F4u Corsair Restoration

[Lorin Cupples]

Justnow found this and thought some of you might be interested, especially @Corsairfoxfouruncle and @corsaircorp. They should have used the plank on those kids, in my opinion! The Museum of Naval Aviation at Pensacola is also restoring a Birdcage F4U-1. Can't wait to see them both!

Thanks for the update, Ed. I realized after I posted the two links that one wasn't that current, but you never know with museums, as sometimes it's a long time between updates. In any event, sure hope they can get it finished!

Dunno- perhaps because it's going to be a static display only, or maybe it's cheaper to use a commercially available aircraft primer? I don't recall at what point in production Vought stopped using the 'salmon' tinted primer, but fairly sure all the Birdcage Corsairs had it applied.

In regards to the Pensacola Birdcage, it is a real shame they are not restoring it as they found her. For example the main wheel wells had light sea grey paint overtop the salmon. The inside of the engine cowl at the front also should be lsg.

That is what I too was told, Ed, when talking to a couple of people working on it back in 2016. Shame the museum closed down, I believe the owner had health concerns. A great collection you could get right up close and personal with

This list of surviving Vought F4U Corsairs by country location includes information about the aircraft, including model number, bureau number, fuselage markings, location within the country, and status (airworthy, on display, and in restoration).

This Vought F4U Corsair with registration FAH-609 Air Force of Honduras, shot down three aircraft: a Cavalier F-51D Mustang and two Goodyear FG-1D Corsairs of the Salvadoran Air Force 17 July 1969, commanding by Captain Fernando Soto Henriquez. This was the last combat between piston engined aircraft.[citation needed]

Just as we went to press, we learned that Mike Spaulding had listed the Corsair for sale with our sponsor, Platinum Fighter Sales. Wherever this historic fighter finds her new home, we hope that she has many years of safe and successful operations in her future!

Warbird Digest brings you the inside view at the operation, ownership and restoration of ex-military aircraft. Each issue is packed is with exclusive content. Warbird Digest, the magazine for serious warbird enthusiasts!

For the longest while I have been wanting to do something on this anniversary date of the first flight of the prototype, to honor the men who flew the Corsairs, the men who were supported by close air support provided by the F4U, and the plane itself.

There was a restoration going underway at the New Smyrna airport, of a very historical plane owned by the Collings Foundation. The plane was a F4U-5NL Corsair that was operational in the Korean War, as a night fighter serving with VC-3. This was the second such restoration for this plane, as it had been "fished" out of the waters nearby offshore, (after an emergency ditching on a flight), not too long before our visit to the restoration hangar. This emergency water landing caused considerable damage to the just finished "First" restoration. Salt water and magnesium / aluminum parts do not mix very well...

My friends who worked at the restoration facility allowed my Dad and I the opportunity to get up close to the Corsair. I watched my Dad's eyes as he looked at the plane, sometimes touching it, and a few times he even gave it an affectionate "pat" or two on the aluminum skins along the sides of the fuselage. While he was doing this, I tried my best not to let him know that I was watching. It was as if he had been transported back in time, which I'm sure he was... reliving some memories that were painful, and some that were good judging by his expressions.

He told me about how he ended up fighting with the US Marines at the Chosin reservoir in Korea, after his Army unit had been pretty much decimated. He also talked about being airlifted by a C-47 from an "improvised" airfield to a hospital in Japan. Then he made his statement about the Corsair... He said that he and many others like him, the "Frozen Chosen" owed his life to the Marine Corps pilots who flew ground support missions. He said that he saw Corsairs flying with so much ordnance under the wings, that he wondered how they could remain airborne, and guessed that they may have been able to get a top speed of around 250 MPH. He said that the Marine Corps close air support pilots were "Very Good". Then Dad told me about how he and his buddies were going along the ridges on the mountain tops, following the little dirt road below, and how they would come across areas where the Corsairs had dropped napalm on the Chinese positions along the ridgelines.

Then he stopped talking, and didn't go into details about this with me until much later in his life. Needless to say when he finally opened up to me, the things he told me were horrific. Dad went on to serve again with other US Army units in Korea after he convalesced from his injuries.

Shortly after this visit of the Corsair restoration with my "Dear Old Dad", the local hobby store had this model on their shelves. I just had to take it home... It's the Minicraft F4U-5 / 5N kit number 11617.

I built it pretty much right out of the box. Back then I didn't have access to the internet and used the kit instructions for colors. Now many years later, I know that I made quite a few mistakes. This plane has survived several moves, has been repaired a few times and is starting to show it's wear and tear...

Here are some pictures below, of the Corsair that I built shortly after my Dad and I visited the hangar, and got to see first hand a fantastic restoration underway. It was the last time my Dad and I ever got to do anything like this together. He wasn't physically able to get around too well, and didn't like to leave the house unless it was absolutely necessary.

Ha ha ? I hear you Bob... My hat's off to today's jet drivers though. I had an A-10 pilot clip the top section of my tanks radio antennae once, many years ago... It was missing several feet from the top section of the antennae after he / she "Buzzed" us. Real story.

An excellent build as usual, Louis...I was fortunate enough to see (and get some "walk-around" pics) of a -5N while under restoration some time back down in New Smyrna. Your build is an outstanding rendition (and an equally accompanying 'backstory' as well). Great pics, too... ?

It's the same plane that you saw. I too have pictures from both restorations of it, the first and the last one. The Corsair also pops in from time to time to get annuals done on it. It's a -5NL version which meant that it was a night fighter and was "winterized" for cold weather use in Korea. I think there were a little over 100 of them built. They are some really good people down there at the restoration facility.

I was going to re paint this one or dirty it up / chip some paint on it, during one of the more recent repairs, but decided not to touch it. I'm leaving it alone, since this is how it looked when I brought it over to show the finished build to my dad. He saw it the way it is finished now and really liked it. I ended up purchasing a Hasegawa version of this very same plane a few years ago... It's getting closer to the top of the build pile...along with some of my other Korean War stuff. Thanks again my friend. I'm happy to see that you liked the article.

You're welcome my friend. It's good to hear from you. Like you I also have a spot in my heart for the F4U. Dad told me some other things about some of his experiences, but this really isn't the place to talk about them. I wrote them all down and keep them in a notebook. Horrible things mostly. Return salute Sir...

Louis, this seems an appropriate time to thank you and your family for your Fathers service. Particularly as he was in the Chosin campaign. That is an epic to rank with the Anabasis of Xenophon in the annals of Military History. And it's our history Marines, Army, Air Force. All arms, working together to stave off disaster.

Thanks Greg. From what I can remember, this one built up OK. I may have added a set of aftermarket tires / wheels for it, but that's all. It builds into a good looking later model F4U in my opinion. I'd like to see your F4U build. Your Dauntless is amazing ! Maybe you could show it to the modeler's son once it was completed ? I'm sure that he would like that...

The model looks very heavy on the first photo, tires bit bulging and all. Like the dark blue finish, the shade and shine are perfect. Thanks for story. Nice photos even if it is sad to see the real aircraft to be so bashed up.

Now that you mentioned this, I may have replaced the kit tires with aftermarket resin ones. Since I used these tires, it would look more appropriate with a full load of bombs / rockets / napalm hanging under the wings, (but not with the decals I used for this build). I plan on building another one as a dedicated ground attack plane in the future. When I found the pictures online of the crashed plane I knew that I just had to post them along with the article. It's a sad ending to a beautiful plane. Most of them ended up like this... I'm glad you enjoyed the story behind this one. Thanks again for the compliments.

Louis, during Korea the VC squadrons used to do night attack work in addition to straight nightfighter work. So you can load it up with rockets and napalm tanks and bombs. The Marine mixed squadron with the F4U-5s and F7Fs, as well as the carrier based F4Us.

Louis,

Very touching story your dad survived a very devastating and heroic battle and happily he returned home. Thank him for his service and you have to be proud of him. I went into USMC shortly after Korea so a lot of those I came into contact with were there also.

Your model is very well done and with very noteable markings. Great job and great story.

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