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Re: French F4U-7's

Posted by Rob Mears on Wed Nov 13, 2002 02:40:49 PM

In reply top Re: AU-1 and F3A Corsairs Extant posted by Ron Henry on Wed Nov 13, 2002 12:42:18 PM

: I though the -7 variant was only produced for the French N
: avy? Was the Alabama Mem Park aircraft acquired from Franc
: e?

There were actually four F4U-7's that came to the United States following their decommissioning by the French Aeronavale.

BuNo.133693 was one of two F4U-7's delivered to the US Navy during the late 1960's. It was placed into an individual storage container at Norfolk, Virginia. During the late 1960's Al Redick traveled out to Norfolk, got the plane running and ferried it to Chino, CA for new owner Lynn Garrison of Calgary, Canada. This plane was later purchased by Bob Guilford, and eventually lost in a 1987 crash while piloted by Marshal Moss.

BuNo.133704 is the plane in question. Apparently the French decided to offer a number of the outdated F4U-7 airframes to the US Marine and Naval museums once their operational service lives had come to an end. BuNo.133704 was received from the French Aeronavale by the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida (apparently as a direct donation) around 1965. It remained there (apparently in storage) until 1977 when it was relocated to the USS Alabama Memorial Park, refinished as an AU-1 and put on outdoor display. During the early 1990's a new 'Aircraft Pavilion' was erected on site so that the rarer aircraft in the collection could be moved indoors away from the harsh coastal climate.


BuNo.133710 was donated by the Aeronavale to the US Marine Corps Museum during 1969 and relocated from France to Quantico, Virginia. This Corsair was eventually traded to Dean Ortner of Wakeman, Ohio in return for his FG-1D that had blown an engine. Mr. Ortner got a newer, operational Corsair, and the Marine Corps got a Corsair type that was more relevant to the history of the USMC. This plane is now owned by Blain Fowler and is for sale.

The fourth and final F4U-7 to survive French Service was BuNo.124722. It was on location at the Toulon Air Base in France serving as an instructional airframe until 1973. It was then purchased by Gary Harris, relocated to the San Fransisco area, and restored to fly by 1976. This plane is currently displayed in operational condition with the Tillamook Air Museum in Oregon.

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