Society of Air Racing Historians

In March of 1944, Pratt & Whitney requested a F4U-1 Corsair from Vought Aircraft for evaluation of their new P&W R-4360,28 cylinder engine. Vought transferred F4U-1, BuNo 02460 (Birdcage Canopy) to seeif the airframe and engine were compatible. The tests proved successfuland Goodyear Aircraft of Akron, Ohio was given the F2G program. (Source: N. Veronico "F4U Corsair" - B. Kinzey "F4U Corsair Vol.1)

BuNo 14692-XF2G-1: (Blue and Yellow checkerboard cowl with Zinc Chromate nose ring) Aircraft crashed and was destroyed in Akron, Ohio 12/12/45.  (Source: D. Armstrong "I Flew Them First N. H. Hauprich, Goodyear)

BuNo 14693-XF2G-1: N5590N Race #94: First aircraft to have the extended carburetor intake, these tests were conducted at Pratt & Whitney in 1944.  The aircraft was then tested at NAS Patuxent until it was obtained by Navy veteran Cook Cleland. In the 1947 Thompson Trophy Race, it was flown to second place by pilot Dick Becker.(1947 Color: White with Insignia Red trim, letters and numbers) It failed to finish in 1948. Piloted by owner Cook Cleland, the aircraft won the 1949 Thompson Trophy Race.(1949 Color: All White with Black letters and numbers) After Air Racing ended in Cleveland, the aircraft was used by the Cleveland Airport Fire Dept. for training purposes.  It was destroyed in 1955. The R-4360 engine and four bladed propeller were obtained by Crawford Auto And Air Museum. It was stricken from Navy records ?/31/49 ?(Source: N. Veronico "F4U Corsair" - D. Jones, 3 View Drwgs.)

           

             1947                                                    1948                                                   1949
                                                                                                                                                                                

BuNo 14694-XF2G-1: N91092 Race #18: The aircraft was tested at Mustin Field, Penna. and NAS Patuxent from 10/45 to 5/47. Stricken from Navy records 5/31/47. It was purchased by pilot Ron Puckett and raced in the 1947 and 1949 Nat. Air Races. 1947 Color: Blue with Orange cowl and tail cone.  White letters and numbers; 1949 Colors: Light Gray and Light Blue. Light Blue letters and numbers.) Fate unknown. (Source N. Veronico "F4U Corsair" - D. Jones, 3 View Drwgs.)

                   

                                  1947                                                                1949

BuNo 14695-XF2G-1: The final F2G prototype. Damaged by crane boom After crash landing in Akron OH and later scrapped (Source: D. Armstrong "I Flew Them First")

                                                     Production Aircraft

Production F2G-1 aircraft were land-based fighters with manually folding wings and 14ft. Propellers. F2G-2 aircraft had hydraulic operated folding wings, 13ft. propellers and carrier arresting hooks.

BuNo 88454-F2G-1: This was the first production F2G. It was tested at NAS Patuxent and  NAS Norfolk from 1945 to 1948. Stricken from Navy records 5/31/48.  Obtained by W. Ohlrich in 1973. Since 1978, it resides at the Champlin Fighter Museum in Mesa, Arizona.  (Source: N. Veronico "F4U Corsair")

BuNo 88455-F2G-1: Tested at Goodyear from 8/45 to 5/46. Stricken from Navy records 8/31/46. Scrapped (Source: N. Veronico "F4U Corsair")

BuNo 88456-F2G-1: Tested at Port Columbus, Oh. and NAS Patuxent   from  9/45 to 3/46. Stricken from Navy records 5/31/47. Scrapped.  (Source: N. Veronico "F4U Corsair")

BuNo 88457-F2G-1: N5588N Race #84: Stricken from Navy records 4/30/47.Sold to  owner Cook Cleland and flown by pilot Tony Janazzo in the 1947 Thompson Trophy Race.(Color: Black with White letters and numbers) The aircraft crashed on the seventh lap of the race, killing the pilot.(9/47) Registration Number would later be used on F2G-1 Race #57.(Source: N. Veronico "F4U Corsair" - D. Jones, 3 View Drwgs.)                                            

                                                           
                                                                                1947

BuNo 88458-F2G-1: N5588N Race #57: Tested at Port Columbus, Oh. and NAS Patuxent from 10/45 to 7/46. Stricken from Navy records 1/48. The aircraft was purchased by Cook Cleland, supposedly for spare parts. Registration number BuNo 88457, N5588N was utilized.  The aircraft was flown by pilot Ben McKillen Jr. in the 1949 Tinnerman and Thompson Trophy Races.  (Color: Red and  White with Black Letters and Numbers.) After Air Racing, the aircraft went through a series of owners; John Trainor of New Hampshire, Harry Doan of Florida, Don Knapp of Florida, the Lone Star Museum of Texas and a private collector in Kansas. In 1996, It was acquired by Robert Odegaard of Kindred, ND. who restored it to be the only flying F2G Corsair.  (Source: N: Veronico "F4U Corsair" - N. H: Hauprich; Goodyear - Bill Meixner, Air Race Historian)

                                                                            

                                                                                            1949

BuNo 88459-F2G-2: Tested at Goodyear and NAS Patuxent from 10/45 to 6/46.
Checkerboard cowl. Ended up as ground target.  (Source: N. Veronico "F4U Corsair")

BuNo 88460-F2G-2: Tested at NAS Norfolk and scrapped. Stricken from Navy records 5/31/48.(Source: N. Veronico "F4U Corsair")

BuNo 88461-F2G-2: Aircraft saw service with the fleet, NAS North Island,San Diego from 4/46 to 1/47. Stricken from Navy records 5/47 and scrapped (Source: N. Veronico "F4U Corsair")

BuNo 88462-F2G-2: Aircraft also saw service with the fleet at North Island San Diego. Stricken from Navy records 5/47 and scrapped.  (Source: N. Veronico "F4U Corsair")

BuNo 88463-F2G-2: N5577N Race #74: Used for training at NAS Jacksonville, Fla.  Stricken from Navy records 2/28/47. Pilot Cook Cleland purchased the aircraft and flew it first place in the 1947 Thompson Trophy Race. It was also flown in the 1948 and 1949 Nat. Air Races by pilot Dick Becker, but failed to finish. (Color: Slate Blue, Blue and White checkerboard cowl. White trim, letters and numbers.) The aircraft was purchased by Walter Soplata of Newbury, Oh. in 1953. In 1997, the Western Reserve Hist. Society of Cleveland, Oh. purchased the aircraft. At the present time, the W.R. Hist. Society is having Robert Odegaard of Kindred, N. Dakota restore the aircraft. (N. Veronico "F4U Corsair") –Society  of Air Racing Historians

            1947                                                       1948                                                       1949                 

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• Updated Saturday, July 17, 2004