The Connecticut Air & Space Center (CASC) in Stratford, Connecticut, will host its annual Corsair Day on May 3, with this year’s event taking place slightly earlier than usual. The celebration will run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the museum’s facility located at 225 B Main Street. Tickets are available at this link. Highlighting the day will be two featured speakers, each offering unique insights into the history and cultural legacy of the Vought F4U Corsair. Visitors will also be able to enjoy a 1/2-scale Corsair parade float, adding a visual centerpiece to the festivities.
(Image credit: Christoper Soltis)
One of the featured presentations, titled Poor Little Lambs, will be delivered by aviation historian and author Stephen Chapis. Drawing on more than 15 years of research into the iconic television series Baa Baa Black Sheep, Chapis will present rare, pilot-filmed behind-the-scenes home movies from the show. His talk is timed to coincide with the 49th anniversary of the pilot episode, “Flying Misfits,” and complements his recently released book examining the series, which inspired widespread interest in vintage military aviation.
Chapis brings a long background in aviation journalism and service. An Associate Editor for Warbird Digest and contributor to Warbird News, he has authored nearly 140 articles on historic aviation topics. His first book, Allied Jet Killers of WWII, was published by Osprey in 2017. He also served 21 years in the District of Columbia Air National Guard as an F-16 bomb loader, including a deployment to Jordan during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The second presentation will focus on one of CASC’s most significant aircraft, FG-1D Corsair BuNo 92460. Aviation historian and CASC board member Jerry O’Neill will provide a detailed history of this particular airframe, tracing its service life and restoration journey.
O’Neill is well known within the airshow and warbird community as the owner of Airdales Flight Line Operations, where he has overseen ground operations for major aviation events across the United States. He has also played key roles in organizing notable airshows, including the 2005 Corsairs Over Connecticut event and the Wings N Wheels shows at Sikorsky Memorial Airport. In addition to his publishing work, O’Neill has been instrumental in the preservation of BuNo 92460, helping facilitate its removal from long-term display for restoration. Corsair Day offers attendees a chance to explore the enduring legacy of one of WWII’s most iconic naval fighters while engaging directly with historians and preservationists dedicated to keeping its story alive. For more information, visit the museum’s FACEBOOK page or website at www.ctairandspace.org.
