New (old) playground warbirds, etc. from Woodsy Airfield

[Chris Brame]

Just got another batch of shots from Leon Cleaver (aka Woodsy Airfield); maybe those in the know can fill in details?

FJ-4B 139536 at Cabin John Regional Park, July 15, 1975 (previously mentioned on this thread: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=55968):

Scrapped on site a few years later - date?

Earlier in its career with NARTU New York (courtesy millionmonkeytheater.com):

FJ-4B 139536
*NARTU New York, NY as "7R-68".
*1964: NARTU Willow Grove, PA as "7W-xx".
*8/13/1964: Damaged beyond repair in an accident.

From another playground, this time in Freeport, PA on August 10, 1980, F-86H 52-2043:

Anyone know what happened to it?

Finally, one that's still around - F-86H "FU-888" (Correction: 53-1387) on July 15, 1975 at the Soldiers' Home (now the AFRH) in D.C.:

The trees got bigger, but it's still on display and well cared for; at some point the buzz number was changed to "FU-833" but the stripes are the same. From the Armed Forces Retirement Home Communicator, September 30, 2014:

Other info I've found online states this plane was previously in a playground in JFK Park in D.C. but I haven't found a photo of it there.

Now from the Navy: the remains of TF-9J 146423 taken at a gas station in Pensacola, FL on February 28, 1974:

Not much info other than it was SOC at NARF Pensacola on October 2, 1973 (per MMT). Note how the word NAVY and the squadron designator were covered in duct tape rather that painted out when it was surplused. Anyone know more?

Finally, the oldest photo here, TF-9J 142497:

The slide was taken by James Pavolko while in service - no info other than a date of 1967 and I believe this happen at Randolph AFB, but not sure...

Earlier photo from MMT:

F9F-8T (TF-9J) b/n 142497
*1961: VU-3 as “UF-12”.
*1966-67: VT-23 as “3H-318”.
*10/1/1967: Struck off charge at NAS Kingsville, TX.

Looks like the aftermath of a gear collapse or belly landing? Anyone know what happened?

Thanks Leon! Over to the WIX brain trust...

Last edited by Chris Brame on Wed Jun 03, 2015 6:10 am, edited 1 time in total.

[dirtysidedown430]

As we say in Pittsburgh Pa, from the west end "Yous guys ain't going to believe this". But I saw that f86 with the little girl coming out of the air intake. But was not in Freeport Pa, it was later it had been removed from the park. I was the chase guy for a hot air balloon we were west of Butler Pa. Bout 10 miles not too far from US Rt 422 lest I think it 422. Ended up on dirt road looking for balloon came pass trees farm house and there it was laying on the ground with what was left of a F4. When they put in the park the engine was removed so someone built a crawl way so the kids crawl from front to back or go the other way was covered with foam rubber and some kind of cover over the foam. Only saw that one day have no idea how it got from to there or who did it. WOW what a shock to see it here.

[Chris Brame]

Good to know! What year did you see it?

[Chris Brame]

Update: I was looking through some back issues of Air Classics and found a shot of the Soldiers' Home F-86 on page 13 of the March, 1975 issue, which shows the plane in its previous markings and (presumably) correct serial number, 53-1387:

So I guess this must not be the one from JFK Park... glad I caught the error before it spread.

[dirtysidedown430]

Saw F86 in the yard mush have been late 90s. Wonder if the AFM knows where it is.

[dirtysidedown430]

You know there's a F86 on a post at Beaver Co. Airport Pa (BVI). One day there was this truck with NRC logo on the door parked right next to it. They had the cockpit open and a ladder up to it. Said they were checking it because of the inst that had glow in dark pointers and numbers. Wonder if that's why they pulled that one out of the park.

[SaxMan]

These are fantastic! It's amazing how much a reaction that these planes engender from anyone who remembers playing on them as a kid. That is the best picture I've seen of the Cabin John bird. It looks like my next project for the Montgomery County Historical Society's magazine will be an article on the playground birds.

[SaxMan]

So, I've started working on an article regarding the Montgomery County, Maryland playground birds, including the F9F that Leon obtained. I'm trying to do some background on this, and any input would be appreciated.

1. How did the idea of turning old airplanes into playground equipment come about? Was this an extension of the program where aircraft were donated to "Air Scouts" chapters?

2. How would a jurisdiction obtain the aircraft? Did they fill out an application? Pay for them? I'm fairly certain that with Montgomery County, they had to drive down to Norfolk to pick up the airplanes that they used on their playgrounds.

[JohnB]

In the spring 1971, one of the last ANG (Maryland with Vietnam-style camo) F-86Hs was given to a state school for the mentally challenged near here. Either the ANG or Fairchild guys stripped out some stuff before it went to he school. IIRC, the engine wen to the community college aviation program(they also had a couple of T-33s and H-23...none of which are there now).

I believe the Sabre eventually was rescued and sent to either the March or Castle museum.

[Nathan]

I love this stuff. Let me know if you go F7U hunting

[ffuries]

Don't know any of the answers to the questions asked, but I know that as a AF brat growing up, many of the AF bases had aircraft, drop tanks, etc on the play grounds and at the day care centers.

[SIDSIKO]

The status of TF-9J 142497 status was changed to "disposition undertermined" on the 16th of July 1967, which could be the date of the accident.

[SaxMan]

Hi Nathan,

Still getting nowhere on digging for the F7U (and the B-57 that went down in Beallsville, MD for that matter) with park management, and am no closer to finding anyone who can tell me definitively if the plane was buried on site. However, we may be going hunting for a Douglas DB-7 (yes, an RAF export model) up in northern Maryland in the very near future if the landowner is okay with us digging a few holes in his field.

[Zac Yates]

I can't help with the US playground machines but here in New Zealand we have a proud(?!) history of Harvards (T-6s) and Avengers being put in next to swing sets and slides...and in some cases being fitted with slides. The last of the playground Harvards is finally about to be relieved of duty and replaced with a fibreglass replica.

There's a list, sadly without photos, here: http://rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/2208/ ... aft?page=1

Some great Harvard photos, and one Avenger, plus the aforementioned fibreglass replica can be seen here: http://rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/14902 ... playground

Good photos of the Pahiatua Harvard, which is to be replaced: http://rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/5934?page=2

[quemerford]

In the spring 1971, one of the last ANG (Maryland with Vietnam-style camo) F-86Hs was given to a state school for the mentally challenged near here. Either the ANG or Fairchild guys stripped out some stuff before it went to he school. IIRC, the engine wen to the community college aviation program(they also had a couple of T-33s and H-23...none of which are there now).

I believe the Sabre eventually was rescued and sent to either the March or Castle museum.

I suspect it was the March AFB machine (the Castle F-86H was retired in May 1961 and donated the following October).

March's F-86H (53-1304) was indeed one of the last MD ANG aircraft.