Ghost of the lake

Air Classics, May 2003 by O'Leary, Michael

When the Wildcat went off the Wolverine, the fighter was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1830-86 radial engine. Engine mechanics familiar with this particular dash number of engine knew that it had problems with the two-speed supercharger gearing and they advised using a -92 variant which would fill in nicely for the original since it also featured the distinctive frontmounted magnetos. The core of the original engine was not usable since it received damage during the deck strike and when the plane went over the side. Jim and Dick contracted with JRS Enterprises in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to build up a zero-time -92 fitted with a Hamilton-Standard Hydromatic propeller.

It was getting closer to the 50th anniversary of when the Wildcat was lost off the Wolverine and completed components began arriving at Blackhawk. In early July, the wings arrived from Ezell Aviation and, as with any group of restorers, there was some apprehension about the wings and fuselage mating correctly. First, the right wing was slid into place and it fitted perfectly. The second wing followed the first with another perfect fit and this was a cause for rejoicing. Now, it was only three weeks to Oshkosh 1994 and the group was determined the plane would be there.

By the middle of July, the Wildcat was pronounced ready to fly. Some changes had been made to originality the shotgun starter was replaced with an inertia unit while disc brakes substituted for the earlier drum types. All this was done in the quest for additional safety. The original radios, after cleaning, were reinstalled but modern radios for daytime VFR operation were added to the cockpit in an inconspicuous manner.

Test pilot Bill Dodds thoroughly checked out the Wildcat and was pleased with what the restorers had done. On 18 July 1994, Bill took the Wildcat aloft for a very successful test flight - pronouncing the aircraft in perfect condition and flying without any trim changes. Needless to say, everyone involved was elated.

Now it was time for paint. The painting of the airframe was undertaken by General Aviation which is a division of Blackhawk Airways. Since both Dick and Jim lived the Chicago area, it was obvious that the plane should be painted in the markings of early-war hero Edward "Butch" O'Hare. O'Hare had flown an F4F-3 and it was decided that it would be more appropriate to paint the plane in his scheme rather than replicate the markings the craft wore when it went into the lake. The colors and shades were carefully researched and applied in an original matte finish. When it rolled out of the paint shop, Bureau Number 12260 looked like a combat Wildcat from the dark days of 1942. Dick and Jim got the Wildcat to Oshkosh where the plane was admired by tens of thousands of spectators as an historic artifact and a tribute to the restorers' art and the dedication of the owners.

Pilot Steve Craig of Kansas saw the Wildcat during its Oshkosh debut. "I was fascinated with the aircraft," states Steve, "and enjoyed talking to Dick and Jim - both are real gentlemen - about the restoration and also seeing the many other bits and pieces brought up from the bottom of the lake