Rebuild of F4U-1 02465 AT PNAS, FL

[Mark Allen M]

Score another for the warbird hoarders in Pensacola

Hope they continue to hoard. The NMNA has been doing a great job when the right people sit in the right room for the right amount of time. I know the room.

Pretty incredible for an individual to invest that much, for planes that are not his, to ensure that history, in the form of these aircraft, is preserved for generations to come.

As well as a few others I know.

[Brad]

And yet, if it weren't for the aforementioned "hoarders", this aircraft would still be at the bottom of the lake being slowly devoured by zebra mussels... remember, the NMNA funded the expedition to locate and identify the wrecks at the bottom of the lake back in the 90s.

That is only because this particular pack of "hoarders" refuse to let anybody else recover anything from the lake. If they were slightly more reasonable about their policies, there probably would be a few more aircraft from that lake (and other places) recovered and flying by now. Probably including this Corsair, based on its rarity. At least one TBD would be flying now, several more SBD's and a bunch of Wildcats. I certainly don't begrudge the Navy museum some of the more rare examples of their history, flying or not. But don't pretend that they are the only savior of Naval aircraft, because they aren't. They have done more to hinder it than any other organization.

[billtate]

Thank you for the help John

[Triplane102]

We'll stated Brad, Not enough TBFs.

[Scooby]

And with that, decades of speculation about salmon gear wells on early Corsairs finally come to a definitive end.

As a modeler, please allow me to offer a very hearty WELL DONE SIR!!! Thanks a ton for these pics... they are incredibly helpful in many, many ways.

Lynn

The debate is far from over considering salmon wasn't a top coat in the main wheel wells. Reece's research was incomplete.

It was used but not as a top coat.

[Mark Allen M]

Brad not all the "hoarders" are on the same page regarding refusal to allow others to recover Great Lakes aircraft and a few of us aren't pretending anything. Being a dreamer is one thing, being a realist is the only thing. There's a movement to try to losen the grip a bit. We'll see just how serious this alleged 'movement' develops. Talk is cheap as always.
Quite frankly I could care less who, what, where recovers some of the remaining lake planes. ... I'd just like to see them come up because not much longer and any effort by any group becomes moot.

So until the Navy unlocks the gates on waterlogged warbirds I'll just have to stick to fighting the good fight for accurate paint schemes

... And Brad here's an 'edit' for ya, because I know you get a kick out of my edits lol

MM update anyone?

[Rob Mears]

I would imagine the Naval Museum must know the identities and the corresponding histories for all of the remaining Lake Michigan wrecks at this point. It would be wonderful if they could identify the remaining planes in order if significance (most to least) and then, starting from the bottom of that list, begin auctioning off the least desirable planes for private purchase and recovery. The Museum could of course use that money to directly finance it's current projects/expansions.

With as many planes that have already been recovered, and as many that still remain, you'd think taking advantage of the massive redundancy of types (TBM & Wildcats mostly) would be a perfectly reasonable consideration, given the museum's desire for funds, and the continuing deterioration of the remaining examples. Hopefully we'll reach that crossroads someday.