Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 3, 2010 20:21:23 GMT 12
Here's an interesting article. I have often wondered if any kiwis flew this particular Corsair
Flight of fancy pays homage to Corsair
By Bill Lilley - Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Tuesday, Mar 23, 2010
Dave Morris flew across the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday for the chance to stand in a barren parking lot in Akron and dream.
A chilly late-morning rain Monday couldn't dampen the imagination of the 46-year-old, who is the curator of aircraft and chief engineer of the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Somerset, England.
The parking lot was ghostly quiet, but Morris was downright giddy about the experience.
Morris said he could still hear the noises of the planes being made inside Goodyear Aircraft's Plant C during the height of World War II production.
Morris visualized the Corsair FG1-A planes, including the only remaining one from the British Navy that the Fleet Air Arm Museum possesses, rolling through the massive garage doors of the building that now houses Sharon Stairs and the Imperial Electric Co.
''I have to admit that 5,000 miles is a helluva long way to come to look at a set of old garage doors,'' Morris said. ''But to come here and literally stand where the planes rolled out and get a much greater feel for the history of the origin of that place was a brilliant thrill for me.
''In my capacity with the museum, it's very important to me to come to the site where the Corsair that we have in the museum was born.''
Morris said an important part of being a curator is to visit the site that is significant to the historical object.
''The feeling of the time, the place and the atmosphere that I can detect from standing in this parking lot in the rain truly makes the trip worthwhile.''
The Corsair FG1-A was hailed as the top single-seat fighter/bomber during its heyday in the latter stages of World War II. There were about 11,000 Corsair FG1-A planes manufactured at three locations in the United States from 1941 through 1953. About 4,000 were produced by Goodyear workers at Plant C.
Morris said about 3,000 Corsairs, which were designed for use on aircraft carriers, were built for the British Navy. Of those 3,000, only the Corsair KD431 exists.
Morris said he has been able to pinpoint that the Corsair KD431 ''rolled out these garage doors'' at Plant C in the middle of August 1944.
It was first flown by Goodyear test pilot Chris Clark on Aug. 22, 1944. Clark lives in Kansas.
The Corsair KD431 flew several missions over Norway as the Allies worked to drive the Germans out. Then it was sent to battle the Japanese in the Pacific.
It was last flown off an aircraft carrier by British Navy Lt. Peter Lovegrove on Dec. 7, 1945.
The plane was retired and used by the Cranfield School of Aeronautics in Cambridgeshire, England, for training and study. The aircraft's modern wing folding was of particular interest to students for nearly 20 years before it became somewhat obsolete in the face of jet aircraft development.
''People at the school realized it was a piece of British Navy history and should be preserved,'' Morris said. ''And it's been a very popular attraction at the museum.
''People recognize it instantly because of the very distinctive air wing. It had the biggest engine and the biggest propeller on a fighter aircraft at that time.
''But I think the biggest reason people like it so much is because it was the top gun fighter aircraft in World War II. It really captures people's imagination.''
Morris' two-day trip to Akron to smell the history of the Corsair KD431 is part of a 10-day trip to the United States.
Morris will fly to New York City this afternoon to spend three days studying at the Grumman Aircraft Co. on Long Island and the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in midtown Manhattan.
He then will attend a four-day conference on museum ethics and conservation techniques in Washington, D.C. at the Smithsonian Institution before flying back to Great Britain.
The side trip to Akron was the result of a chance meeting at a 2007 restoration seminar at West Dean College in England with Akron-based specialty contractor Paul Thomarios.
''I knew Dave had written a book on the Corsair, and I suggested that the next time he's over here, he should visit Akron,'' said Thomarios, whose company, Thomarios on Jacoby Road in Copley Township, restored the Saturn Apollo rocket for NASA and a Huey helicopter for the First Division Museum in Wheaton, Ill.
''He told me that he wanted to see where the birth of the Corsair took place, and we're thrilled to help that dream come true. And the more international connections we can get for Akron, the better off everybody is.''
Morris said that while the five-year physical restoration project for the Corsair KD431 ended in 2005, he is always searching to gather information about the Corsair FG1-A. Morris, whose book Corsair KD431: The Time Capsule Fighter is available at www.fleetairarm.com, believes this venture to Akron will help to further that goal.
''We want to take a look at what 21st-century restoration is,'' Morris said. ''It's a combination of archaeology, fine art restoration and a bit of forensic science. It's a lot more than just peeling the paint off an old plane and repainting it.
''There also is a lot of background research.''
Morris readily admits that even though he's written a book on the subject, there's still more for him to learn.
There's the question of who from the Akron factory scrawled a name inside the British warcraft.
''There still are some very intriguing unanswered questions about the Corsair KD431 that exist,'' he said. ''Any interest that we can create about the plane might help get more information that could solve some of the mysteries.
''This day was really a great thrill for me. It was well worth traveling 5,000 miles to stand in an empty parking lot. It really came to life for me.''
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Lilley can be reached at 330-996-3811 or blilley@thebeaconjournal.com
www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/88890072.html
Flight of fancy pays homage to Corsair
By Bill Lilley - Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Tuesday, Mar 23, 2010
Dave Morris flew across the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday for the chance to stand in a barren parking lot in Akron and dream.
A chilly late-morning rain Monday couldn't dampen the imagination of the 46-year-old, who is the curator of aircraft and chief engineer of the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Somerset, England.
The parking lot was ghostly quiet, but Morris was downright giddy about the experience.
Morris said he could still hear the noises of the planes being made inside Goodyear Aircraft's Plant C during the height of World War II production.
Morris visualized the Corsair FG1-A planes, including the only remaining one from the British Navy that the Fleet Air Arm Museum possesses, rolling through the massive garage doors of the building that now houses Sharon Stairs and the Imperial Electric Co.
''I have to admit that 5,000 miles is a helluva long way to come to look at a set of old garage doors,'' Morris said. ''But to come here and literally stand where the planes rolled out and get a much greater feel for the history of the origin of that place was a brilliant thrill for me.
''In my capacity with the museum, it's very important to me to come to the site where the Corsair that we have in the museum was born.''
Morris said an important part of being a curator is to visit the site that is significant to the historical object.
''The feeling of the time, the place and the atmosphere that I can detect from standing in this parking lot in the rain truly makes the trip worthwhile.''
The Corsair FG1-A was hailed as the top single-seat fighter/bomber during its heyday in the latter stages of World War II. There were about 11,000 Corsair FG1-A planes manufactured at three locations in the United States from 1941 through 1953. About 4,000 were produced by Goodyear workers at Plant C.
Morris said about 3,000 Corsairs, which were designed for use on aircraft carriers, were built for the British Navy. Of those 3,000, only the Corsair KD431 exists.
Morris said he has been able to pinpoint that the Corsair KD431 ''rolled out these garage doors'' at Plant C in the middle of August 1944.
It was first flown by Goodyear test pilot Chris Clark on Aug. 22, 1944. Clark lives in Kansas.
The Corsair KD431 flew several missions over Norway as the Allies worked to drive the Germans out. Then it was sent to battle the Japanese in the Pacific.
It was last flown off an aircraft carrier by British Navy Lt. Peter Lovegrove on Dec. 7, 1945.
The plane was retired and used by the Cranfield School of Aeronautics in Cambridgeshire, England, for training and study. The aircraft's modern wing folding was of particular interest to students for nearly 20 years before it became somewhat obsolete in the face of jet aircraft development.
''People at the school realized it was a piece of British Navy history and should be preserved,'' Morris said. ''And it's been a very popular attraction at the museum.
''People recognize it instantly because of the very distinctive air wing. It had the biggest engine and the biggest propeller on a fighter aircraft at that time.
''But I think the biggest reason people like it so much is because it was the top gun fighter aircraft in World War II. It really captures people's imagination.''
Morris' two-day trip to Akron to smell the history of the Corsair KD431 is part of a 10-day trip to the United States.
Morris will fly to New York City this afternoon to spend three days studying at the Grumman Aircraft Co. on Long Island and the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in midtown Manhattan.
He then will attend a four-day conference on museum ethics and conservation techniques in Washington, D.C. at the Smithsonian Institution before flying back to Great Britain.
The side trip to Akron was the result of a chance meeting at a 2007 restoration seminar at West Dean College in England with Akron-based specialty contractor Paul Thomarios.
''I knew Dave had written a book on the Corsair, and I suggested that the next time he's over here, he should visit Akron,'' said Thomarios, whose company, Thomarios on Jacoby Road in Copley Township, restored the Saturn Apollo rocket for NASA and a Huey helicopter for the First Division Museum in Wheaton, Ill.
''He told me that he wanted to see where the birth of the Corsair took place, and we're thrilled to help that dream come true. And the more international connections we can get for Akron, the better off everybody is.''
Morris said that while the five-year physical restoration project for the Corsair KD431 ended in 2005, he is always searching to gather information about the Corsair FG1-A. Morris, whose book Corsair KD431: The Time Capsule Fighter is available at www.fleetairarm.com, believes this venture to Akron will help to further that goal.
''We want to take a look at what 21st-century restoration is,'' Morris said. ''It's a combination of archaeology, fine art restoration and a bit of forensic science. It's a lot more than just peeling the paint off an old plane and repainting it.
''There also is a lot of background research.''
Morris readily admits that even though he's written a book on the subject, there's still more for him to learn.
There's the question of who from the Akron factory scrawled a name inside the British warcraft.
''There still are some very intriguing unanswered questions about the Corsair KD431 that exist,'' he said. ''Any interest that we can create about the plane might help get more information that could solve some of the mysteries.
''This day was really a great thrill for me. It was well worth traveling 5,000 miles to stand in an empty parking lot. It really came to life for me.''
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Lilley can be reached at 330-996-3811 or blilley@thebeaconjournal.com
www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/88890072.html
