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Re: French F4U-7's

Posted by Dan Jones on Wed Nov 13, 2002 08:15:01 PM

In reply top Re: French F4U-7's posted by Rob Mears on Wed Nov 13, 2002 02:40:49 PM

: : I though the -7 variant was only produced for the French
: N
: : avy? Was the Alabama Mem Park aircraft acquired from Fra
: nc
: : e?
:
: There were actually four F4U-7's that came to the United S
: tates following their decommissioning by the French Aerona
: vale.
:
: BuNo.133693 was one of two F4U-7's delivered to the US Nav
: y during the late 1960's. It was placed into an individua
: l storage container at Norfolk, Virginia. During the late
: 1960's Al Redick traveled out to Norfolk, got the plane r
: unning and ferried it to Chino, CA for new owner Lynn Garr
: ison of Calgary, Canada. This plane was later purchased b
: y Bob Guilford, and eventually lost in a 1987 crash while
: piloted by Marshal Moss.
:
: BuNo.133704 is the plane in question. Apparently the Fren
: ch decided to offer a number of the outdated F4U-7 airfram
: es to the US Marine and Naval museums once their operation
: al service lives had come to an end. BuNo.133704 was rece
: ived from the French Aeronavale by the National Museum of
: Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida (apparently as a dire
: ct donation) around 1965. It remained there (apparently i
: n storage) until 1977 when it was relocated to the USS Ala
: bama Memorial Park, refinished as an AU-1 and put on outdo
: or display. During the early 1990's a new 'Aircraft Pavil
: ion' was erected on site so that the rarer aircraft in the
: collection could be moved indoors away from the harsh coa
: stal climate.
:
:
: BuNo.133710 was donated by the Aeronavale to the US Marine
: Corps Museum during 1969 and relocated from France to Qua
: ntico, Virginia. This Corsair was eventually traded to De
: an Ortner of Wakeman, Ohio in return for his FG-1D that ha
: d blown an engine. Mr. Ortner got a newer, operational Co
: rsair, and the Marine Corps got a Corsair type that was mo
: re 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 B
: uNo.124722. It was on location at the Toulon Air Base in
: France serving as an instructional airframe until 1973. I
: t was then purchased by Gary Harris, relocated to the San
: Fransisco area, and restored to fly by 1976. This plane i
: s currently displayed in operational condition with the Ti
: llamook Air Museum in Oregon.

Hey Rob,

The -7 Corsair that was operated in England in Suez markings and is now back in the US, where did it come from? I know it was in the US and Canada prior to going to England but I always assumed that it came "home" from France with the other -7's you mentioned. Incidentally, there is a picture of at least one of the -7's being unloaded in Norfolk near the end of F4U Corsair in Action, the 2nd issue, not the first.

Too bad about Blain Fowler selling his. Now that I've moved he's only about half an hour away from me now.

Dan

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