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Dates |
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Event |
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Constructed as a F7F-3. |
1945 |
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Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 80390. |
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Converted to a F7F-3P. |
From April 1949 to By 9 April 1958 |
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Assigned to NAS Litchfield Park, AZ for storage. |
From 1958 to By 1959 |
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To Kreitzberg Aviation, Salem, OR with new c/r N6129C. |
From 25 May 1959 to By 1960 |
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To Wayne B. Fowler, Shaw Island, WA keeping c/r N6129C. |
From 1960 to By 1961 |
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To Aero Enterprises, Elkhart, IN keeping c/r N6129C. |
From 1961 to By 1963 |
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To Johnson Flying Service, Missoula, MT keeping c/r N6129C. |
1961 |
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Converted to a fire tanker at Salem, OR. |
From 1963 to By 1966 |
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To Butler FARM Air Service/Calvin J. Butler, Redmond, OR keeping c/r N6129C. |
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Operated as fire service #F16. |
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Operated as fire service #16. |
From May 1966 to By 1978 |
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To TBM Inc, Tulare, CA keeping c/r N6129C. |
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Operated as fire service #E62. |
From 7 September 1976 to 12 September 1976 |
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Raced as #62.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Robert Forbes from Porterville, CA. Qualified in 15th place with an average speed of 308.39 mph. |
Circa 7 September 1976 |
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Photographer: Tim OBrien |
Circa 7 September 1976 |
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Photographer: Al Chute |
September 1977 |
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Photographer: Geoff Goodall
Notes: at Fresno in September 1977 was TBM Incs Grumman F7F Tigercat N6129C tanker #E62. It was up for sale and its belly retardant tank and plumbing had been removed, hoping for a sale on the warbird market |
October 1977 |
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Photographer: Geoff Goodall
Notes: Here is the same Tigercat at the Confederate Air Force airshow at Harlingen Texas the following month. It attracted a lot of attention with a recent repaint and impressive flying displays, but a quick sale did not eventuate |
Circa 1977 |
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Photographer: Bradley Haskin |
From November 1978 to By 1981 |
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To On Mark Aviation/Harold Beal, Knoxville, TN keeping c/r N6129C. |
From By 1978 to By 1984 |
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Stored at Knoxville, TN. |
March 1980 |
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To Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum/Preston Parish, Kalamazoo, MI with new c/r N700F.
Not immediately moved from Knoxville. |
January 1981 |
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Civil registration N700FM reserved but not taken up.
Originally reserved by Air Training Inc. of Knoxville, TN. |
1981 |
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To Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum/Preston Parish, Kalamazoo, MI with new c/r N700F.
Still not immediately removed from Knoxville. |
From By 1984 to By 1985 |
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Restored.
Markings Applied: D3, 80390
Your Assistance is Needed: Possibly restored in Knoxville. Can you confirm? If so please share your information with Aerial Visuals.
 Share Your Information with Everyone by Editting the Documented History |
22 July 1987 |
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Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: At the Kalamazoo Museum |
1 August 1987 |
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Photographer: Mike Fuller
Notes: Oshkosh 1987 |
14 June 1988 |
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Certificate of airworthiness for N700F (F7F-3, 80390) issued. |
2 August 1988 |
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Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: At Oshkosh, WI |
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In the inventory of Air Zoo, Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport, Kalamazoo, MI.
 View the Location Dossier |
Circa 1994 |
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Photographer: Earl A Holmquist
Notes: Photographed at Batavia, NY. |
24 September 2007 |
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Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: At the Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum |
24 October 2008 |
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To Lewis Aeronautical Llc, San Antonio, TX keeping c/r N700F. |
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In the inventory of Lewis Air Legends/Rod Lewis, Lewis Ranch Airport, San Antonio, TX.
View the Location Dossier |
By March 2009 |
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Placed on display with Planes of Fame Air Museum, Chino Airport, Chino, CA.
View the Location Dossier |
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Markings Applied: HERE KITTY KITTY, MARINES, D3 |
15 May 2009 |
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Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photographed at the Chino Air Show. |
15 May 2009 |
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Photographer: Mike Henniger |
From 13 September 2010 to 19 September 2010 |
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Raced as #55, named HERE KITTY,KITTY!.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Stewart Dawson from Celina, TX. Qualified in 21st place with an average speed of 309.533 mph. Raced in Heat 1B. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 366.353 mph. Raced in Heat 2C. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 371.116 mph. Raced in Heat 3C. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 354.521 mph. Raced in the Championship race. The race was canceled and 5th place was assigned based on previous heat results. |
16 September 2010 |
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Photographer: Mike Henniger |
16 September 2010 |
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Photographer: Mike Henniger |
17 September 2010 |
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Photographer: Mike Henniger |
29 September 2010 |
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Certificate of airworthiness for NX700F (F7F-3, 80390) issued. |
8 November 2010 |
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To Lewis Racing Llc, San Antonio, TX keeping c/r N700F. |
10 September 2012 |
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Photographer: Mike Henniger |
From 10 September 2012 to 16 September 2012 |
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Raced as #55, named HERE KITTY,KITTY!.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Rod Lewis from San Antonio, TX. Qualified in 17th place with an average speed of 317.090 mph. Raced in Heat 1D. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 354.6 mph. Raced in Heat 2D. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 342.868 mph. Raced in Heat 3. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 343.193 mph. Raced in the Consolation race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 359.200 mph. |
1 January 2014 |
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Certificate of airworthiness for NX700F (F7F-3, 80390) issued. |
Circa 3 May 2018 |
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Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photographed at the Planes of Fame Air Show in Chino, California. |
14 May 2019 |
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Photographer: Michael Huggins
Notes: F7F-3P BuNo 80390 N700F, Here Kitty Kitty! at the Planes of Fame Air Museum, Chino CA. |
9 December 2023 |
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To Spitfire Ventures Llc, San Antonio, TX keeping c/r N700F. |
