AU-1 or F4U-7?... Rob Mears to the rescue?

[RMAllnutt]

Hi there. Saw an interesting photo on e-bay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/AVIATION-ORIG-NEGATIVE-CORSAIR-AU-1-1953-GROUND-ATTACK_W0QQitemZ6208232517QQcategoryZ48QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The ad claims that the aircraft in the foreground is an AU-1 at the Vought factory, in February 1953, presumably at the Dallas plant. I can't tell whether it's an AU-1 or F4U-7, as the prop is tilted such that you can't see a chin scoop a la -7, and it's difficult to tell whether it has the "chipmunk cheeks" (as I call the cowling bulges where the -5 blower intakes were faired over for the AU-1).

The aircraft is brand-spanking-new, and positioned right next to a -5N/NL.

There is a blow up of the rear fuselage, where I swear you can read the Bu.No. and it seems to read 133652. If that's the case, then it's the very first production F4U-7, which would make this quite a significant photo. The time frame is right, as all of the -7's were completed in late '52, and delivered some time in '53.

Anyone have any ideas? Rob?

Cheers,
Richard

[FAH 619]

R.M. Allnutt:

We found a similar pic but poss taking somewhere N.E/ U.S c. 1953. The aircraft in the foreground is an F4U-5N Buno 124493 that later became FAH 608. Photo Via C/w.com

[corsair166b]

Based on what Col Rohr says, he is probably right....however checking the survivors list the closest surviving Bureau number to this one is 124486, which is an F4U-5N (Dick Bertea's old machine now with Mike George)....but they all looked very similar at that point so it could very well be an AU-1.

Mr. Allnutt, been trying to reach you (hence the 'Paging Mr. Allnutt thread' on this forum)...drop me a line if you would at corsair166b@yahoo.com and let's discuss Firefly for Corsair gathering photos!

Mark

[Rob Mears]

Actually the F4U-7 and AU-1 both had five hard points under each wing I believe. Occasionally the AU-1 had the #2 and #4 rails removed from each side so it could better carry three larger bombs under each wing.

The plane in the photo is an oddity indeed! Richard's right in that the Bureau Number shown on the tail is noted as the first of the ninety-four F4U-7's obtained by the Aeronavale. That perfectly misplaced prop blade makes all the difference doesn't it? I think the commonly accepted fact (until now) is that French markings were applied to each F4U-7 as it rolled out of the factory, but this plane could be an exception since its apparently the 'prototype' -7.

I'd say the photo is definitely worth a bid just so you can get a better look at that cowling. A nice 8x11 print from that negative should show enough to determine which type of plane it is. Not too often you find cool mysteries like this! If you place the winning bid, definitely let us know what you find out.

[Amado Aguiluz F.]

Hope this can help.

BuNos.
133652/133731 Vought F4U-7 Corsair MDAP for France
133704 on display at USS Alabama Battleship Memorial
Park, painted as 129359
133710 airworthy in 1990 with Blain Fowler of Alberta, CA
as C-GWFU
133722 airworthy as NX1337A, later N1337A


Cheers,

Amado

[RMAllnutt]

Interesting stuff gents. The picture in FAH 609's post really does look like the same location. I wonder if the aircraft in the background is the same as in the forground of the e-bay photo.

The e-bay photo does show that the aircraft is in USMC markings, which would suggest AU-1 (although the Navy did use a few AU-1's contrary to most stories). However, the serial number is clearly from an F4U-7 according to all of the records I have come across. Perhaps they put the wrong number on her? Or perhaps they were trying to sell the -7 as a type to the USMC, and this one was dolled up to look like a potential USMC service example.

Did anyone notice the matte top-decking, over gloss? I thought that was pretty interesting, and something I had noticed before. Was this standard? I guess it's a bit hard to tell from most photos, as you usually see these types from further away.


Mark.... sorry that I missed your post! If you are interested in seeing some of what I took at the corsair gathering, please go to the following site. Some of the air-to-air turned out pretty well.

http://www.rmallnutt.com/corsairsoverconnecticut

Thanks everyone.... this is indeed an interesting connundrum!

Cheers,
Richard

[corsair166b]

Richard-

Guess I need to read posts more carefully...I thought everyone was talking about the pic on this thread (shown) as opposed to the one on Ebay which is QUITE different than the one shown here...I would say AU-1, but that's just my hunch, based on the bomb racks-the flat painted panel in front of the pilot was fairly standard on most late model Corsairs beginning with and after the dash 4 model, although looking in my books not all models carried flat paint.

Got your email addy and love the Corsair pics from the gathering...will be e-mailing you soon..

Mark

[Rob Mears]

I didn't catch it Richard, but I think you're right! Even the cars in the background (and the empty parking spots) seem to match up with the photo posted by FAH619.

Here's the scoop. BuNo.124493 was retained by Vought and used as a research and development platform, effectively serving out its entire service life at the Dallas plant. You'll notice there are no Navy or Marine markings on her. Apparently we're looking at two aircraft that were set aside from the normal production flow at the Dallas factory for an undetermined period of time. I know BuNo.124493 was there for three years before finally being retired.

I'm guessing just like you that the other aircraft was in fact the first F4U-7 off the line, and was probably initially dressed up in Marine garb to be showcased for potential sales. The only other Corsairs rolling off the line at that time were the final production AU-1's, so the idea of marketing the new -7's to their only other existing client just makes good business sense.

[Dan K]

If only one could read the signs attached to the sawhorses that have been laid face down in front of each aircraft (obviously so the photographer had a cleaner shot).

Now why would signs be put up in front of these two aircraft AND halogen bottles brought out to fire up the radials? Looks like a sales demo of some sort.

[RMAllnutt]

Thanks Rob for the details on 124493.... this story gets more interesting with each posting. I am really starting to believe that the e-bay shot truly is the first -7, but in USMC markings for demonstration. Quite a historic shot when you think of it.

Thanks Mark for the comments on my photography... it really was an amazing experience flying with three corsairs!

Cheers,
Richard

[corsair166b]

Richard-

You had better seats for the Corsairs than I did....but I got some decent shots (yours are better tho), but I CERTAINLY won't complain about riding in the nose of a B-25!! HELLUVA view!

M

[RMAllnutt]

Yes, Larry Kelley was incredibly kind to give us such a wonderful opportunity.

Cheers,
Richard

[jaldo]

The picture of the F4U-5NL BuNo 124493 was taken at Grand Prairie,TX. on Feb. 1953.
I'll look for the original negative of this shot and will try to see if I can pull out the BuNo of the aircraft next to it. Stay tuned.

J

Last edited by jaldo on Tue Sep 13, 2005 8:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[jaldo]

Gents,
In the negative for the above picture,I can see the first four numbers of the BuNo of the other aircraft,which are "1336..".This is indeed the Corsair BuNo 133652 since I can see some of the cars in the background match in both pictures,among other things.
I hope this helps resolve some of the mystery.

[airnutz]

Jaldo, are you sure that's Grand Prairie, Nebraska and not Texas?