Just passing on a great image from “The Fearless Fighting I,” museum ship USS Intrepid (CV-11) which had a snow day this week as NYC got socked by its first significant accumulation in more than two years. Always neat to see an F3H-2N (F-3B) Demon and an HH-52 Seaguard (S-62) anyway– both types which are rarely seen on public display.
“Due to severe winter weather, the Museum will be closed today, Tuesday, February 13.”
Via Platinum Fighters, if you have the scratch, they have a model 1944 Chance Vought F4U-1D Corsair up for a cool $4~ milly.
A historical aircraft, BuNo. 82640, this Corsair is the only flying F4U-1D anywhere in the world of an impressive 1,685 constructed and the only other complete Vought-built F4U-1D is in the Smithsonian.
During WWII it served with the “Grim Reapers” of VF-10 aboard the Essex-class carrier USS Intrepid (CV-11) between January and April 1945, marked as White 26, a scheme she currently carries. Intrepid during that period and took part in strikes against Ryukyu Islands, Kyūshū, Okinawa, and Wake Island.
White 29, an F4U-1D Corsair of Fighting Squadron (VF) 10 of the carrier Intrepid (CV 11) flies an anti-kamikaze patrol near Okinawa, April 1945. Note the grim reaper on the cowling and white tail flash. NNAM photo
With the VF-10 banner draped as a backdrop, the “Grim Reapers” pose at the end of their first war cruise, October 1942–February 1943, aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6). Note 43 “kill” markings on the banner.
The aircraft just completed a 12-year restoration and made its post-restoration first flight in February. To quote Test Pilot Stephen Death, “I could not fault it”