Warbird Information Exchange

Was the former Honduras Corsair FAH-605 (BuNo.122184) that was recovered by Hollywood Wings, flown or shipped back to the CONUS in 1979.

Thanks

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shuck

Here ya go http://www.warbirdregistry.org/corsairr ... 22184.html
Hope that helps.
Robbie

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Fly Fast Make Noise!

It was flown to the US with 5 other F4Us led by a Cessna 340. The whole story is detailed in Hidden Warbirds.

Shuck/F4U Folks:

Good day!

Yes!! Buno 122184 was one of the many -5s flown to Houston, TX c. Dec 1979 fm Honduras. Don't know who the pilot was but it was bought by the late Howard Pardue & Robert Ferguson.

p.s BTW in case you miss it due to the previous software Wix problems the picture of the man himself Mr. Bob F. Bean in younger days delivering a restored P-47 to Long Island area c. 1960.

I was told that one of the planes that flew to Long Beach had firecrackers in its ammo compartment when it landed.

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Better is the enemy of Good.

Thanks chaps

So FAH-601, 604, 605, 606, 612, 614 and 615 were all flown back to the US.

And FAH-600 only got as far as Belize Airport.

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shuck

Correct, but FAH-600 was repaired on site in Belize (new prop) and continued on to Long Beach, CA.

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Rob Mears
'Surviving Corsairs' Historian
robcmears@yahoo.com
http://www.robmears.com

Shuck:

Good day!

....you seem to omit one ..FAH 619!! Houston , TX c. Dec '79.

I thought that was BuNo.97280 FAH-615 in fictitious marks!

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shuck

Shuck:

Nope!! It seems that way,... but those fuselage numbers (4) are as real as all the other cousins!

Thanks, do you have the exact date of the mishap in Belize please.

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shuck

Shuck:

..Dec'79 (for now) around 0830 Hrs Belize time!

FAH-600 and FAH-605 were flown home separately after the first six planes had returned home. I don't have the exact date, but it should still have been late December of 1979.

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Rob Mears
'Surviving Corsairs' Historian
robcmears@yahoo.com
http://www.robmears.com

I believe around 1976-77 both FAH-614 (BuNo.96995) and FAH-615 (BuNo.97280) both had their noses painted in blue & white checkerboard markings, similar to those worn by VMF-312 during the Korean War. Looking at the photo of FAH-615/619, it appears that the patina on the cowlings matches the rest of the paint scheme, so I would guess a set of spare cowlings must have been liberated from the non-airworthy Corsairs for the checkerboard paint idea. I often wonder what occasion called for their painting the checkered noses. They didn't wear those markings for very long.

It would have been sometime between 1977, and the sale of the planes in 1979 that FAH-615's number was changed to "619". Looking at various photos, it appears they simply painted right over the upper right portion of the number '5' to create the '9'. As to why, I imagine the answer will forever be lost to time unless someone can interview some of the surviving ground crew personnel for an answer.

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Rob Mears
'Surviving Corsairs' Historian
robcmears@yahoo.com
http://www.robmears.com

Rob:

You are correct with the checkered board schemes on FAH 614 & FAH 615. Someone liked the idea first c.'77 & then someone did not afterwards. I'd like to know myself the reasons & how the idea took place. Same with the gull grey scheme of FAH 614 for a short time.

p.s Will you be more specific with the markings of FAH 619 with a close-up. The only B./W that shows the change of number details was in A/C Mag c. Feb 1980s with B. Ferguson & H. Pardue in front of FAH 619!! ..and then the questions began!!! I was even told once c. Nov-86 by one of the buyers that 9 FAH F4Us came back to the US. We know now there were only 8.