A few questions regarding this F6F-5N Grumman Hellcat ...

[Mark Allen M]

A bit interesting as this Grumman Hellcat in the foreground looks to be BuNo. 79863. If this is indeed the case could it be Paul Allen's FHC Hellcat? His is listed as an F6F-5K. Both different Hellcats with the same BuNo.?
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/f6fregis ... 79863.html
JOE BAUGHER'S list: "79863 registered in 1972 to Aerial Classics of Atlanta, GA as N79863. Now part of Paul Allen's Flying Heritage Collection in Seattle, Washington."

And what outfit is FALLWEATRAPAC? Never heard of it before.


Grumman F6F-5N Hellcat #16 BuNo. 79863 (FALLWEATRAPAC) NAS Kaneohe late 1940's early 1950's.

[Mark Allen M]

Ahh! here it is ... FALLWEATRAPAC

Fleet All Weather Training unit, Pacific (Also known as FAWTUPAC)
The east coast (US) version of this is FAWTULANT.
It taught Nav Aviators the fine art of Fire Control Radar
Interception theory, operation, tactics & practices prior to assignment to Fleet Fighter Squadrons

[Mark Allen M]

A few more from the unit ...








TBM-3N Avengers of Fleet All-Weather Training Unit Pacific pictured during carrier qualification on board the carrier Badoeng Strait (CVE 116) off Hawaii. 1950

[Jim MacDonald]

Mark,

I'm pretty sure that it's the same plane. I believe that when an F6F-5, -5E, -5N were modified as drones their BuNo was kept the same, but their designation changed to -5K.

Mac

[Mark Allen M]

Thanks Jim, That's very interesting indeed. Another bit of unknown history regarding a currently flying machine.

M