Lake Michigan F6F recovery and restoration thread

shepsair · **Posted:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 3:04 pm

We know now what the VF-38 emblem was like.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=33449&hilit=Felix

Felix the cat with XXX drink and gun on Navy wings. It is unclear if it is black as the images I saw when it was recovered seemed to indicate dark blue (darker than Hellcat blue).

Seems a lot of the removable panels are from an assortment of different Hellcats. Hoping check out the 3/4 Bu.No to see their history and possible tie in with 25910 (Pacific/San Diego/Jacksonville/VF-8/Glenview).

Does not seem to have a name forward of the emblem though if this panel is non original then it would not be available to see anyway.

Thanks for the info Scott.

regards

Mark

A2C · **Posted:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:56 pm

Good photos and article on this link:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldne ... anded.html

mh53eflyguy · **Joined:** Thu Dec 10, 2009 3:30 pm **Posts:** 98

shepsair wrote:

We know now what the VF-38 emblem was like.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=33449&hilit=Felix

Felix the cat with XXX drink and gun on Navy wings. It is unclear if it is black as the images I saw when it was recovered seemed to indicate dark blue (darker than Hellcat blue).

Seems a lot of the removable panels are from an assortment of different Hellcats. Hoping check out the 3/4 Bu.No to see their history and possible tie in with 25910 (Pacific/San Diego/Jacksonville/VF-8/Glenview).

Does not seem to have a name forward of the emblem though if this panel is non original then it would not be available to see anyway.

Thanks for the info Scott.

regards

Mark

Happy to be of some assistance Mark!

Cheers!

John Kerr · **Posted:** Sat Dec 19, 2009 9:48 am

On 12-17-09 I made another trip to the Museum. Here are a few additonal photos of F6F-3 and items
of interest. Have included Life Raft, Ammo Load Wing Instructions plate, Plotting Board, Shotgun Starter
Unit, Shotgun Shell (expended) and some more panels with more F6F-3 serial numbers (IE 09027,
25980, and 04865). Hope you will find these of interest. John R. Kerr

Holedigger · **Posted:** Sat Dec 19, 2009 10:03 am

Wow! Too Cool. Such a time capsule.

Taras · **Joined:** Sun Jun 13, 2004 4:49 pm **Posts:** 89

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lskXATyCXl0

You might like this.

Taras

shepsair · **Posted:** Sat Dec 19, 2009 4:54 pm

Taras

Great footage. Thought originally this was Hellcat 25910 but noticed later it was a TBM Avenger (and confirmation footage was taken on USS Wolverine) - 25910 was lost from USS Sable. Very similar situation for both though.

She looks great now she is a lot cleaner.

regards

Mark

DaveM2 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 19, 2009 5:13 pm

Taras

Excellent video and once again congratulations on another well executed historic recovery -off for a well earned break now I hope, and perhaps we can look forward to some more of the same in 2010.

regards
Dave
CW

TimAPNY · **Posted:** Sun Dec 20, 2009 12:11 am

Very cool!

tom d. friedman · **Posted:** Sun Dec 20, 2009 12:23 am

this is a fabulous thread!! & i've seen no squawks posted either!! how refreshing........ a united & enthusiastic board !! maybe were all getting into the holiday spirit / spirits of torpedo juice, etc, after 1 heck of a long painful year for this nation & world. happy holidays friends.

mh53eflyguy · **Joined:** Thu Dec 10, 2009 3:30 pm **Posts:** 98

Taras,

Great video buddy! Keep them coming (up)!

-Scott

mh53eflyguy · **Joined:** Thu Dec 10, 2009 3:30 pm **Posts:** 98

Interesting photo of the ammo loading procedures.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/19178908@N ... 006588538/

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Sun Dec 20, 2009 10:10 am

Great video Taras. Can you tell us if any specific airframes at this time have been targeted for recovery in 2010?

Warhawk · **Posted:** Sun Dec 20, 2009 11:16 am

mh53eflyguy wrote:

Interesting photo of the ammo loading procedures.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/19178908@N ... 006588538/

And I got this instead....

Quote:

This page is private.
Oops! You don't have permission to view this page.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Sun Dec 20, 2009 2:34 pm

mh53eflyguy wrote:

mustangdriver wrote:

I do wish that the NMNA would take that area they have that is made to look like a hangar deck and put a few wildcats or hellcats in there with the wings folded to show people what it would have looked like in a carrier. It would make a very educational display.

It sounds like you haven't been there in a bit.....It's somewhat set up like that now.... F8F, F6F, and a F4U/FG-1D(out of picture but almost immediately to the left of the Bearcat) lined up on the edge of the "carrier" with the wings folded.

I know it doesn't constitute "a few" but it still somewhat works, in my humble opinion.

Cool shot. I was there last year, but it was stacked a bit different. I was talking about that smaller area upstairs that looks like a hangar deck. That would be pretty cool.

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