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CORSAIRS
F2G
The history of the 1949 Tinnerman Trophy winner and third place Thompson Trophy winner # 57
In 1949 Cook Cleland's inventory of F2G's, was back up to three
machines with the addition of BuNo88458.
(One of five F2G-1's produced) It was tested and evaluated at NATC
Patuxent River, MD. Flight tests determined
the carburetor air scoop needed to be
extended. A special "camel back" scoop was installed and proved effective.
* Note, Rodney Williams was able to determine the BU number for race # 57 in conversation
with Harry Doan &
Cook Cleland on March 29, 1987.
(David Evans)
# 57 ( 458 ) on arrival in Cleveland
Cleland turned #57 over to Ben McKillen who would prepare it for the National Air
Races. McKillen did not modify
the plane but chose a very distinctive paint color
scheme. He also painted three of the propeller blades black and
one white, which gave the
illusion of the engine turning slowly. McKillen entered #57 in the Tinnerman Trophy Race
and won first place.
Bill Meixner collection)
Tinnerman Trophy presented to Ben McKillen
Cleland was looking for a 1-2-3 Thompson Trophy sweep with his F2G's, but when Becker's
# 74 blew the
prop gear reduction box during qualifying, he was out of the Thompson. On Labor Day Sept. 5th., the
Cleland-McKillen team won first and third place. Ron Puckett
won second place in another F2G.Unfortunately,
this would be the last Cleveland National
Air Race.
(Wes Hansen collection)
One the most colorful of the 49 Thompson Trophy
racers, # 57 just before the start of the race.
In the summer of 1950 Cook
Cleland presented an air show at his Euclid Rd. Airport in Willoughby, OH.
To please the crowd Cleland flew an aerobatics
demonstration in # 57, this performance was perhaps
the last time # 57 rose into the air until it was restored by Bob Odegaard.
( Chuck Hughes)
Cook Cleland landing # 57 during his 1950 Air Show
1949 1954 #57 sat outside at the Euclid Rd. Airport deteriorating from weather and vandals.
(Wes Hansen collection)
Outdoor storage at Cleland’s airport, Willoughby, OH
1954 - 1962 The F2G was towed to Joe Loecy's machine shop in Chardon OH for storage..
Being towed to Chardon OH
1964 1968 During the summer of 1964 Cleland who was
stationed at a Naval Station in Alaska, wanted to
mount an attempt on the world propeller
driven, land plane speed record in #57. An "angel" was found to
sponsor the
attempt. The President of the Martin Decker Corp. wanted to be the sponsor. Dick Becker
and
Chuck Toman disassembled the aircraft and placed it on a railroad flat car for
shipment to Pottstown, PA
for a rebuild. The Decker Corp. short of funds, stored it out
doors. It continued to deteriorate and the
Corporation finally went into bankruptcy.
1968 1984 John Trainor, an airline pilot and part
time race pilot living in New Hampshire purchased
the remains of # 57 with plans of a
static restoration. It was stored out of sight awaiting restoration.
John was killed in a
crash of his Mustang. Johns widow sold the craft to Harry Doan of S.
Daytona FL
(Doug Logan)
Stored outdoors in New
Hampshire
(Doug Logan)
Stored outdoors in New Hampshire
1984 1990 Harry Doan started restoration in on #
57. Sometime later Doan was killed in the crash of a
Skyraider. Doans wife sold the
aircraft to Don Knapp of Miami, FL. Knapp shipped the aircraft to Texas
for rebuild but
was killed in the crash of his Mustang at an air show. The aircraft was transferred to the
Lone Star Museum collection.
1990 1994
Lone Star Museum started restoration of the air frame and repair of spar
corrosion. Sometime
later the museum
decided to sell it's Corsair collection. # 57 was sold to Greg Morris of Hugoton, KS.
1996 # 57 was acquired by Robert Odegaard, of Kindred, ND, and restoration was started.
(Bob Odegaard)
# 57 being rebuilt by Bob Odegaard in 1998
1999-- Bob Odegaard flew the restored F2G 50 years, almost
to the day,
after it won third place in the Thompson Trophy.
(Photo: Courtesy of Bob Odegaard)
Copyright 1999
1999-- Reno Championship Air Races, Bob flew # 57 to Reno
where it
won the Rolls-Royce Trophy for restorations.
(John Garrett)
# 57 at Reno
(
Photo courtesy of Larry Perkins chief pilot)
Race No 57
Now owned by Ron Pratte and
is currently based at Chandler Arizona.
(Photo courtesy
of Larry Perkins Chief Pilot)
Aircraft has just been repainted
Larry Perkins
flew No 57 over to San Diego and
John Ford
sent us these great images he shot.
(John Ford)
(John
Ford)
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since Nov 4,1999, Thank You for the touch & go, please take an early flight back..
Site last changed on
Monday, January 28, 2013 03:30 PM