The old historic "Tucson Inn" then & now ...

[Mark Allen M]

Wiki history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tucson_Inn
The Tucson Inn is an exceptional surviving example of historic 1950s Mid-century modern highway motel architecture located in Tucson, Arizona, in an area now known as the Miracle Mile Historic District. The motel was built in 1953. The Tucson Inn and its iconic neon sign survived the corridor's decline to become one of the most outstanding examples of Tucson's glamorous 1950's. The motel is a contributing property within the Miracle Mile Historic District and saved from demolition in 2018, when it was purchased by Pima Community College who made public commitments at the time of purchase their plan preserve and restore this important historic asset.





Below is what, for a time, was located in front of the Inn.
Photos in Flickr link here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/elaref/al ... 3243435735

J Bougher states: Vought F4U-4 Corsair 97349 (MSN 9503)
Accepted by US Navy Feb 26, 1946. Initial service with FASRON 691 at NAS North Island. Joined USMC at MCAS El Toro, serving with VMT-2 before going VMA-251 and later VMF-235, also stationed at El Toro. Next with VMA-332 at Cherry Point and rejoined VMF-235 at Kaneohe in summer of 1952, traveling to Hawaii aboard Cape Esperance, CVE-88. Last service with USMC was in late 1952 when it served with VMF-238 at El Toro and Kaneohe. Reclaimed by US Navy in Hawaii and Farson 117 flew it to Barbers Point early in 1953. After a stint with Naval Reserve in Atlanta and Olathe, flown to storage at Litchfield Park in Jun 1954. Planned sale to Honduras AF not completed. In Jul 1956 SOC and sold to Bob Bean. Was noted in 1974 mounted on a pole at Tucson Inn Motel, AZ, later to USMC Museum, Quantico VA, loaned to Pima Air And Space Museum, Tucson, AZ. The plane at the National Museum of Naval Aviation marked as 97349 is actually 97142.







What the old Tucson Inn looks like today.

[Mark Allen M]

Once there was a pole and a pool and a plane.



This looks to be somewhere in CA (perhaps Orange County) after it's pool vacation was over.

[JohnTerrell]

Love the 1950's signage! Here is Mike Henniger's history & photos of this airframe (and notes the data plate swap with the airframe that is now displayed at the Naval Aviation Museum): http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDos ... erial=4042

[phixer]

The one photo is at Mojave, Ca. I would know it anywhere, the mountains to the west, a convair 880 under the right wing and rail cars on the line to Trona in the distance. I worked there for over 20 years.

[Mark Sampson]

The Tucson Inn is pretty sorry-looking these days. Never would have imagined that a Corsair once sat out in front! Glad the plane has found its proper home at Pima... I'll check it out when I visit there this weekend.

[Invader26]

Looks like Challenge Publications B-25 in the background...

[Pat Carry]

Great info Mark!

[Lon Moer]

Looks like Challenge Publications B-25 in the background...

I thought that was "Executive Sweet", too.

[JohnB]

In the Mojave photo in the background is an old Apache.
If you do a search of the N number, you see the same aircraft in n the same position with the 880s in the background.

The Piper was de-registered in 2013 after 15 years of not being licensed.