Corsair in the Congo ??

Tue Oct 27, 2009 4:33 pm

I must admit to always being very skeptical when I hear about any warbirds still being found in far flung places in Africa .... but I guess nothing is impossible..
The latest I have heard is that a Corsair is in the process of being recovered from the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo)

If there is/was ever one in the Congo I can only imagine it must be ex French Airforce.

Anyone got any thoughts on this ?

Tue Oct 27, 2009 4:46 pm

I cannot recall the use of Corsairs during any of the Congolese wars...

A good reference

http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_182.shtml

Off course I've got no idea what Mobutu bought after everything settled down so it's still possible (like the ex-portuguese aircraft abandoned in Angola and Moçambique)

My father lived there before, during and after the independence, working for a dutch firm. He meet some of the mercenaries and pilots working there at the time.

Tue Oct 27, 2009 4:57 pm

As I mentioned ... I am very skeptical :roll:

I dont have any more details ...but I will try and find out...

A few years ago I was very skeptical about some P-47 wings that were supposed to be in South Africa .... I ended up seeing pics of them ...and they looked to be in pretty good "return to flight condition" so whilst not impossible I would say a Corsair is unlikely ...but I thought I would ask WIX anyway

Tue Oct 27, 2009 5:09 pm

Bearcat SA wrote:As I mentioned ... I am very skeptical
I dont have any more details ...but I will try and find out...

A few years ago I was very skeptical about some P-47 wings that were supposed to be in South Africa .... I ended up seeing pics of them ...and they looked to be in pretty good "return to flight condition" so whilst not impossible I would say a Corsair is unlikely ...but I thought I would ask WIX anyway

Very interesting on both counts... I can't see why a corsair would be down there at all, but who'd have thought we'd find a Messerschmitt 109 in India? I am very curious about the P-47 wings you mentioned though. Could you relate any details (when, where, what?) or photos? Do you know what happened to them, as this is the first I've heard of it?

Cheers,
Richard

Tue Oct 27, 2009 5:11 pm

For interest ...here is a pic of a French Skyraider that still exists in South Africa.

Tue Oct 27, 2009 7:26 pm

I heard a rumor of a Corsair in someone's extended garage in Putnam, Connecticut. A little closer than the Congo.

Mon Nov 02, 2009 2:06 pm

As unlikely as it may be ... this Corsair subject appeared on my RADAR again this week :shock:

I am trying to find out more

Stranger things have happened ...but I remain skeptical...... until I see photographic proof .... and only then I will be taking deposits on the info :lol:

Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:02 pm

It may be a red herring.....

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsairville-Lo ... 0140253483

Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:07 pm

Bearcat SA wrote:For interest ...here is a pic of a French Skyraider that still exists in South Africa.

Wuzzat behind this SkyRaider??

Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:16 pm

Indian head wrote:It may be a red herring.....

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsairville-Lo ... 0140253483

Look at this

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/artic ... 64,00.html

Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:36 pm

neat find

Mon Nov 02, 2009 5:12 pm

BearcatSA, do you have and photos of the PBY/Canso A , CF-PQO, c/n CV427 in SA?

Doug Ratchford 'Canso42'

Mon Nov 02, 2009 5:56 pm

gary1954 wrote:
Wuzzat behind this SkyRaider??

Looks like Vickers Varsity fuselages to me.
Jerry

Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:34 pm

Jerry O'Neill wrote:
gary1954 wrote:
Wuzzat behind this SkyRaider??

Looks like Vickers Varsity fuselages to me.
Jerry

Could it be a Ventura, or something like that?

T J

Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:56 pm

T J Johansen wrote:
Jerry O'Neill wrote:
gary1954 wrote:
Wuzzat behind this SkyRaider??

Looks like Vickers Varsity fuselages to me.
Jerry

Could it be a Ventura, or something like that?

T J

My mind said Dassault Flamant, given that the Skyraider's ex-AdlA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_MD_315_Flamant