Finding visuals...
  • The Locator
  • Airframes Database

    Social media...
    Follow AV on facebook
    Follow AV on Twitter @aerial_visuals
    Follow the AV YouTube Channel

    Site navigation...
  • Home
  • Desktop Calendar
  • The Racers
  • FAQs
  • About Aerial Visuals
  • Comment on this Dossier

  • Search For Airframes Now
    Search - Index - Gallery - Reports - Lists - AV Needs You!

    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Grumman F4F/FM Wildcat
    Latest Model:F4F-3 Wildcat
    Last Military Serial:12320 USN
    Construction Number:5980
    Last Civil Registration:N5254A
    Compressed ID:Grumman F4F-3 sn 12320 USN cn 5980...
    Latest Owner or Location:Butch OHare Memorial, OHare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois

    EDIT THE HISTORY HERE
    If you can add to the history or would like to submit a correction please use the editor to do so.

    UPLOAD A PHOTO
    If you have a photo of this airframe to share then use the photo upload tool.

    The Airframes Database depends on user contributions to stay current.
    If you have any news about this airframe or photos which you would like to share please do so
    by using the links above.
    The more you and others share the better the database becomes!

    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a F4F-3.

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 12320.

    31 March 1944

    Crashed.
    Ditched in Lake Michigan.

    Circa 1990

    Recovered.
    Salvaged.

    By 1992

    Restored.
    At Herlong Field, Jacksonville, FL.

    20 October 1992

    To National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola, FL with new c/r N5254A.

    To National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola, FL keeping c/r N5254A.

    In the inventory of National Naval Aviation Museum-Loan Program, NAS Pensacola, Pensacola, FL.
    View the Location Dossier

    1997

    Loaned to Jay W. Hubbard Aviation Museum, MCAS El Toro, TX.

    Circa 1997


    Photographer: Tom Tessier
    Notes: At MCAS El Toro, CA. Open House.

    19 August 1999

    Civil registration, N5254A, cancelled.

    Loaned to Butch OHare Memorial, OHare International Airport, Chicago, IL.
    As a memorial in Terminal 2 - to Navy Cross and Medal of Honor recipient LCDR Edward OHare.
    View the Location Dossier

    Markings Applied: F-15

    14 August 2014


    Photographer: Peter Luke
    Notes: Displayed in Terminal 2 of Chicago International Airport as a memorial to Navy Cross and Medal of Honor recipient LCDR Edward OHare.


    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier is based on
    unreviewed imported data.
    If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor.

    Credits
    Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...

    Print Sources
    U.S. Military Out of Service 2010 by Andy Marden

    Internet Sources
    Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America
    National Naval Aviation Museum
    United States Military Services Serial Number Lists by Joe Baugher

    Individual Contributors
    Terry Fletcher

    Tell Others About this Airframe Dossier
    Forum Link: [URL=https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=36449][IMG]/home/users/web/b1393/nf.aerialvisuals/public_html/AV/Support/Logo_20x20.jpg[/IMG]Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat, s/n 12320 USN, c/n 5980, c/r N5254A[/URL]
    Direct Link: https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=36449

    Copyright 1993-2025 AerialVisuals.ca
    The Aerial Visuals pages are best viewed with a screen at least 800 pixels wide.
    In case you are wondering Aerial Visuals is a huge fan Google Chrome. If you do not have Chrome installed why not?
    Aerial Visuals requires cookies and Javascript to function correctly. Please ensure these features are enabled in your browser.
    Aerial Visuals is powered by Netfirms.