OY-SemperFi wrote:
Thanks to all for the very kind words- It is a labor of love!
A correction is in order-
Mike: 120452 was the L-5E-1 (OY-1) of VMO-6 (confirmed by log entries) USMC ambulance I restored in 2008 that won OSH best Liaison.
THIS aircraft IS 02747. It has records linking all three numbers; it's USAAF 42-99512, the USN 02747 and N1548M.
That is a great B/W observer picture you provide that I had not yet seen- it is interesting as the damage is very similar to 02747. (The damage in the photos we have matched precisely areas found on our airplane.) This might be a new picture of our plane. I have two photos of ours from VMO-5 pilots Mert Hansen and Jim Link. The "4" on the tail is similar to "tape" numbers found on another "prior to loading" picture on the way to Iwo, although this would obviously be post battle. Another had "11" on the tail we don't yet know the significance (Mert Hansen didn't remember) the numbers were later removed. Perhaps something to aid the Navy in loading.
The other known documented Iwo Jima plane (at OSH for the last two years) is an ambulance -B model from VMO-4 and is NOT "Lady Satan" (shown behind the school plane), but was marked as such to honor Tom Rozga CO of VMO4.
I hope that helps. These are great old planes... and the pilot(s) Merton Hansen (and Tom Rozga) are very fine gentleman.
This pic shows the tail of "11" in the background (Just under the flap).
This is another pic of the above aircraft (furthest away, same battle damage), but also shows another aircraft with "4" on the tail.
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