F8F data plate

Please pardon the novice. I am attempting to feel my way along on the issue of a data plate for an early F8F-1 that I found after the death of my father.

He was in VF-19, the first Bearcat squadron, when they transitioned from the F6F to the F8F and went to the factory in Bethpage to pickup new aircraft, etc. In mid-1945 they carrier-qualified in the new birds. (They were enroute combat when the war ended; convinced that they would all be aces with the Bearcat!)

When I googled the buno from the plate I have, I saw on Joe Baugher's web site that the F8F-1 in question was written off in a carqual accident in mid-1945. I'm not sure how my Dad ended up with the plate, although he was the squadron's maintenance officer for part of his tour. His log book shows he never flew the aircraft in question.

I have watched eBay now and again for the past couple of years and feel these can be valuable. Can anyone comment? Thanks!

Larry Cauble

[mrhenniger]

Welcome to WIX Larry. I am sure someone here can help. Be prepared to give it a few days.

Mike

Thanks, Mike!

[mrhenniger]

Actually you might want to try posting this subject in the hanger. It is a little off topic here and might not get much traffic.

Mike