FG-1D at Pensacola (1979-86) photos?

Rob Mears · **Posted:** Thu Sep 23, 2010 4:08 pm

I'm trying to find a visual reference of the FG-1D that was on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, FL between 1979 and 1986. I'm presuming the FG-1D was still outdoors during that time but it could have been indoors somewhere as well, pending the completion of the new indoor aircraft carrier diorama.

FWIW, there were two different FG-1D Corsairs on display at the museum during the 1970s and I'm trying to figure out if the photos I've seen show the same plane in two different paint schemes, or if one in fact is the new arrival/replacement FG-1D. Any FG-1D photographed at the museum from 1979 forward would be the same plane still on display there today (BuNo.92246) so photos from that time period should hopefully solve the riddle. Thanks!

Rob

John Kerr · **Posted:** Thu Sep 23, 2010 5:16 pm

Yes Rob they had two: 92246 and 92013. Check your photos in the corsair files
you got from me.

Rob Mears · **Posted:** Thu Sep 23, 2010 7:19 pm

Your two photos are actually the ones I was looking at.

My time line on these two didn't show any overlap but it looks like they were both there at the same time then. BuNo.92013 supposedly arrived in 1975 and shipped out to North Carolina in 1979, which makes me wonder when BuNo.92246 actually arrived in Pensacola. The museum quoted its arrival date as 1979 back in the day, but I suppose it arrived as early as 1976.

Me thank the budda for all his help!

k5083 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 23, 2010 8:16 pm

Date December 30, 1977. "N766JD" legible below tail.

Date July 11, 1984. "92246" legible on fin.

There were no other Corsairs on view on either of these dates.

August

Rob Mears · **Posted:** Fri Sep 24, 2010 11:29 am

Aha!! There's the answer to the mystery then

BuNo.92246 as seen in the Richard Kamm photos above is confusingly similar to BuNo.92508 while owned by Robert Lammerts/Gerry Yagen. At a quick glance the only thing obviously different about the two paint jobs is that the number '46' on 92246 is slightly smaller, and Yagen's FG-1D (at the time it was acquired) had the letter 'L' on the tail from previous owner Robert Lammerts, and the 'Marines' insignia.

The museum simply painted over the '4' with an '8' and added the 'Marines' insignia, otherwise the plane is configured just as it was when Wayne Thomas was operating it as N766JD back in the early 1970's.

So it looks like BuNo.92246 was never displayed outdoors. The only FG-1D displayed outdoors at the NMNA was BuNo.92013 and it enjoyed at least two different paint schemes before being shipped off for display elsewhere.

k5083 · **Posted:** Fri Sep 24, 2010 9:17 pm

Yep.

I recall that in 1984 Boyington's name was painted beneath the cockpit although it's not visible in my photo.

At the time I wondered if this paint scheme was a more accurate representation of Boyington's #86 than the common Lulubelle/Lucybelle version. Turns out no, it was just a minimal alteration of an inaccurate civilian warbird scheme, as you say.

I have seen 92013 in DC but don't think I have seen a pic showing what it looked like when at Pensacola.

August

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Sat Sep 25, 2010 3:12 am

When I photograped the Corsair at NMNA back in 2005, I managed to get a shot of the cockpit by putting my camera on a tripod and using the timer. The pic shows a stencil laying in the cockpit with Boyington's name and rank, obviously used to paint his name on the plane. Does anyone know when it was applied? I thought it might be for an episode of Ollie North's "War Stories" which used the plane as the background for his "stand ups," but August's photo clearly shows that the markings were changed at least 20 years earlier (probably for "name recognition" after Boyington was popularized by the "Blacksheep" TV show.)

As mentioned, the current marklings are completely bogus. I wish they'd put her in more accurate scheme, but of course the museum only has so much money and manpower, and a lot of aircraft in more immediate need of attention.

SN

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Sat Sep 25, 2010 7:49 am

I think it is cool that they have a Corsair dedicated to Pappy and the Blacksheep. That is a very interesting story that does need telling. I think down the road you will see that Corsair in a more accurate scheme, although I hope it still stays a VMF-214 aircraft. I think right now they have their minds on getting everything indoors, and restored.

k5083 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 25, 2010 9:45 am

That one cracked me up. "Boyington: The Untold Story." Seriously, Boyington was a Marine. The dash-1 Corsair at the USMC museum at Quantico used to be painted up as his #86 as well, and I bet still is, although I haven't been to the new facility. I'm betting there's a pretty big display on 214 there. I would think the Navy could find a Navy Corsair pilot to honor. Maybe the NMUSAF needs a #86 Corsair as well?

August

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Sat Sep 25, 2010 10:49 am

August I think you are taking for granted that everyone knows the VMF-214 story. Truth be told I think the future generations really don't know much about the Blacksheep or Pappy. Sure we all know it and had the TV show to remind us, but the future generation may not.
As for the Corsair in the USMC Museum, yes it is painted as #86, however it does not or atleast the last time I visited, did not carry his name on it. Not that you can get anywhere near it. It is hung so far up that you can only see the Belly.
Another thing is that Boyington never flew #86. He just sat in it for that PR photo that was planned. And while I can understand people atleast using that aircraft "86" as his aircraft for a representative scheme, I don't really know of any Corsair restored that actually carries all of the markings correct. The one at the USMC Museum doesn't even have his name on it. I also do not remember seeing a display that covered the history of VMF-214.
I think that a Corsair at the NMUSAF would be sweet to tell the stoy of Pappy flying with the AVG, after all there is a P-40 in the NMNA. However I don't think they will ever get one. I do think that a Mustang is needed in the NMUSAF in the markings of either Yeager or the Red Tails. Both played a key role in the history of the USAF.

Rob Mears · **Posted:** Sat Sep 25, 2010 12:04 pm

Well, VF-17 "Jolly Rogers" squadron is of course the highest scoring US Navy squadron of all time. They didn't have a rambunctious Pappy Boyington for a CO, but the squadron did had a whole bevvy of bearded pirate types who chisled out one heck of a story in the South Pacific.

Their Corsair's had very identifiable paint schemes too, with plenty of unique "tail art" to go around.

Not too many people know that the substantial remains of an authentic "Jolly Rogers" Corsair still reside on the jungle floor on Balale Island in the Solomons. I saw a photo of it back in the mid-1990s showing what looked like an almost factory fresh national insignia on the aft fuselage. No chance of the US Navy recovering that one for display I'm sure. If they did it would be the most historical USN artifact in the museum.

I think the premier paint scheme for the museum's FG-1D would have to be a 100% authentic representation of Ike Kepford's #29. They already have a representation of #1 "Big Hog" on display at the Washington Navy Yard in D.C. so Kepford's plane in Pensacola would make the perfect book ends IMO.

Rob Mears · **Posted:** Sat Sep 25, 2010 12:18 pm

August,

Here's a photo I received from Mr. John Kerr showing 92013 at NAS Pensacola in 1978. It wore a very basic 'Marines' scheme as you can see.

k5083 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 25, 2010 3:53 pm

Interesting photo Rob, thanks.

It doesn't matter to me what colors the birds are painted in. I do have a preference for accuracy.

One can always take the position that WWII airmen can never get enough attention. But, if any of them has received enough or more, it probably would be Boyington.

As far as paint schemes go, the one Corsair scheme more overdone than Boyington's has been VF-17 in general and Kepford in particular. True, none of the at least three Corsairs that I have seen restored as #29 has been painted accurately. And, overdone as it is, it would make sense for Pensacola where the most famous or accomplished pilot/unit is the logical choice as the Navy's "official" Corsair restoration.

August

Rob Mears · **Posted:** Sat Sep 25, 2010 8:12 pm

You do have a point about #29 being overexposed. There are a lot of really respectable Corsair aces they could choose from that have gone completely unrecognized.

One obvious choice would be Robert Hanson, the USMC's top scoring Corsair ace! The guy scored 20 kills in a 17 day period and earned his top total of 25 kills in just seven months! I think he's been all but sidelined from historical lore because he was killed (February 1944) before he could be paraded around the States for war bonds, etc. I also like the fact that he flew for VMF-215 'Fighting Corsairs' squadron - a relatively unlauded squadron in comparison to VMF-214 'Black Sheep'.

Other than seeing his name at the top of the Corsair ace list, not a whole lot of people could tell you anything about the guy. A perfect chance for the NMNA (or anyone for that matter) to celebrate THE top Corsair ace, even if he is a Marine! :wink:

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Sun Sep 26, 2010 1:52 am

Quote:

I do think that a Mustang is needed in the NMUSAF in the markings of either Yeager or the Red Tails. Both played a key role in the history of the USAF.

Concur..it'd be nice to see the NMUSAF get a "high back" Mustang and paint it as a Red-Tail. I suppose the P-39 could be repainted as one of the early Tuskegee Airmen planes, but right now it's the Museum's only real display representing the nearly forgotten Aleutian Campaign.

Sorry..didn't mean to hijack the thread.

SN

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