Grumman F6F Hellcat found in Barn (1954) ...

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7821

I wasn't going to add the date in the thread title, but then reconsidered as to not cause a panic! :wink:

Looks like someone decided to try to hide a Hellcat in a barn, but found out the barn was too small. (my theory lol)
F6F crash into barn NAAS Chincoteague 1954

The Naval Aviation Ordnance Test Station (NAOTS) was a United States Navy base located at 37°55′N 75°22′W, near Chincoteague, VA, that was used as a suborbital launch site. In 1955, research rockets of the Rockair type were launched from F2H-2 planes based there. An altitude of 54,864 m (180,000 ft) was reached with a 70mm (2.75-in.) folded-fin aerial rocket (FFAR) of Korean vintage. In spite of successful tests, the rockair concept never achieved the popularity of the rockoon. Apparently no important scientific rocket research was carried out with rockaires, in contrast to the hundreds of rockoons fired during the 1950s.[1]

In 1959, NASA acquired NAOTS and parts of the station were incorporated into the Wallops Island facility, later named Wallops Flight Facility.

C VEICH · **Joined:** Sun Nov 15, 2009 12:40 pm **Posts:** 1471

That is a -5k drone Hellcat, no doubt painted bright red. Man how I wish these pics were in color! I built an r/c model of a Chincoteague based F6F-5K a few years back. Couldn't bring myself to put the gangly extended and fixed tail wheel on it though!

Lon Moer · **Posted:** Sat Jul 18, 2020 6:43 pm

drones

Attachment:

hellcat5.jpeg [ 71.71 KiB | Viewed 3042 times ]

JohnB · **Posted:** Sat Jul 18, 2020 8:16 pm

A Hellcat drone reminds me of the infamous "Battle of Palmdale".

Pogo · **Posted:** Sat Jul 18, 2020 9:05 pm

"...Hellcat found in Barn..."

When I saw the pix I spit beer on my monitor. I hope you're very satisfied with yourself, Mr. Mark Allen.

Michel Lemieux · **Posted:** Sat Jul 18, 2020 9:18 pm

Mark....as always! thank you!!!!

Any takes on the back dent in the right wing!!!!????

airnutz · **Posted:** Sun Jul 19, 2020 6:01 am

Michel Lemieux wrote:

Any takes on the back dent in the right wing!!!!????

Looks like he caught the corner post of a fence. If it had been about a foot and a half shorter he might have avoided ripping the wing...

Yup, another great post Mark!!

JOMiller · **Joined:** Mon May 30, 2011 8:27 am **Posts:** 321

Years ago I was told a story about a Hellcat owned by a man named Compton.
(Don't remember a first name.) Something was buggered up on it. He nosed
it into a barn until he could fix it. Age and health caught up with him. The
bird was sold some years ago. These photos sure look like what it could ne.

Owen

Warbirdnerd · **Joined:** Fri Apr 30, 2004 7:34 pm **Posts:** 2923

JOMiller wrote:

Years ago I was told a story about a Hellcat owned by a man named Compton.
(Don't remember a first name.) Something was buggered up on it. He nosed
it into a barn until he could fix it. Age and health caught up with him. The
bird was sold some years ago. These photos sure look like what it could ne.

Owen

It is this one Owen-
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/f6fregis ... 08825.html

JOMiller · **Joined:** Mon May 30, 2011 8:27 am **Posts:** 321

Hey, thanks form the info. Nice to have a good ending !

Jim MacDonald · **Posted:** Tue Jul 21, 2020 2:36 am

Isn't Bill Compton's F6F being restored for Allied Fighters?

Mac

Lon Moer · **Posted:** Tue Jul 21, 2020 12:56 pm

Jim MacDonald wrote:

Isn't Bill Compton's F6F being restored for Allied Fighters?

Mac

Yes, for owner Jack Croul.

Jim MacDonald · **Posted:** Tue Jul 21, 2020 11:38 pm

Thanks for the answer, Lon. Wonder why they only have Dottie Mae info on their Facebook page.

Mac

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