Hellcat and Sea Fury restorations

[LegendaryWings]

Here are some other active Hellcat restorations that I know of.
F6F-3 40467 owned by Yanks Air Museum (a long term project that has been progressing slowly).
F6F-5 80141 (N467RL) owned by Rod Lewis (I think this one might be close to completion).

Last edited by LegendaryWings on Wed Jun 28, 2023 9:04 am, edited 1 time in total.

[JohnTerrell]

Thank you, Jack, for the confirmation on the number of Hellcats being restored at Mike Breshear's shop. I really enjoyed following their work when they did Jack Croul's second Mustang, and 'Dottie Mae'.

Tom, with regard to the Sea Furies you mention, progress on WG599 (G-SEAF) is slow, as the OV-10 Squadron aircraft have been a top priority, so it doesn't look much different than it did 4 years ago (essentially complete, but waiting for an engine and mount). This photo was taken in April: https://scontent.ffcm1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=64A0A5C2

[LegendaryWings]

Tom, with regard to the Sea Furies you mention, progress on WG599 (G-SEAF) is slow, as the OV-10 Squadron aircraft have been a top priority, so it doesn't look much different than it did 4 years ago (essentially complete, but waiting for an engine and mount).

Thank you for the information, John! When do you think WG599 will be completed, and what about VZ345?

[mike furline]

This was at Ezell's in 2017. Not sure which one.

[LegendaryWings]

This was at Ezell's in 2017. Not sure which one.

I think that is Rod Lewis’ Hellcat (80141/N465RL), as that one has been under restoration at Ezell Aviation.

[Dan Jones]

This was at Ezell's in 2017. Not sure which one.

This looks like a -3. Lewis's airplane is a -5. Is this a conversion for a second seat?

[Dan K]

This looks like a -3. Lewis's airplane is a -5. Is this a conversion for a second seat?

Dan, the links Mike provided in this previous thread may help...be sure to read the flickr link text:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=71230

[Dan Jones]

This looks like a -3. Lewis's airplane is a -5. Is this a conversion for a second seat?

Dan, the links Mike provided in this previous thread may help...be sure to read the flickr link text:

http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.o ... =3&t=71230

Thanks, Dan - I'm picking up what you're laying down!

Is there enough left of N4994V from the POF to form a project or is that one just a memory? And has anything been done with the -3 that Kermit Weeks has? I've never seen outer wings for it but the rest of it looks to be there.

[Dan K]

Thanks, Dan - I'm picking up what you're laying down!...

True confessions: I wimped out on the answer. I was in a hurry earlier and used mike f's effort to get you up to speed...to mike go the thanks!

Not just the -3s, but I believe something like the first 1500 or so -5s also carried the extra rear-view glass panel behind the cockpit.

My desiccated gray matter seems to recall that the easiest identifier between -3 and -5 is that the windscreen of the former is always curved and that of the latter is always flat. Since no windscreen appears in the pic you questioned earlier, I was just as stumped as you were lol.

[kalamazookid]

Thanks, Dan - I'm picking up what you're laying down!...

True confessions: I wimped out on the answer. I was in a hurry earlier and used mike f's effort to get you up to speed...to mike go the thanks!

Not just the -3s, but I believe something like the first 1500 or so -5s also carried the extra rear-view glass panel behind the cockpit.

My desiccated gray matter seems to recall that the easiest identifier between -3 and -5 is that the windscreen of the former is always curved and that of the latter is always flat. Since no windscreen appears in the pic you questioned earlier, I was just as stumped as you were lol.

I don't know the number, but many early -5s did have the rear window. David McCampbell's "Minsi III" BuNo 70143 is a famous example. The windscreens are also different. The -3 had the bullet-resistant glass mounted internally, while the -5 had it integrated into the windscreen, giving it a flat appearance.

There are differences in cowlings as well - for example, many early -3s had a bulge near the exhaust pipes and an extra cooling tab on the lower part of the cowl - but I don't think there is a standard way to differentiate late -3s from -5s by the cowling alone. The -5 cowlings were tighter, but it may not be readily apparent at first glance since the late -3 cowlings looked similar.

Back on the subject of the restoration, I've heard rumors that the Lewis Hellcat has been close to completion for the last couple years, though I haven't seen any recent photos.