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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:3872 USN
    Construction Number:0754
    Compressed ID:Grumman F4F-3 sn 3872 USN cn 0754
    Latest Owner or Location:National Naval Aviation Museum, NAS Pensacola, Pensacola, Florida

    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.
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    Dates

    Event

    11 June 1941

    Constructed as a F4F-3.
    Factory roll-out date

    June 1941

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 3872.

    June 1941

    Transferred to Fighting Squadron 72 (VF-72), NAS Norfolk, VA.

    18 July 1942

    Loaned to 892 Squadron, Royal Navy, NAS Norfolk, VA.

    12 September 1942

    Returned from loan to USS Wolverine (IX-64), Lake Michigan.

    17 August 1943

    Crashed.
    Crashed into Lake Michigan while attempting to launch from USS Wolverine.

    1991

    Recovered.
    Recovered from Lake Michigan.

    January 1991

    To National Museum of Naval Aviation, NAS Pensacola, FL.

    By 3 June 1993


    Photographer: Unknown
    Notes: Photographed at the National Museum of Naval Aviation at Pensacola, FL.

    By 3 June 1993


    Photographer: Unknown
    Notes: Photographed at the National Museum of Naval Aviation at Pensacola, FL.

    1994

    Loaned to Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum/USS Yorktown, MT. Pleasant, SC.

    From 1994 to 1997

    Restored.
    Restored to display condition.

    1997

    Returned from loan to National Naval Aviation Museum, NAS Pensacola, Pensacola, FL.
    View the Location Dossier

    10 April 2009


    Photographer: Robert Bourlier
    Notes: Museum of Naval Aviation, NAS Pensacola, FL.

    19 April 2010


    Photographer: Matt Maranto

    8 October 2011


    Photographer: Matt Maranto

    8 October 2012


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

    8 October 2012


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

    8 October 2012


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier was started by a contributor.
    An preliminary review of the submitted data is pending.
    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...
    Internet Sources
     1000 Aircraft Photos (Aeroplane Photo Supply) by Ron Dupas and Johan Visschedijk
    Aviation History Site by Geoff Goodall
    National Naval Aviation Museum
    United States Military Services Serial Number Lists by Joe Baugher
    Warbird Registry by Scott Rose
    Individual Contributors
     Glenn Chatfield
    Matt Maranto
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