Warbird Information Exchange

A photo my Dad took during an HRS delivery flight and I'm trying to make a best guess as to where it may be. Based on his logbook and the mountains in the distance, my best guess is Tucson or Yuma.

The Navy F9F's may have been transients as well but, can any of you folks identify their squadron? It appears to be an H on the tail, possibly M or W?

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Cheers,

Craig

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U.S. Marine Corps Sikorsky HRS / CH-19 Helicopter Database
U.S. Coast Guard Sikorsky HO4S / HH-19 Helicopter Database

Sorry I can't help on squadron ID but I would have to guess(educationally) that its in Yuma as Tucson never had a Marine air station.

In the book "Navy Air Colors Vol.2" by T.E.Doll, pg 41 there is an artists sktetch of a F9F with a similarly sized and positioned H on the tail. It is identified as VF153 and operating off of the USS Princeton dated 1953.

I doubt that it is Yuma as the USMC did not take possession of that base until later in the 50's. In the mid-50's it was still Vincent AFB and operating F-89's in the ADC role. Given the fact that the photo appears to be in a desert or arrid location and high mountains in the background it could well be NAF El Centro, NAAS Fallon or MCAAS Mojave.