Bearcat N7826C?

Chad Veich · **Posted:** Sat Sep 15, 2007 12:33 am

Anybody have any info (BuNo) on this Bearcat, fatally wrecked in Amarillo, TX in 1966? TIA

Rogue · **Posted:** Sat Sep 15, 2007 12:49 am

Bu 121699 N7826C

Chad Veich · **Posted:** Sat Sep 15, 2007 1:05 am

Rogue wrote:

Bu 121699 N7826C

Thanks Rogue, any more info on this Bearcat? I don't see an entry for it in the registry.

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Sat Sep 15, 2007 8:22 am

I would also like to know more about this Bearcat. A friend of mine dad owned a Mustang in the early 60's down here in Texas and after he sold it, he said he looked at a Bearcat and was going to go back and buy it the next day, but is was arleady sold.

TIA,

Lynn

Warbirdnerd · **Joined:** Fri Apr 30, 2004 7:34 pm **Posts:** 2923

Warbirds Directory #1 has
58-63 J.W Dorr- Orinda, Ca
65-66 W. Fuller-Fort Worth, Tx
Crashed and destroyed Amarillo AFB, Tx 8-13-66
Here is the NTSB report form the accident:
http://www.ntsb.gov/NTSB/brief.asp?ev_id=23955&key=0#
The CAF's Bearcat is N7825C (Bu122674)

T J Johansen · **Posted:** Sat Sep 15, 2007 11:17 am

The owner was not William Fuller when it crashed. It had been sold to Amarillo pilot Shelby Krister who perished in the accident. This is from the Amarillo News-Globe on the accident.

Amarillo News-Globe August 14, 1966 wrote:

Tragedy terminated Aviation Day activities at Amarillo Air Terminal Saturday afternoon when Shelby M. Krister, a well-known veteran Amarillo flier, crashed and died before a crowd of about 2000 persons. His WWII Grumman F8F Bearcat knifed into the edge of a runway and exploded in an orange-red ball of roaring flame.
The tragedy occurred at 2:32 pm about 200 yards from two grandstands crowded with persons on hand for the aerial demonstrations.
Krister, 52, who was president of Tradewind Aviation and chairman of the Texas Aeronautics Commision completed a series of intricate and difficult manouvers with the plane before attempting the one which cost him his life - a hammerhead stall.
Krister brought the Navy fighter in low over the field and went into a vertical climb, executing a 360-degree roll as he approached stalling speed. At the top of the stall, he slid off into a fluttering spin with his power off. He was able to recover from the spin, but his 2350 horsepower Pratt & Whitney engine apparently failed him and he could not recover from his dive.
Persons watched the stubby black plane crash and burn with unbelieving horror. A red emergency fire truck raced to the crash scene and the crew began extinguishing the fire with chemical foam. They quickly had it under control.
Krister was killed in his second performance of the day. In the morning, he had given a brilliant performance in a Bucker Jungmann biplane.
In 1937, Krister joined Pan American Airways as an apprentice engineer in the Atlantic Division. He served on the Bermuda-United States route for about a year, then, after attending school in Seattle, was assigned as assistant engineering officer on the famed Yankee Clipper.

By the way Lynn, which Mustang did your dad's friend own?

T J

Chad Veich · **Posted:** Sat Sep 15, 2007 11:40 am

Warbirdnerd wrote:

The CAF's Bearcat is N7825C (Bu122674)

I notice "Wampus Cat" used to be registered as N7827C as well. All ownded by Dorr at one point?

Thanks for the all the info gents.

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Sat Sep 15, 2007 1:01 pm

T J Johansen wrote:

The owner was not William Fuller when it crashed. It had been sold to Amarillo pilot Shelby Krister who perished in the accident. This is from the Amarillo News-Globe on the accident.

Amarillo News-Globe August 14, 1966 wrote:

Tragedy terminated Aviation Day activities at Amarillo Air Terminal Saturday afternoon when Shelby M. Krister, a well-known veteran Amarillo flier, crashed and died before a crowd of about 2000 persons. His WWII Grumman F8F Bearcat knifed into the edge of a runway and exploded in an orange-red ball of roaring flame.
The tragedy occurred at 2:32 pm about 200 yards from two grandstands crowded with persons on hand for the aerial demonstrations.
Krister, 52, who was president of Tradewind Aviation and chairman of the Texas Aeronautics Commision completed a series of intricate and difficult manouvers with the plane before attempting the one which cost him his life - a hammerhead stall.
Krister brought the Navy fighter in low over the field and went into a vertical climb, executing a 360-degree roll as he approached stalling speed. At the top of the stall, he slid off into a fluttering spin with his power off. He was able to recover from the spin, but his 2350 horsepower Pratt & Whitney engine apparently failed him and he could not recover from his dive.
Persons watched the stubby black plane crash and burn with unbelieving horror. A red emergency fire truck raced to the crash scene and the crew began extinguishing the fire with chemical foam. They quickly had it under control.
Krister was killed in his second performance of the day. In the morning, he had given a brilliant performance in a Bucker Jungmann biplane.
In 1937, Krister joined Pan American Airways as an apprentice engineer in the Atlantic Division. He served on the Bermuda-United States route for about a year, then, after attending school in Seattle, was assigned as assistant engineering officer on the famed Yankee Clipper.

By the way Lynn, which Mustang did your dad's friend own?

T J

Thurman Barrett, 1961-1963 something like that, I would have to find his serial number. It later crashed in Arkansas. I think it was named Sunshine. Dick Phillips sent some neg's and I had copies made. See you at Columbus??

Lynn

T J Johansen · **Posted:** Sat Sep 15, 2007 2:32 pm

Lynn Allen wrote:

T J Johansen wrote:

The owner was not William Fuller when it crashed. It had been sold to Amarillo pilot Shelby Krister who perished in the accident. This is from the Amarillo News-Globe on the accident.

Amarillo News-Globe August 14, 1966 wrote:

Tragedy terminated Aviation Day activities at Amarillo Air Terminal Saturday afternoon when Shelby M. Krister, a well-known veteran Amarillo flier, crashed and died before a crowd of about 2000 persons. His WWII Grumman F8F Bearcat knifed into the edge of a runway and exploded in an orange-red ball of roaring flame.
The tragedy occurred at 2:32 pm about 200 yards from two grandstands crowded with persons on hand for the aerial demonstrations.
Krister, 52, who was president of Tradewind Aviation and chairman of the Texas Aeronautics Commision completed a series of intricate and difficult manouvers with the plane before attempting the one which cost him his life - a hammerhead stall.
Krister brought the Navy fighter in low over the field and went into a vertical climb, executing a 360-degree roll as he approached stalling speed. At the top of the stall, he slid off into a fluttering spin with his power off. He was able to recover from the spin, but his 2350 horsepower Pratt & Whitney engine apparently failed him and he could not recover from his dive.
Persons watched the stubby black plane crash and burn with unbelieving horror. A red emergency fire truck raced to the crash scene and the crew began extinguishing the fire with chemical foam. They quickly had it under control.
Krister was killed in his second performance of the day. In the morning, he had given a brilliant performance in a Bucker Jungmann biplane.
In 1937, Krister joined Pan American Airways as an apprentice engineer in the Atlantic Division. He served on the Bermuda-United States route for about a year, then, after attending school in Seattle, was assigned as assistant engineering officer on the famed Yankee Clipper.

By the way Lynn, which Mustang did your dad's friend own?

T J

Thurman Barrett, 1961-1963 something like that, I would have to find his serial number. It later crashed in Arkansas. I think it was named Sunshine. Dick Phillips sent some neg's and I had copies made. See you at Columbus??

Lynn

That would be N6302T which crashed in Hot Springs, AR. Id was later used by Jerry Miles for N5465V. I will be in Ohio from the Friday until Sunday afternoon, so we gotta get together at one stage.

T J

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Sat Sep 15, 2007 2:48 pm

Roger that, we are going to the Air Force Museum on Thursday but we'll be there from Friday to Monday...

Lynn

Swiss Mustangs · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2009 2:31 am

hi - just found below photo - taken at Georgetown MAP, TX in 1965

Martin

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