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During our recent visit to the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovilton, England, we had the opportunity to see an ultra-rare variant of Chance-Vought’s mighty Corsair. This, for us, was worth the price of admission alone. Much like works of art, historic aircraft also require conservation, preservation and/or restoration too. Such efforts, of course, require dedication and significant work, not to mention financial investment, to ensure the continued vitality of the past. Commensurate with those attributes, significant expertise and a conservation culture are also required. Too often, rare or even unique aircraft have simply been restored and repainted without consideration for their historical accuracy. In most cases, such aircraft also receive a shiny new coat of paint, with the original surface finish removed entirely from the airframe – unwittingly (or not) destroying a significant aspect of the exhibit’s historical authenticity. Thankfully, this was not the case for Corsair Mk.IV KD431 – a true time capsule – and the only former Fleet Air Arm example to have survived in complete condition.
Built in 1944 by Goodyear as a Corsair Mk.IV (roughly equivalent to an FG-1A) KD431 initially received a US Navy Bureau Number (BuNo.14862). The aircraft was shipped to the UK in November 1944 for Royal Navy service and retired in December 1945. It then became an instructional airframe at the Cranfield College of Aeronautics until 1963, when it joined the Fleet Air Arm Museum’s collection, a move made possible by the Historic Aircraft Preservation Society. The aircraft had received an overpaint at the time to make it presentable for display, but thankfully none of the original paint underneath was removed. In the year 2000, the decision was made to remove this 1963-dated coat of paint to reveal the aircraft’s original wartime finish, a task completed in 2005 to magnificent effect.
This Corsair, following a painstaking effort to remove an inauthentic, 1960s-era paint scheme, now appears in its original, factory-applied livery, dating from July 1944. It is likely the only Corsair in the world which still retains its original surface finish for all to see. For those wishing to learn more about this conservation process, we highly recommend obtaining a copy of Corsair KD431: Time Capsule Fighter, a masterful book on the project written by the man who orchestrated it, David Morris, Curator of Aircraft at the Fleet Air Arm Museum. The book describes, in elegant detail, every step in the aircraft’s conservation – it is a fascinating read! That being said, we hope you enjoy the accompanying photos (and captions) along with the video clip we filmed during our visit.
Beneath the dark blue paint on the aircraft’s tail surfaces, the team discovered a green and grey camouflage paint paint finish. From studying the aircraft closely we believe that this camouflage tail was fitted at the Goodyear factory during assembly of the aircraft in July/August 1944. This is very unusual, as Goodyear did not produce green/grey camouflage aircraft.
This may provide evidence that remaining Corsair components from the Brewster Aeronautical Company (forcibly shuttered in May 1944 by the U.S. Naval Secretary) were absorbed into the Goodyear production line on British Corsairs.
Built in 1944 by Goodyear as a Corsair Mk.IV (roughly equivalent to an FG-1A) KD431 initially received a US Navy Bureau Number (BuNo.14862). The aircraft was shipped to the UK in November 1944 for Royal Navy service and retired in December 1945. It then became an instructional airframe at the Cranfield College of Aeronautics until 1963, when it joined the Fleet Air Arm Museum’s collection, a move made possible by the Historic Aircraft Preservation Society. The aircraft had received an overpaint at the time to make it presentable for display, but thankfully none of the original paint underneath was removed. In the year 2000, the decision was made to remove this 1963-dated coat of paint to reveal the aircraft’s original wartime finish, a task completed in 2005 to magnificent effect.
KD431 served with only two Fleet Air Arm Squadrons during its brief, 18-month service career. The ‘E-2M’ code discovered on the side of the aircraft dates from its time with 768 Squadron (September – December, 1945). However, beneath this side code, the conservation team discovered the single letter “S” from its time with 1835 Squadron (January-August, 1945). Again this marking is very rare, as it shows an original example of a color code change from white to pale blue. This color change was for aircraft assigned to FAA duties in South East Asia Command and war in the Pacific Theatre. No other original examples of such markings are known to exist.
The hand-painted warning notice applied in red atop the slate grey finish on the forward undercarriage door on the starboard wing dates from the Corsair’s time with 768 Squadron.
During production at Goodyear’s factory in Akron, Ohio, each Corsair received a large, three-digit number on its engine cowling for easy identification on the line. The number usually referenced the last three digits of the aircraft’s serial number, as was the case here with KD431. These roughly-applied temporary markings are the only original examples of such factory markings known to exist from World War II.
During the conservation project, museum personnel discovered that the propeller had been damaged in a landing accident on board an aircraft carrier, (see scratches and repairs on the propeller blade). An accident record card discovered in the FAA Museum’s archive, helped to pinpoint the exact date of this event (September 27th, 1945) and to put a name to the pilot who had that unfortunate landing experience! All of this combined information helped to prove that the
propeller, engine and many other parts of the aircraft were still original and unchanged from the aircraft’s service life (1944/45).
Ingrained with oil and dirt, but still visible after more than seventy years, this is the original hand-applied temporary aircraft ferry code, 431, from the factory Goodyear production line. Its survival is
remarkable.
Because of the positioning of the white-
painted footstep stripe, the whole Code has been applied aft of the roundel on this side of the fuselage.
KD431 served with only two Fleet Air Arm Squadrons during its brief, 18-month service career. The ‘E-2M’ code discovered on the side of the aircraft dates from its time with 768 Squadron (September – December, 1945). However, beneath this side code, the conservation team discovered the single letter “S” from its time with 1835 Squadron (January-August, 1945). Again this marking is very rare, as it shows an original example of a color code change from white to pale blue. This color change was for aircraft assigned to FAA duties in South East Asia Command and war in the Pacific Theatre. No other original examples of such markings are known to exist.dates from its time with 768 Squadron (September – December 1945). However, beneath this, the museum discovered the single letter “S” from its time with 1835 Squadron (January-August 1945). Again this marking is very rare as it shows an original example of a color code change from white to pale blue. This color change was for aircraft assigned to FAA
duties in South East Asia Command and war in the Pacific. No other original examples of such markings are known
to exist.
To gain appreciation for the philosophy behind this Corsair’s conservation, one need only read the book’s description. It neatly explains the spark which drove the museum to embark upon this groundbreaking endeavor.
“Would you ‘restore’ an expensive piece of antique furniture by stripping it down to the bare wood, and then re-coating it in a high-gloss polyurethane varnish? If you did, then at a stroke you’ve probably wiped its value from several thousand pounds down to a few hundred and destroyed its original character. The same principle holds good for vintage aircraft restoration and preservation. At the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton is a rare Second World War Chance Vought Corsair fighter aircraft. To fully understand the aircraft and unravel the myths and truths surrounding KD431, an enormous research task lay ahead. Thousands of hours of painstaking detail work were required to achieve what initially looked like an impossible goal. The skill and patience of all those concerned were eventually rewarded, but not necessarily with the results expected or, at times, wished for. The end result was the revealing of what is probably the last truly original Corsair fighter left in existence and one of very few Second World War aircraft displayed in such original condition.”
Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
Great article! What a treasure! I will be leaving UK from Gatwick next month and would like to stop by Yeovilton so what would be the best route from London? Also would like to meet the gift shop manager/buyer regarding our custom Corsair caps made specifically for air museums. See http://www.tilleystreasures.org and let me know if it’s possible. Thank you! I look forward to hearing from you. “Cheers!”
You would need to contact the museum directly regarding any purchasing. Likewise travel to Yeovilton depends on your preferences, so we suggest you look up the details online for both. The Museum’s website advises how to get there, and how to contact them: https://www.nmrn.org.uk/visit-us/fleet-air-arm-museum
There are trains from Waterloo station to Yeovil Junction every hour.
Take a taxi from Yeovil Junction to the FAA Museum – the drivers know the destination quite well.
Love your works on old planes!!!
Great article! What a treasure! I will be leaving UK from Gatwick next month and would like to stop by Yeovilton so what would be the best route from London? Also would like to meet the gift shop manager/buyer regarding our custom Corsair caps made specifically for air museums. See http://www.tilleystreasures.org and let me know if it’s possible. Thank you! I look forward to hearing from you. “Cheers!”
You would need to contact the museum directly regarding any purchasing. Likewise travel to Yeovilton depends on your preferences, so we suggest you look up the details online for both. The Museum’s website advises how to get there, and how to contact them: https://www.nmrn.org.uk/visit-us/fleet-air-arm-museum
There are trains from Waterloo station to Yeovil Junction every hour.
Take a taxi from Yeovil Junction to the FAA Museum – the drivers know the destination quite well.