JV579 Code F FAA c/s G-RUMW Grumman FM-2 Wildcat c/n 5765

ex N4845V, BuAer86711

C/n 5765 built by General Motors Corporation (Eastern Aircraft Division) at Trenton, New Jersey for USN,

allocated BuAer No: 86711 and taken on charge 24.07.45. Immediately placed in storage at Tillamook, Oregon.

Struck off charge there 28.02.46. By 1964 sold to Dale Newton, Medford, Oregon who kept it until c1970. Location

untraced until Regd 24.9.75 as N4845V to Eric G Mingledorff. Displayed at Chennault Air Museum, California

until c1992. To Yanks Air Museum and restored to flying conditionby Steve Hinton and his Fighter Rebuilders

at Chino, culminating in a post restoration f/f 14.1.93. Dismantled and transported by sea to the UK and arrived

at Duxford 15.4.93 for The Fighter Collection. After reassembly, f/f at Duxford 2.5.93. Painted in USN scheme

with BuAer No 86711 Coded M-F-48. Repainted by 7.94 in Fleet Air Arm colours representing JV579/F (but not

wearing the serial) Re-Regd 15.4.98 as G-RUMW to Patina Ltd. Initial Permit to 28.06.99. Repainted at Duxford

during 2009 to add serial JV579 although sometimes not showing both sides. By 28.03.12 it was wearing the

marks again (photo above).

The real JV579 (c/n ???) was allocated USN BuAer No: 15840 and was one of 312 Wildcat Mk 5 ordered under

Lend-Lease Contract No: LL99036. It first served with 1832 Sqdn RNAS Eglinton in 2.44 Coded F and named

That old Thing. To 846 Sqdn Hatson 28.4.44 retaining same Code and name. To 759 Sqdn RNAS Yeovilton 12.44

and given Code Y3V but retaining name. During Dummy Deck landings at Yeovilton the starboard wing dropped

and it scraped the runway and assessed 14.1.45 as locally repairable after light damage.