Corsair Gathering in Bridgeport, CT - June 3-5, 2005

Ryan Keough · **Posted:** Tue Nov 30, 2004 1:58 pm

Anyone here know about the event "Corsairs Over Connecticut" that is supposed to be happening June 3-5, 2005? Someone says that they are planning a huge event including a line-up of the Corsairs in one of the original Vought hangars like an assembly line... plus flying and such.

All that I found was the link http://www.veteranssalute.org/

Mint? You know anything about this? Mr. Mears? Anyone? Anyone?

Ryan Keough

Scott Rose · **Posted:** Tue Nov 30, 2004 2:18 pm

thats a definate WIX meet if it is happening!

TimAPNY · **Posted:** Tue Nov 30, 2004 2:25 pm

That falls on the same weekend as the MAAM's World War 2 weekend.

Corsairs will win out! If they are there.

Mike Schneider · **Joined:** Mon Oct 11, 2004 1:43 pm **Posts:** 79

Just got this in my email this morning.

I just thought you'd like to know a little bit about the event we are planning in Connecticut next June. In conjunction with the Veterans Salute, we will attempt to bring as many Corsairs back to Bridgeport, CT as possible. At the presnt time we are expecting nine.

The Veterans Salute will be held in Bridgeport, Connecticut at Sikorsky Memorial Airport (BDR) on June 2-5, 2005. Arrival date is expected to be Thursday, June 2nd, and the actual display will be open to the public will be from the 3rd to the 5th of June.

This celebration, coinciding with the 60th Anniversary of the end of WWII, is to honor the men and woman of WWII, both home front and those who served. The initial plan for the air display portion is to recreate a portion of the Chance Vought Factory, hopefully in one of the four original Vought-Sikorsky hangars. The factory display will form the first part of each day, with men and woman portraying "war workers" on the homefront, surrounded by spare engines, propellers, machinery and factory sounds. There will also be displays of other vintage warbirds on the ramp that will fly at different times during the day.

Around noon, the Corsairs will be towed out of the "factory" and lined-up for a "War Bond Production Rally". There will be a few speakers, former pilots, factory workers and historians to give short speeches about the role the manufacturers undertook during the war. The aircraft will then start and perform fly-overs of the airport, city and on Sunday, the veterans parade.

Mid-afternoon, one Corsair and pilot will be utilized to perform a factory "test flight" on a "new" Corsair. The pilot will perform his preflight over the sound system as he walks around the aircraft. He will then proceed to start and fly the aircraft in a series of simulated test maneuvers that will be scripted with simulated conversation with Vought "test control".

Bringing a bunch of Corsairs back home to Connecticut is going to be fantastic!
I'll keep you posted.
Blue skies,

Jerry O'Neill

Veterans Salute Air Display Coordinator

Website: www.veteranssalute.org

Don't forget about our Corsair DVD either!

www.thecorsairexperience.com

krlang · **Posted:** Sat Dec 04, 2004 12:59 am

Hey, just a thought
Does the one on the pole in the parking lot count as one of the 9?

Why is Ryan asking the question, if there are going to be that many dont you think that Rob's airplane would already be in the plan?

corsairboss · **Posted:** Sat Dec 04, 2004 4:37 pm

This may be nice show, and maybe everything will come together for them with all there planning, but I have not been asked about Marine's Dream yet. Ray will bring it back in the spring "March or April" and start doing shows again. We are heading to ICAS in the morning, and maybe I will have some sort of schedule when I get back. Best of LUCK to the planners, but it takes money to make it all happen..!!
:partyman:

Broken-Wrench · **Joined:** Sun Oct 24, 2004 12:37 pm **Posts:** 1197

There will also be a big event at Pratt & Whitney because it is it's 80th year of making engines. I'll be back with dates and events.

Cindy · **Posted:** Tue Dec 14, 2004 7:33 am

there was something on aero-news.net about it this morning

TimAPNY · **Posted:** Tue Dec 14, 2004 8:13 am

Maybe the factory could show everyone how they made the wing spars, by making about a dozen. :twisted:

Just joking, sort of :wink:

I starting to look forward too this.

Dennis Bergstrom · **Posted:** Tue Dec 14, 2004 3:19 pm

Here's the piece in today's Aero-News :

Corsairs Over Connecticut
Warbird Returns To Their Roots For 60th Anniversary Of WWII
Victory

To celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the end of WWII, June 2005
will see nine Chance Vought F4U Corsairs return home to Connecticut
for the Veterans Salute, a celebration honoring the men and woman
who worked on the home front and served in the military during
WWII.

Designed and built entirely in Connecticut, powered by a Pratt
and Whitney engine and Hamilton Standard Propeller, the Corsair
represents the people and manufacturers who created the
Constitution State's mighty "Arsenal of Democracy" during WWII.
"The Corsair is Connecticut and it's people", stated Jerry O'Neill,
Display Coordinator, "and we've put together an amazing program
never before attempted outside of Hollywood!"

Visitors will be transported to back to Bridgeport during the
height of WWII. Unique "set-pieces" will be arranged throughout the
weekend including a recreation of the Chance Vought Corsair
Factory, complete with aircraft parts, engines, props, shop
equipment, "Rosie the Riveter's" and real Corsairs. A "War Bond
Rally" and a factory "Test Flight" are also planned. Other displays
include WWII aircraft, military vehicles and historical
re-enactors.

(Photos by: Philip Makanna/Ghosts)
FMI: www.veteranssalute.com, airdales@cox.net

Dennis

Scott Rose · **Posted:** Sun Dec 19, 2004 3:49 pm

Got this along with the press release above in a e-mail from airdales. Just thought I'd pass it along.

corsairboss · **Posted:** Thu Dec 23, 2004 9:15 am

I talked with Jerry Oniell on Tues. and Ray Dieckman Marine's Dream will be at the ReUnion. Should be a nice Gathering of Corsairs and Archives. Keep an eye on their web site for all the latest info and updates.

TimAPNY · **Posted:** Thu Dec 23, 2004 9:38 am

I'm not going to be able to sleep for the next 6 months :lol:

Scott Rose · **Posted:** Thu Dec 23, 2004 1:33 pm

CAF Corsair wrote:

Jerry advised me on Thursday that the Collings Foundation F4U-5 is also going, and he will update the Flyer in the New Year, and keep doing so as the attendance sheet grows.
I have supplied him with a newer photo for our Corsair to use ( the one on the Flyer is in the old livery ).

Regards
Tracey
CAF Corsair Sponsor Group
http://www.caf-corsair.com

Glad to hear it, I think that is one of my favorite Corsair, except for #57 of course

corsairboss · **Posted:** Wed Dec 29, 2004 8:46 pm

Before any more guessing, YES Marine's Dream will be at the Corsair ReUnion in Conn. we are looking forward to this Gathering and Best of Luck to Jerry and Crew on the ReUnion..!!

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Corsair Gathering in Bridgeport, CT - June 3-5, 2005

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