| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Registration / Serial: | 3969 |
| Aircraft Original Type: | Grumman F4F/FM Wildcat (G-18/36/52/53) |
| Aircraft Generic Type: | Grumman F4F/FM Wildcat (G-18/36/52/53) |
| Aircraft Version: | Grumman F4F-3A Wildcat |
| C/n (msn): | 851 |
| Operator Titles: | USA - Navy |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| City / Airport: | Pensacola - NAS / Forrest Sherman FieldMap |
| Region / Country: | Florida, United States |
| Airport Codes: | ICAO: KNPA IATA: NPA Local: NPA Other: - |
| Collection: | National Museum of Naval Aviation |
| Photo Date: | 13 December 2024 |
| Photo by: | Richard Vandervord |
| Photo ID: | 766877 |
| Photo Comment |
|---|
|
In April 1941 this F4F-3A was on the strength of VF-7 aboard USS Wasp as part of the Neutrality Patrol in the Atlantic before the United States entered WWII. By 1943 it had been assigned to training carrier USS Sable and became yet another casualty swallowed by the waves of Lake Michigan after an accident flying off USS Sable. Recovered by 1987. There must be half a dozen exhibits in the NMNA that were recovered from the depths of Lake Michigan, in fact over 200 aircraft are reckoned to have crashed in the Great Lakes during the war This photo is copyright © Richard Vandervord, and may not be used or published in any way without permission. It was added on 10 January 2025, and has since been viewed 68 times. |