I'm adding individual pages on the four Corsairs affiliated with Paul Mantz or Frank Tallman (N63382, N3440G, N9153Z and N9154Z) to my tallmantz.com pages...with the first one just added on N3440G.
It was purchased by Tallman at Litchfield Park in May 1959 and then based at Flabob Airport. He used it in the May 1961 "Tortoise and the Hare" air race to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Naval Aviation...flown between the FG-1D and his Garland Lincoln LF-1, N12237. The FG-1D stayed with Tallmantz until 1969 when it was traded to Jr. Burchinal for a Grumman J2F-6 Duck. It was destroyed in a 1979 hangar fire but lives on and flies as N773RD with the Mid-America Flight Museum as Marine's Dream.
More to come soon.
Scott Thompson
Aero Vintage Books
http://www.aerovintage.com
The fire was Saturday, June 2, 1979. The Corsair isn't specified; just "five small airplanes". Newspapers.com has two similar AP articles; one from Fort Worth and one from Tyler.
I incorporated it into the page...thanks to Chris for finally getting the details. Chris: I need to resubscribe to a newspaper archive...which one do you use? Thanks.
Scott Thompson
Aero Vintage Books
http://www.aerovintage.com