The “Big Bossman” Tigercat was conceived as U.S. Navy Bu No. 80503. The aircraft began life as a F7F-3, and it rolled off the Grumman plant assembly line at Bethpage, New York, being accepted on July 31, 1945. It was ferried to the Lockheed plant at Van Nuys, California, and converted into an F7F-3P photoreconnaissance model on August 2, 1945. It then headed to Cherry Point, North Carolina, assigned to VMD-954, a photoreconnaissance unit. Later, it was assigned to VMD-354, and that unit was later redesignated as VMP-354. Next, it found its way to an aircraft pool in San Diego and later with VMP-254 at El Toro, California. From 1949 until 1954, it is unclear where 80503’s travels took it, but it did serve with HEDRON and 2nd MAW in…
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Flight Journal (Digital) - 1 Issue, January/February 2024