959 then to the World of Aircraft Museum at Mercer Field GA. It was rescued circa 2006 but I cannot recall where it went.

F-86D 53-665, American Legion, Imperial, PA, 11-11-93.

53-665 is an F-86L-55, ex-146th FIS PA ANG and donated to Imperial PA on October 3, 1961.

F-86D 53-724, Urbana, OH, 7-14-74. Sadly, not a survivor. It made an appearance in the 1955 short film 24 Hour Alert:

F-86D 53-724: that film still is interesting as it places it circa late February 1955 when these aircraft were yet to be delivered: note Fresno-based CA ANG F-86As (red/white fin flashes) in back also. Those visible (they are all F-86D-55s) are:

53-712 delivered February 23, 1955 to 95th FIS (scrapped at Davis Monthan July 1961 as an F-86L)
53-724 delivered February 24, 1955 to 97th FIS
53-726 delivered February 24, 1955 to 60th FIS (scrapped at Davis Monthan June 1961 as an F-86L)
53-734 delivered March 3, 1955 to 60th FIS (crashed August 19, 1959 as F-86L)

F-86D 53-919, American Legion Post 117, Maxton, NC, 6-23-77. Converted to F-86L.

F-86L-60 53-919 is an interesting one: it ended its life with the NC ANG at Charlotte/Douglas but was ferried to Pope AFB circa March 29, 1961 and donated to a civic organization the same day – likely straight to Maxton. The ejection seat from this F-86 came up on eBay a few years ago.

Here are a couple of shots of 53-919 in service with 331st FIS; and then with the NC ANG.





Finally, the camouflaged Fury above is FJ-4B BuNo.143610, which moved to Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Serviceman's Park in July 1979. Re-named Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park, the Fury is still there.

[JohnB]

Anyone have photos and info on the ex-MD ANG F-86H that was flown to Spokane in 1970 and placed as a playground toy at a state home for mentally challenged children?

I've heard that in the 80s it was recused by either the March or Castle museum.

The local community college aviation school stripped it out and had the engine for a long time (along with a T-33 and a couple of H-23s)...but it'd now gone.

[Chris Brame]

Made some additions and corrections based on the new posts.
The BT-15 was N9806H; registration revoked in 1977. Its c/n was listed as 3395; checking against other c/ns on Baugher gave me a serial of either 41-10998 or 41-11078 (depending on whether I counted forward from a lower number or backward from a higher one; must have been a gap in c/ns someplace). Both serials check out as sold through RFC.
The photos from the 2005 post (by WIXer "srs" - please PM if you want them removed) are gone from Photobucket but I saved them back in '07:

[Chris Brame]

Anyone have photos and info on the ex-MD ANG F-86H that was flown to Spokane in 1970 and placed as a playground toy at a state home for mentally challenged children?

I've heard that in the 80s it was rescued by either the March or Castle museum.

The local community college aviation school stripped it out and had the engine for a long time (along with a T-33 and a couple of H-23s)...but it's now gone.

Castle has 53-1230; March has 53-1304. The latter was SOC in June 1970, but I didn't see mention of either going to Spokane.

[Warbirdnerd]

Great Stuff! Thanks Everyone for sharing photos and information!
A few more from my travels~
C-97 (52-2764) Don Q Inn Dodgeville, Wisconsin
IMG_1087 by Bryan Darnell, on Flickr
IMG_1076 by Bryan Darnell, on Flickr
C-124 (53-0044) Las Vegas, Nevada Scrapped in 2001
File0021 by Bryan Darnell, on Flickr
File0019 by Bryan Darnell, on Flickr

[Lon Moer]

In the town of Los Gatos, CA there is still a T-33, 53-5421, for the kids to play on in their Oak Meadow Park -aka "The Airplane Park".

[airnutz]

Lon, looks like the Los Gatos bird is another one of the playground warbirds that was encased in gunnite. It makes them safer for the kiddies to play on.

[quemerford]

Another gunite monstrosity: F-86D 52-3784 at Palm View Park, West Covina CA. It's ex-196th FIS CA ANG and has been there since 1961. Unusual in not being an F-86L by that time.



And in happier days with 326th FIS: