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Re: Not the end of the world, no...

Posted by Rob Mears on Fri Sep 26, 2003 11:53:30 AM

In reply top Re: Not the end of the world, no... posted by Ryan Harris on Fri Sep 26, 2003 10:28:27 AM

: Rob, I had no idea she was one of three -5NLs. Is she the
: only one with combat history? The radome will eventually g
: o back on her. It was torn off during the first crash so t
: hat means a new one will have to be built. You don't happe
: n to know of any complete APS-6(?) radar units do you?


Pretty much all of the surviving -5 variants flew with combat squadrons, though some of them never made it out of the States. Oddly enough, we determiend the other day that the vast majority of the surviving -5 models all served with VC-3 squadron at some point in their career. I suppose the similarities between the histories of the surviving -5's (at least the latter part) has a lot to do with the fact that the majority of them were pulled from storage at the same moment in time for delivery to Honduras. Whatever planes had recently arrived for desert storage at that point in 1956 is what there was to choose from. Of the F4U-5 suvivors, I've only confirmed so far that 122184, 122189 and 124724 actually took part in a particular Korean War Cruise. Many others served with fighting squadrons, but remained Stateside for whatever reason. That information is sure to change once the Navy finally delivers my missing lot of history cards. I've been waiting forever for them to arrive!

Regarding the radome, I can have a look around to see who has what. Until just recently in the warbird movement no one (other than Glenn Hyde, and the Collings Foundation) has wanted to attach one to their plane :) There should be a few lying around in storage here & there.

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