By Tommy H. Thomason

Friday, May 27, 2016

Grumman Stoof and Stoof with a Roof Monograph

Part 2 of Steve Ginter's series on the S2F and its variants is now available:

It was written by Doug Siegfried and Steve Ginter. (Bob Kowalski and I wrote Part 1. See http://thanlont.blogspot.com/2016/01/grumman-s2fs-2-tracker-monograph.html)

In 249 pages, Part 2 provides a summary history, heavily illustrated, of U.S military squadrons when they operated the S2F/S-2 and the WF-2/E-1B. That includes Marines, reserves, test, training, stations, etc. You can buy it directly from Steve here: http://www.ginterbooks.com/NAVAL/NF102.htm

But wait, there's more! Part 3 will cover the TF-1/C-1A.

I really didn't make any contribution to this volume other than a picture on page 50. That's me standing between VS-21's LT John Brandenburg and my brother, John Gregory, then in diapers. The picture was taken by my stepfather, George Gregory, then the deputy Public Works Officer at NAS Sangley Point in the Philippine Islands (see http://thanlont.blogspot.com/2013/07/halcyon-days-v.html). Here's another:

4 comments:

The Editor said...

I hadn't known these books would be that "personal," ha!
I've been thinking of getting their book on the XF8B-1, and was wondering what it might supplement Jared Zichek's book on the subject, since I've been thinking of trying to scratch build a model of the aircraft myself and need some good references or information (Valom's kist just doesn't have the detail I'd like).

I've also noticed that, having written a monograph on the plane, you'd be pretty knowledgeable on the F7U, specifically this "mystery variant" I've been trying to find with a rather unconventional vertical "stabilizers" (though it sis quite certain that they are some kind of odd destabilizing fins) arrangement and have been holding onto the only picture I've managed to find:
http://q-zon-fighterplanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Vought-F7U-3-experimental.jpg

I was considering asking the guy over at AirVectors or Aerospace Projects Review, but you seem to be more focused on naval fighters and have probably encountered this.

Tailspin said...

That particular F7U-3 was modified for handling qualities research by Calspan, if I remember correctly. More later.

The Editor said...

Ah, thank you very much. I was certainly not wrong when I assumed you'd know exactly what it was!

Tailspin said...

It was a Calspan program back when it was Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory. I can't find anything about this specific project on line but I do have a better copy of this picture of the airplane and I may have a test report in storage.