Thread: CAF 2015 Air Show @ New Century (Old Olathe Naval Air Station)

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There is a plaque on the dashboard of 'Baby Elephant' that reads:
'The top of this gearlever is from the joystick of a Corsair Fighter/Bomber Chance Vought F4U - 1 as flown by the late Flight Sergeant David Howlett of New Plymouth over Manus and Rabul Papua New Guinea during WWII in 1945 with the 19th Fighter Squadron, and still retains the bomb release button and machine gun trigger.
Aircraft Stats: 2250 hp Pratt and Whitney R - 2800 double Wasp radial piston engine.
Max speed: 417 mph @ 20,000 ft.
Max weight: 14,000 lbs.'

Dave crashed this plane on take-off, without injury to himself, and was exonerated from any blame.
This was the only part of the plane (which was a write-off,) that he souvenired, and when he became late it was passed to me.
And we mounted it (with explanatory plaque,) on the gearlever of the bus.

Just thought you might appreciate that wee story.

It doesn't mean much to anyone else...but it does to us.