Society of Air Racing Historians

In 1949 Cook Cleland's inventory of F2G's, with the addition of BuNo88458, ( One of five F2G-1's produced) was back up to three machines. 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.

( 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 F-2-G was towed to Joe Loecy's machine shop in Chardon OH for storage..

(Jim Butler collection)
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. John’s widow sold the craft to Harry Doan of Ft. Lauderdale 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. Doan’s 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

On September 1,2 &3, 2001 The Cleveland National Air Show was held at Burke Lakefront Airport. On hand were Bob Odegaard with his F2G and also Delmar Benjamin with the R-2 Gee Bee replica. Cleveland Chapter member Dave Virant took these great still photos.

Please send comments to Bill Meixner

You are the th person to pop in on us since Nov 4,1999, Thank You for the touch & go, please take an early flight back..
Site last changed on Friday, October 13, 2006 06:59 PM

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