f4f3

A neat picture of Jimmy Thach, a close friend of our family. He was in VP-5F with my father in the late '30s in Panama. W.K. Berner Jr.

Here is film of Thach and Butch O'Hare at Kaneohe, which was likely captured contemporaneously with this photo on April 10, 1942 (note the identical kill markings and smudge marks underneath the canopy sill above and on the Wildcat that Thatch boards in the film). YouTube - Critical Past: US Navy Lt.Edward O'Hare and LCDR John Thach, of VF-3, prepare for flight at Kaneohe www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5sx4wks6vU also: www.criticalpast.com/video/65675061850_United-States-Navy... Further, here is additional film of Thach (in the F4F Wildcat marked "F1", F4F-3, BuNo 3976) and O'Hare (in the aircraft marked "F13", F4F-3, BuNo 3986) flying over Oahu, including Kaneohe (likely filmed as part of the same effort as the photo and footage above): YouTube - CriticalPast: US Navy Lt. Edward Henry "Butch" O'Hare and LCDR John S. Thach, in flight over Hawaii www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKD7i6PgKa8

Note the motion picture on the tripod camera. Here is some of the raw movie footage captured at Kaneohe NAS in (May?) 1942. YouTube - CriticalPast "US Navy Fighter pilots of VF-3 sit near an F4F and converse at Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii during World War II"

Is it possible to see the Bu No on the original? Bu No 2527?? And what about the code 42-F-something? Stig

Stig Jarlevik Actually might be 2627

Thanks again Yes 2627 looks more likely Stig

BuNo 2627 was an N3N-3, which became civil N45046. This is probably F4F-3 BuNo 2527 (VF-42) which was possibly lost May 4-8, 1942, in the Battle of the Coral Sea.

You are correct Batman Even though 2627 looks better it can't be as you correctly point out this was a N3N-3, so Bu 2527 it has to be. Forgot to double check.... Stig