Corsair 122 from VMF-111 Question

[Jerry O'Neill]

Does anybody know what happened to this aircraft?
Corsair #122 of VMF-111.
It was the only plane to receive an official citation and logged over 400 combat hours while completing over 100 missions in the Marshall Island Area.
Chance Vought produced a pamphlet about the aircraft during the war, but I was wondering if it was ever returned stateside?

I recently came across a 1946 image of an aircraft with #122 painted on the nose, with lots of mission markings visible, on display at a Chance Vought Navy Day Open House.

An ideas?
Jerry

[Dan K]

I recently came across a 1946 image of an aircraft with #122 painted on the nose, with lots of mission markings visible, on display at a Chance Vought Navy Day Open House.

An ideas?
Jerry

Jerry, for starters, how well do the markings on your stateside pic match up with pics of "Ole 122" from the war front?

http://123.55.252.122:8080/www.afwing.c ... 1225591595

[Jerry O'Neill]

Here's a link to the photo:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11465521@N ... 052882609/

They match in size and location, but there are some differences in that a large "122" is painted under the wing and the overall color is blue, not tri-color camo.
I'm not sure if the original aircraft saw further service and was brought home and re-painted, or that it's a photo of a different aircraft painted just to replicate "122".
That's why I was interested in whether the original "122" was ever returned stateside. 1946 is a few years past it's citation date and unless it came back for a war bond tour and then overhauled and returned to training duties, it may not be the original in the photo I have.
Jerry

[Dan K]

Here's a link to the photo:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11465521@N ... 052882609/

They match in size and location, but there are some differences in that a large "122" is painted under the wing and the overall color is blue, not tri-color camo.
I'm not sure if the original aircraft saw further service and was brought home and re-painted, or that it's a photo of a different aircraft painted just to replicate "122".
That's why I was interested in whether the original "122" was ever returned stateside. 1946 is a few years past it's citation date and unless it came back for a war bond tour and then overhauled and returned to training duties, it may not be the original in the photo I have.
Jerry

Thanks for that link, Jerry.

I must politely disagree with you on the markings match though. The mission markings on your 1946 pic are considerably smaller (and/or more closely spaced together) than the ones #122 was carrying in the link I posted.

The source of the 1946 pic is the Igor I Sikorsky Historical Archives. Have you considered contacting them to determine if perhaps a series of pics exist of that display?

I'll keep my eyes open for more evidence. One on-line article suggested that the 100-mission citation was actually varnished into "Ole 122"s cockpit. That would be pretty cool if she made it back stateside.

[Jerry O'Neill]

I actually have come to the conclusion that if it is the real "122" then it was repainted upon it's return to the U.S.
I actually scanned the image at the Sikorsky Archives and they really have no info on the photo or the aircraft.
As I go through more images and info, I might find out more.

I guess I really need to know if "122" was returned to the U.S.

Anybody have an ideas or a list of airframes returned?
Jerry

[zorro9]

Jerry/Corsair 122 folks:

Good day!

I can't see the link produced by Dan K but I can see the B/w pic of "122" a CT Vought HQ c.1946. I wish we could see other angles specially the canopy area.

I tend to agree with Dan K on the true ID of the B/W of the CT Corsair c.1946!

There is a report via a USMC historian about the actual pilot who flew the original "122" in WW II. He states that he had a forced landing in another island after a combat mission, leaking oil he barely made to a nearby friendly field with enough time just to land. He did walked away fm it but the engine seized according to him. He also added that when he got back to his SQ he was giving another aircraft. He flew on the original 122 ..89 missions! He makes no other comments of the whereabouts of the original "122" Corsair.

The report came out of a newspaper in Venice Fla. Don't know if the former pilot is still alive. His name is *Lt. Bill Magill who later on traded his USMC wings for the priesthood!! I think it's quite a unique story for the books & a poss movie.

If you have friends in the Venice, Fla area it would be a good idea to track him or some of his relatives and then ask him if he knew if the "real 122 Corsair" was ever recovered. One picture that Mark found tends to indicate that it was poss recovered at one time.!

Lt. Bill Magill/ Later Father Bill H. Magill passed away on Jan 26, 2011. Age 90. Well done Bill & blue skies my friend!!

2 B cont....

Last edited by zorro9 on Tue May 27, 2014 5:58 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[Cherrybomber13]

122a by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr


122c by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr


122b by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr

[zorro9]

CB13:

Good day!

Tks for the info & data on the "122" 100 mission Corsair!

p.s Do you happen to know the date of the newspaper article? That plane according to another source came back to the US for retirement. It was flown according to the NAVY folks by Capt. William C. Bickel with the only mission to exhibit the aircraft around the country at factories that made Corsair parts. Its final whereabouts are still ukn!

Tks for the input!!

[Cherrybomber13]

These papers are from January 19th and February 9th 1945, pre and post event.


corsair122e Feburary 9 1945 by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr


corsair122a Friday January 19 1945 by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr


corsair122f Feburary 9 1994 by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr

[zorro9]

CB13:

Good Day!

Tks for the info & data on the newspaper clip of "122". That means that B/w taken at the CT Plant was a bit off. Jan 1945 vs c.1946!

We'll keep digging!