The Long Journey of the Museum's Vought F4U-1D Corsair

On the night of January 27, 1981, Vought F4U-1D Corsair (BuNo. 50375) rolled through the doors of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum after a multi-year effort involving research, disassembly, cleaning, and restoration.  The airframe experienced years of service with the US Navy, which became obvious during the restoration efforts as corrosion and dents were found and fixed.  The finished aircraft, now hanging at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, highlights the important role the Corsair played in the Second World War, and honors the brave men who flew it.

Corsair no. 50375 was delivered to the Navy by Vought on April 26, 1944.  It is not known where it was originally delivered, but by October 1944 it was assigned to VF-10, the infamous “Grim Reapers” off of the USS Enterprise.  A month or so later found no. 50735 with VF-89 as it was being equipped at Naval Air Station Atlantic City.  The airframe travelled with the squadron to both Naval Air Station Oceana and Naval Air Station Norfolk.  On June 30, 1945, it was moved to Quantico Marine Air Station to join other surplus aircraft as the need for them dissipated as the war was coming to an end.  Following the war, the airframe was assigned to locations such as Naval Air Station Memphis, as well as the Naval Air Technical Training Center at Pensacola, Florida.  Corsair no. 50375 was finally stricken from the official operational records of the US Navy on April 30, 1946, after which it was sent to the Naval Air Technical Training Center in Norman, Oklahoma.  It remained in Norman, Oklahoma until November 21, 1955, when it was shipped back to Norfolk “…for reconditioning and canned storage pending readiness of the NAM [National Air Museum, the name of the Museum before space flight was added].”  The airframe was most likely used to train future US Navy aircraft mechanics at the Technical Training Centers during its final years of service, offering an excellent hands-on platform for aspiring students. The Museum uncovered signs of this type of service as it was prepared for its display debut.

Aircraft that arrive at the Museum often show signs of their service life, whether that be patches covering flak damage from bombing missions or scrapes in the paint and misaligned panels from years of flight.  Corsair no. 50375 revealed signs of its time at the technical schools as the plane was disassembled and the paint was removed to treat corrosion.  The fin of the aircraft was found to have the BuNo. 57101 on it, while the right elevator and stabilizer were no. 50522.  It is most likely that these parts of the aircraft were swapped with others some time earlier, most likely by the aircraft mechanics being trained to do such things in a combat situation at some future forward operating base.  The fabric surfaces of the aircraft were also replaced at this time and were painted and doped in the same manner as the originals.  All the parts of the aircraft were photographically documented, disassembled, cleaned, preserved, and reassembled to ensure the aircraft would last for generations as it was displayed in the Museum.

At this point in the process, it was decided to repaint the aircraft in the style of Corsairs that had seen combat experience in the skies above the Pacific.  Curators conducted a search for original photographs identifying markings so the paint job could be as authentic as possible.  A photograph was located of ship no. 56, operating with VMF-113 over Eniwetok on July 9, 1944.  Marine Fighter Squadron VMF-113, known as the “Whistling Devils,” had served throughout the war in the Pacific, and offered an excellent example of the type of unit that effectively used the Corsair in combat.  The decision to paint the Museum’s aircraft no. 50375 as a Marine Corps squadron Corsair also allowed for an interesting interaction once the restoration was completed.

It took 9,315 hours to take the Museum’s Corsair from how it was received from the US Navy to the plane that is currently on display.  In October 1980, as the Museum was placing the final touches on the Corsair, surviving veterans from Marine Corps Fighter Squadron 214 visited the aircraft at the Museum’s Garber Facility in Suitland, Maryland.  The squadron is known better as the “Black Sheep” squadron, and its commander Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington was on hand to see no. 50375 in its new paint scheme.  Major Boyington discussed the qualities of the Corsair with museum staff, posed for pictures both inside and outside of the aircraft, and even took time to sign the rear wall inside the right wheel well of the aircraft.

Vought F4U-1D Corsair BuNo. 50375 is now one of the first aircraft visitors see when they arrive at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Its distinctive gull wings and deep blue color are hard to miss.  It represents not only the impact of the Corsair in the skies over numerous islands across the Pacific during World War II, but also the importance of US Naval and Marine Corps aviation to our nation’s history.