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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Grumman F4F/FM Wildcat
    Latest Model:FM-2 Wildcat
    Last Military Serial:16089 USN
    Construction Number:1288
    Latest Owner or Location:National Naval Aviation Museum, NAS Pensacola, Pensacola, Florida

    EDIT THE HISTORY HERE    		 If you can add to the history or would like to submit a correction please use the editor to do so.

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    Dates

    Event

    1943

    Constructed as a FM-2 by General Motors Eastern Aircraft Division at Baltimore, MD, USA.

    11 December 1943

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 16089.

    February 1944

    Transferred to Aircraft pool, Espiritu Santos, Pacific Ocean.

    November 1944

    Transferred to NAS San Diego, CA.

    November 1944

    Transferred to Carrier Qualification Training Unit (CQTU), NAS Glenview, IL.

    28 December 1944

    Crashed.
    Ditched in Lake Michigan.).

    1993

    Recovered.
    Recovered from the lake by the National Museum of Aviation.

    December 1993

    To National Museum of Naval Aviation, NAS Pensacola, FL.

    From 1993 to 1994

    Assigned to National Museum of Naval Aviation, NAS Pensacola, FL for storage.
    Stored in good condition.

    From 1995 to 1997

    Restored.
    Restored for display. In good condition when recovered, the aircraft underwent a limited restoration incorporating parts from another FM-2 Wildcat (Bureau Number 55404) and remanufactured parts (top gun accessory door, engine top accessory cowling, lower hinged door for wing fold, ammo box cover, and radio antenna mast). (NNAM).

    1997

    Placed on display.
    Displayed in Pacific Island Exhibit.

    11 September 2003


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

    2004

    To National Naval Aviation Museum, NAS Pensacola, Pensacola, FL.
    View the Location Dossier

    19 April 2010


    Photographer: Matt Maranto

    8 October 2012


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

    8 October 2012


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
    Credits
     Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...
    Internet Sources
     Aviation History Site by Geoff Goodall
    National Naval Aviation Museum
    Individual Contributors
     Glenn Chatfield
    Matt Maranto
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    Direct Link: https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=18196
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