F4U 'netted'

[Dusty_Dog_01]

If you check the wing center section spar caps, right near the wing fold, you should see two numbers stamped into it. One of these will be the part number for the spar cap (something like VS-34072...) and the other will be the construction number for the airframe. You should find these numbers on both the top and bottom of the wing at each end of the center section spar cap.
All the best,
Richard

Richard,

I am kind of ignorant as far as the airframe is concerned, but what do the center section spar caps look like? Are they the ends (end caps) of the center part of the wing which is connected to the fuselage if you were to remove the folding parts of the wings?

[Dusty_Dog_01]

HELLLLLLEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!

Long time no hear! How is everyone? I know that it has been a while since I was last on here! Still trying my hardest to get in touch with the right people to assist me further in trying to I.D. the Sigonella F4, but am coming up empty handed!

Here shortly I will be contacting the Navy History Center and quite possibly the Navy Safety Center, two of the latest possibilities, with the serial numbers of the two T-31 20mm cannons to see if they somehow, somewhere have any info on which bird was the last plane these guns were mounted on! If this doesn't pan out, then we are at a severe stalemate!

But on the lighter side, I was back at the aircraft last week nosing around when I was drawn back to the stbd wing! Two ID plates caught my eye! Upon closer inspection I noticed that I was staring at the Gun Camera, or the remnants of the Gun Camera. When I pulled it out, it was pretty much still intact but due to the massive amounts of corrosion buildup over the years, the casing had expanded and become cracked, breaking off the faceplate!

What is the coolest thing about this is that the film cartridge is still inside the camera, rusted and falling apart but you can still see the film inside! How awesome would that be if not having been exposed to 50+ years of salt water and such to have the film developed! But as we all know, that isn't going to happen! But what I noticed after cleaning it up was on the main plate, it stated " U.S. Navy Bu. of Ordanance "! Don't think that they have been around for a while!

Anyhew, this is the extent of my pilferring! But I do need some help with something else! A few weeks back when another buddy of mine and I were able to flip the airframe upright, I pulled two pieces of equipment from the wreckage but am paying hell in identifying them! They both look like small engine blocks! One of them has a large water nozzle on top of it almost like a radiator hose connector on an intake manifold and one side of it is larger than the other. It also seems to be two pieces bolted or screwed together to make one component! I am assuming that this is the water injector, not sure but maybe!

The other piece resembles more of a push mower style engine casing but a little bigger! One side of it is encrusted with oil soaked dirt and has a few " levers " on the back that look like they might have connected to an engine control or two! Not sure if I am making any sense in describing these in detail. I can't find pictures or anything online to help me figure out what parts they actually are! Can anyone help?

Also, I was hoping to be able to salvage the pilot's stick but to no avail the only part of the flight controls that I found and which I am hoping they are, are the base for the pilot's stick to attach too, along with a triangle shaped connector with to " rods " that look like they ran to both the port and stbd rudders or flight instruments. Will have to take a picture to help out with the descriptions on all three of these parts! I will post them to my Facebook page if anyone can link them to here for me for better assistance!

Well, that is it for now! Gotta go! Hopefully I will hear from someone! Take care!

Jason

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/295917_10150327815661149_730521148_8280173_1176152170_n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/295917_10150327815676149_730521148_8280174_1830064519_n.jpg

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/295917_10150327815691149_730521148_8280175_927795574_n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/295917_10150327815696149_730521148_8280176_1446501969_n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/295917_10150327815701149_730521148_8280177_1497763202_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/300909_10150327822781149_730521148_8280201_694383295_n.jpg

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/300909_10150327822796149_730521148_8280202_1566982376_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/300909_10150327822801149_730521148_8280203_840553961_n.jpg

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/300909_10150327822816149_730521148_8280204_1840932676_n.jpg

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/297037_10150327828936149_730521148_8280216_1880818064_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/297037_10150327828946149_730521148_8280217_1221744573_n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/297037_10150327828951149_730521148_8280218_2141758377_n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/297037_10150327828961149_730521148_8280219_1195663394_n.jpg

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http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/306411_10150327834656149_730521148_8280235_220889585_n.jpg

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[Dusty_Dog_01]

Hi! I know that it has been a while and not sure if many people remember this topic but I have a question about a part of the F4U that I was messing with back in 2011 here in Sigonella, Sicily!

I have a diagram that show or illustrates a part that I was able to retrieve from the wreck. I need some help in identifying this part and would like to know if there is anyone out there that could help me out with this????? Any takers?

Thanks,
Jason

[mike furline]

Hi! I know that it has been a while and not sure if many people remember this topic but I have a question about a part of the F4U that I was messing with back in 2011 here in Sigonella, Sicily!

I have a diagram that show or illustrates a part that I was able to retrieve from the wreck. I need some help in identifying this part and would like to know if there is anyone out there that could help me out with this????? Any takers?

Thanks,
Jason

Post a picture.

[Dusty_Dog_01]

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150206630596149.320705.730521148&type=3#!/photo.php?fbid=10150332717786149&set=a.10150206630596149.320705.730521148&type=3&theater

[Dusty_Dog_01]

If you look at the diagram, right where the " Pilot's " left elbow is, there is a small, rectangular box with three dials on it. The piece that I have is simular but all of the cockpit photo's that I keep coming across on the net, do not have this item installed on any of the Port side walls. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[mike furline]

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150206630596149.320705.730521148&type=3#!/photo.php?fbid=10150332717786149&set=a.10150206630596149.320705.730521148&type=3&theater

Your link isn't working.

[Dusty_Dog_01]

http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/technical-requests/f4u-1-corsair-construction-drawings-needed-6559.html

If you look at the diagram, right where the " Pilot's " left elbow is, there is a small, rectangular box with three dials on it. The piece that I have is simular but all of the cockpit photo's that I keep coming across on the net, do not have this item installed on any of the Port side walls. Any suggestions???

Hopefully this link will work.

[mike furline]

http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/technical-requests/f4u-1-corsair-construction-drawings-needed-6559.html

If you look at the diagram, right where the " Pilot's " left elbow is, there is a small, rectangular box with three dials on it. The piece that I have is simular but all of the cockpit photo's that I keep coming across on the net, do not have this item installed on any of the Port side walls. Any suggestions???

Hopefully this link will work.

In the drawing you provided (F4U-1), you are looking at the radio receiver control box (item 5). It is actually located on the right/starboard side of the cockpit.

[Dusty_Dog_01]

AWESOME!!!!! Thank you so much. Is there any way possible that I can get a better picture of that page from you?

[mike furline]

AWESOME!!!!! Thank you so much. Is there any way possible that I can get a better picture of that page from you?

Sure, PM me your e-mail.

I'm suprised your item, recovered from an F4U-5 looks like this. The -5 had a different style radio receiver.

F4U-1


F4U-5

[Dusty_Dog_01]

Oh, trust me. The one that I have looks nothing like this. It is much worse shape! And from seeing your color picture I may have a part of the actual radio. It's just that when I saw the three dials, together on that one schematic, It sort of reminded me of it. Shoot me your email in a PM and I will forward you a picture of the part that I have. Thanks!