Dates

Event

Constructed as a F4U-4.

October 1945

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 97259.

October 1945

Assigned to NAS Litchfield, AZ for storage.

1949

Transferred to Fighter Squadron 32 (VF-32).

1950

Base of operations changed.
Deployed aboard USS Leyte (CV-32) for combat over North Korea.

From 1950 to 1951

Flown by several pilots, including Medal of Honor recipient LT.(JG) Thomas J. Hudner Jr after sacrificing his previous aircraft trying to save Ensign Jesse Brown on 12/4/50.

1951

Transferred to Fighter Squadron 33 (VF-33).
Deployed aboard USS Leyte for combat over North Korea.

By May 1951

Transferred to Fighter Squadron 32 (VF-32), Naval Auxiliary Air Station Sanford, FL.

23 May 1951

Damaged.
Landing accident at NAAS Sanford, FL.

16 January 1952

Damaged.
Taxi Accident, NAAS Sanford. FL.

Circa 1959

Struck off Strength/Charge from the United States Navy.

1959

To Robert Bean, Hereford, AZ with new c/r N3728A.

1966

To Eugene H. Akers, Lancaster, CA with new c/r N6667.

From 27 May 1966 to 30 May 1966

Raced as #22.
Was to have competed at the National Air Races Los Angeles in the Unlimited class, but did not arrive. The primary pilot was Gene Akers.

From 20 September 1967 to 24 September 1967

Raced as #22.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Gene Akers. Qualified in 10th place with an average speed of 316.67 mph. Raced in the Reserve race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 300.78 mph.

Circa 20 September 1967

Photographer: Bob Pauley
Notes: 1967 saw the appearance of F4U Corsair in the Unlimited class at Reno. This is the Corsair flown by Gene Akers.

Circa 20 September 1967

Photographer: Bob Pauley
Notes: Another Bob Pauley photo of Gene Akers -4 Corsair at the 1957 Reno Air Races.

From 15 September 1968 to 22 September 1968

Raced as #22.
Arrived at Reno too late to qualify, but was permitted to race from the twelfth qualifying position to round out the field. Appeared at the National Championship Air Races to compete in the Unlimited class, but did not qualify. The primary pilot was Gene Akers. Did not start in Heat B. Raced in the Reserve race. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 301.54 mph.

Circa 15 September 1968

Photographer: Al Chute

20 September 1968

Photographer: Ron Olsen

From 14 September 1969 to 21 September 1969

Raced as #22, named Lancer II.
The stock Corsair qualified in twelfth position at the 1969 Reno Races but was eliminated from the finals. Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Gene Akers. Qualified in 12th place with an average speed of 281.25 mph. Raced in Heat B. Finished in 6th place with an average speed of 296.11 mph.

From 14 September 1969 to 14 September 1969

Raced as #22, named LANCER TWO.
The reace was from Milwaukee, WI to Reno. Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Harolds Club Transcontinental race. The primary pilot was Dick Thomas. Raced in the One Mile Course race. Finished in 9th place with an average speed of 217.86 mph. Did not finish in an official position since arrived after the 4 PM PDT deadline.

Circa 14 September 1969

Photographer: Larry Smalley

From 13 November 1970 to 15 November 1970

Raced as #22, named LANCER TWO.
Gene and his aircraft skipped the 1970 Reno Race but sporting a new World War I l-style paint scheme, and still in stock condition, the Corsair was entered in the California 1000 Air Race. The craft qualified fifteenth in a field of twenty entries. Gene finished the race in fourteenth place. Competed in the California 1000 Air Races event. The primary pilot was Gene Akers. Qualified in 15th place with an average speed of 282.82 mph. Raced in the One Mile Course race. Finished in 14th place with an average speed of 282.82 mph.

Circa 17 July 1971

Photographer: Unknown
Notes: Photographed at U.S. Cup Race at Brown Field, San Diego, CA.

From 13 November 1971 to 13 November 1971

Raced as #22, named LANCER TWO.
Competed in the California 1000 Air Races event. The pilots were Carl Birdwell, Gene Akers and. Raced in the One Mile Course race. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 314.97 mph. Finished 38 laps.

1974

To Wilson C. Edwards, Big Spring, TX keeping c/r N6667.

December 1981

Donated to EAA Museum by Mr. Edwards.

20 April 1982

To EAA Aviation Foundation Inc, Oshkosh, WI keeping c/r N6667.

May 1982

Ferry flight.
Delivered to Oshkosh.

May 1982

Based at EAA Airventure Museum, Whittman Regional Airport, Oshkosh, WI.
View the Location Dossier

From 1982 to 1994

Restored.
Markings Applied: 13
Restored in WWII markings of USMC ace Ken Walsh.

30 July 1983

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: At Oshkosh, WI, EAA Convention

16 June 1995

Certificate of airworthiness for NX6667 (F4U-4, 9413) issued.

By 2010

Placed on display.
Placed on permanent display.

25 August 2010

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

25 August 2010

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

21 January 2012

Photographer: John Meneely

1 January 2016

Certificate of airworthiness for NX6667 (F4U-4, 9413) issued.

February 2016

Photographer: Gustavo Bonilla

To EAA Aviation Museum, Whittman Regional Airport, Oshkosh, WI.
View the Location Dossier

13 January 2017

To EAA Aviation Foundation Inc, Oshkosh, WI keeping c/r N6667.

By April 2022

Markings Applied: 209-K, VF-32
Restored to Korean War markings honoring Thomas Hudner and Jesse Brown. These pilot names are on opposing sides under the cockpit.

April 2022

Placed on display.
Placed on display in new Naval Aviation exhibit dedicated on this date with descendents of Hudner and Brown doing ribbon cutting.

25 July 2023

Photographer: Reinhard Jost
Notes: F4U-4 N6667 in the static display at AirVenture 2023, Oshkosh, WI

31 July 2023

Photographer: Luke Clark
Notes: At the EAA Convention, Oshkosh, WI