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    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:12260 USN
    Construction Number:5920
    Last Civil Registration:N12260
    Compressed ID:Grumman F4F-3 sn 12260 USN cn 5920...
    Latest Owner or Location:Lone Star Flight Museum, Ellington Field, Houston, Texas

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a F4F-3.

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 12260.

    1 May 1944

    Crashed.
    Ditched in Lake Michigan during pilot training operations off the carrier USS Wolverine.

    1991

    To National Naval Aviation Museum, NAS Pensacola, Pensacola, FL.
    View the Location Dossier

    12 December 1991

    Recovered.
    Raised from Lake Michigan.

    From December 1991 to By 2003

    To A T Recovery Inc/Jim Porter Dick Hansen, Batavia, IL with new c/r N12260.

    Restored.
    Markings Applied: F-3, 12260
    The work was carried out in Batavia, IL.

    18 July 1994

    First post-restoration Flight.

    4 November 2002

    Certificate of airworthiness for NX12260 issued.

    From 2 September 2003 to By 2007

    To S. J. Craig Farms Llc/Stephen Craig, Lawrence, KS keeping c/r N12260.

    11 February 2004

    Certificate of airworthiness for NX12260 issued.

    6 August 2004


    Photographer: Mike Henniger
    Notes: Museum show at Willow Run.

    6 August 2004


    Photographer: Mike Henniger

    7 September 2007

    To Lewis Aeronautical Llc/Rod Lewis, San Antonio, TX keeping c/r N12260.

    Based at Lewis Air Legends/Rod Lewis, Lewis Ranch Airport, San Antonio, TX.
    View the Location Dossier

    8 November 2010

    To Lewis Fighter Fleet Llc, San Antonio, TX keeping c/r N12260.


    Photographer: Dick Phillips Collection via Mark Philiips

    4 October 2023

    To unknown owner with c/r N12260.
    Registration pending to a new owner in San Antonio, TX.

    1 December 2023

    To Air Legends Foundation, San Antonio, TX keeping c/r N12260.

    Placed on display with Lone Star Flight Museum, Ellington Field, Houston, TX.
    View the Location Dossier

    10 May 2024


    Photographer: John Bennett
    Notes: Taken at Houston - Ellington Field, TX, USA
    Credits
     Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...
    Print Sources
     Warbirds Directory, 5th Edition by Geoff Goodall
    Internet Sources
     Aerial Visuals - The Locator by Mike Henniger, Senior Editor
    Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America
    United States Military Services Serial Number Lists by Joe Baugher
    Individual Contributors
     John Bennett
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    Direct Link: https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=11729
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