Warbird Information Exchange

Just got another batch of shots from Leon Cleaver (aka Woodsy Airfield); maybe those in the know can fill in details?

FJ-4B 139536 at Cabin John Regional Park, July 15, 1975 (previously mentioned on this thread: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=55968):

Scrapped on site a few years later - date?

Earlier in its career with NARTU New York (courtesy millionmonkeytheater.com):



From another playground, this time in Freeport, PA on August 10, 1980, F-86H 52-2043:

Anyone know what happened to it?

Finally, one that's still around - F-86H "FU-888" (Correction: 53-1387) on July 15, 1975 at the Soldiers' Home (now the AFRH) in D.C.:

The trees got bigger, but it's still on display and well cared for; at some point the buzz number was changed to "FU-833" but the stripes are the same. From the Armed Forces Retirement Home Communicator, September 30, 2014:

Other info I've found online states this plane was previously in a playground in JFK Park in D.C. but I haven't found a photo of it there.

Now from the Navy: the remains of TF-9J 146423 taken at a gas station in Pensacola, FL on February 28, 1974:

Not much info other than it was SOC at NARF Pensacola on October 2, 1973 (per MMT). Note how the word NAVY and the squadron designator were covered in duct tape rather that painted out when it was surplused. Anyone know more?

Finally, the oldest photo here, TF-9J 142497:



Earlier photo from MMT:


Looks like the aftermath of a gear collapse or belly landing? Anyone know what happened?

Thanks Leon! Over to the WIX brain trust...

_________________

All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

As we say in Pittsburgh Pa, from the west end "Yous guys ain't going to believe this". But I saw that f86 with the little girl coming out of the air intake. But was not in Freeport Pa, it was later it had been removed from the park. I was the chase guy for a hot air balloon we were west of Butler Pa. Bout 10 miles not too far from US Rt 422 lest I think it 422. Ended up on dirt road looking for balloon came pass trees farm house and there it was laying on the ground with what was left of a F4. When they put in the park the engine was removed so someone built a crawl way so the kids crawl from front to back or go the other way was covered with foam rubber and some kind of cover over the foam. Only saw that one day have no idea how it got from to there or who did it. WOW what a shock to see it here.

Good to know! What year did you see it?

_________________

All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

Update: I was looking through some back issues of Air Classics and found a shot of the Soldiers' Home F-86 on page 13 of the March, 1975 issue, which shows the plane in its previous markings and (presumably) correct serial number, 53-1387:

So I guess this must not be the one from JFK Park... glad I caught the error before it spread.

_________________

All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

Saw F86 in the yard mush have been late 90s. Wonder if the AFM knows where it is.

You know there's a F86 on a post at Beaver Co. Airport Pa (BVI). One day there was this truck with NRC logo on the door parked right next to it. They had the cockpit open and a ladder up to it. Said they were checking it because of the inst that had glow in dark pointers and numbers. Wonder if that's why they pulled that one out of the park.

These are fantastic! It's amazing how much a reaction that these planes engender from anyone who remembers playing on them as a kid. That is the best picture I've seen of the Cabin John bird. It looks like my next project for the Montgomery County Historical Society's magazine will be an article on the playground birds.

So, I've started working on an article regarding the Montgomery County, Maryland playground birds, including the F9F that Leon obtained. I'm trying to do some background on this, and any input would be appreciated.

1. How did the idea of turning old airplanes into playground equipment come about? Was this an extension of the program where aircraft were donated to "Air Scouts" chapters?

2. How would a jurisdiction obtain the aircraft? Did they fill out an application? Pay for them? I'm fairly certain that with Montgomery County, they had to drive down to Norfolk to pick up the airplanes that they used on their playgrounds.

In the spring 1971, one of the last ANG (Maryland with Vietnam-style camo) F-86Hs was given to a state school for the mentally challenged near here. Either the ANG or Fairchild guys stripped out some stuff before it went to he school. IIRC, the engine wen to the community college aviation program(they also had a couple of T-33s and H-23...none of which are there now).

I believe the Sabre eventually was rescued and sent to either the March or Castle museum.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

I love this stuff. Let me know if you go F7U hunting

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Don't know any of the answers to the questions asked, but I know that as a AF brat growing up, many of the AF bases had aircraft, drop tanks, etc on the play grounds and at the day care centers.

_________________
Mike in Florida
TSgt USAF Retired
Jan 86 - Sept 08
Aircrew Life Support
"Your Life Is Our Business"
(122X0, 1T1X1, 1P0X1)
NRA Life Member

The status of TF-9J 142497 status was changed to "disposition undertermined" on the 16th of July 1967, which could be the date of the accident.

Hi Nathan,

Still getting nowhere on digging for the F7U (and the B-57 that went down in Beallsville, MD for that matter) with park management, and am no closer to finding anyone who can tell me definitively if the plane was buried on site. However, we may be going hunting for a Douglas DB-7 (yes, an RAF export model) up in northern Maryland in the very near future if the landowner is okay with us digging a few holes in his field.

I can't help with the US playground machines but here in New Zealand we have a proud(?!) history of Harvards (T-6s) and Avengers being put in next to swing sets and slides...and in some cases being fitted with slides. The last of the playground Harvards is finally about to be relieved of duty and replaced with a fibreglass replica.

There's a list, sadly without photos, here: http://rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/2208/ ... aft?page=1

Some great Harvard photos, and one Avenger, plus the aforementioned fibreglass replica can be seen here: http://rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/14902 ... playground

Good photos of the Pahiatua Harvard, which is to be replaced: http://rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/5934?page=2

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Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG".
https://linktr.ee/zacyates

"It's his plane, he spent the money to restore it, he can do with it what he wants. I will never understand what's hard to comprehend about this." - kalamazookid, 20/08/2013
"The more time you spend around warbirds the sooner you learn nothing, is simple." - JohnB, 24/02/22

I suspect it was the March AFB machine (the Castle F-86H was retired in May 1961 and donated the following October).

March's F-86H (53-1304) was indeed one of the last MD ANG aircraft.