Hellcat Photos

[bdk]

As was mentioned earlier, the Hellcat is a rare bird. But about 10-15 years ago, a company that worked closely with the Naval Museum (I think the company was called Black Shadow Aviation) was in the process of recovering 6 Hellcats from a missle-testing island near California. Does anyone know where these aircraft ended up? Thanks.

I think the ones on the island are still there??? Do you mean the crashed F6F drones at China Lake?

[george]

No, not China Lake, bdk. They are or were on a Navy-controlled island off the California coast.

[HELLDIVERS]

Hi the f6fs that you are talking about were on Santabell Island they were recovered , used to rebuild the ex- Pima hellcat. The remains were sold to a guy that lives close to Green Bay Wisconson. He had them for several years and then sold them to Jim Fry of Mpls{ C.A.F. P-82trade/ fame}. I think they may have been shipped out for restoration. Thanks Mike

[HELLDIVERS]

Hi many of the China lake drones were recovered by Bill Compton for the restoration of his badly damaged F6F which are still sitting in a barn in Oregon . Thanks Mike

[Jack Cook]

Hi many of the China lake drones were recovered by Bill Compton for the restoration of his badly damaged F6F which are still sitting in a barn in Oregon .

Bill , to my knowledge, got his F6 hulks from a completely different place. There not in his barn but rather laying out in his back 40.

[Jerry O'Neill]

The NEAM F6F was a former China Lake drone.
Jerry

[george]

Thanks for all that good information, HELLDIVERS. Thats great news that J.Fry has a group of Hellcats being restored, I assume to flying condition.

[L. Thompson]

Years ago (maybe late 70's) I remember Fred Johnsen's warbird column in the Western Flyer paper saying David Robinson in Florida was bringing in several F6F's from Uruguay. What was the deal on that?

[John Kerr]

Well hope no one is getting tired of my F6F postings. Anyhow here 8 more shots. The lst two were taken by L.B. Sides and are of the F6F-5 79593 after restoration by Black Shadow Aviation at Herlong Airport, FL. Photos taken in Nov 1991. Note the Zero in the lst shot, it is the one restored for the USN Museum in Pensacola.

The other six were taken by me at Black Shadon Aviation in Jan 1995 and
are of various F6F-5K parts that have been recovered out in CA.

Happy New Year. John Kerr

[george]

John - Are those remnants from China Lake, or somewhere else? As HELLDIVERS said, the island Hellcats are in Minnesota. Also, I saw a picture of one of the island airframes before recovery, and it was intact (on its belly). Did your picture of that nice set of wings have a fuselage nearby? Thanks for any additional information.

George

[John Kerr]

Ref: the remains. I was told that they had came from CA, but don't know exactly where. As for the nice set of wings, don't recall anything around them, just sitting by thereselves.

[Owen Miller]

John - I thought the F6F at Blackshadow is done as Flatley's
bird and is displayed on the hanger deck of the YKTN. It was
done for NMNA but displayed at Patriot's Point I believe.

[skymstr02]

Extra windows as it has a back seat mod.

As for the colour...............

But that seat has never been occupied since Bob Waltrip has owned it. In case of an emergency evacuation, that occupant would be classified as a victim. I've been in that seat, and you have to be an acrobat to climb in and out of it. The LSFM F6F also have provisions for a cool vest system. The pilot could wear a vest with tubes in it, that connects of a chilled water recirculation pump.

I have also fitted the belly fuel tank to the airplane, but the pilots don't like flying with it on.

[HELLDIVERS]

Hi;
It looks to be some sort of airliner what a terrible thing to do to a Hellcat. I could see one window like a -3 but the panoramic sight seeing/gray hound look really distracts from the standard Hellcat. I still remember the polished prop and splattering of chrome looking more like some hot rod than a combat a/c. Thankfully the standards for restoration have been stepped up a bit,I really like the photos of what Jack Sandburg did to a fine looking F6F it looked great before and rediculous after nice prop spinner Jack Lets hope the next restoration of the Waltrip a/c has that good idea gone bad removed and returned to original. Thanks Mike

[TimAPNY]

I think I remember Yanks in Chino having a bunch of F6F parts recovered off the Cali Coast sitting out in a storage lot, is that correct? Maybe it was just engines and not airfframe parts.

And the F6F-5 being restored in RI I doubt will be a flyer. I'd guess it will be static as it is "on loan" from the Navy or NHC but not those who decided to save it.

Tim