Grumman S2F Tracker Survivors
By David D Jackson
Focusing on Existing Grumman S2F / S-2 Tracker, TF-1 / C-1A Trader and WF-2 / E-1B Tracer Airframes

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My Tracker Photos
134691- RCN 1600

Master Tracker Photo Page   Special Groups   133090 - 136427   136431 - 136560   136573 - RCN 1600


136427 landing at Anderson, IN
In order by Navy Bureau Number and RCN Number. 

136573:  State Technical College of Missouri in Linn, MO    July 2017  The aircraft was moved sometime previous to September 2015.  It is being used as a teaching aid but the FAA registry still shows the owner as Wes Stricker of Rolla, MO.


There is damage to the left wing tip and aileron. 


Both flaps on the aircraft had been removed.


Work has started to repair the hole in the fuselage.


 

136636: Nut Tree Airport , Vacaville, CA    May 2010  This is currently owned by Duncan Miller although he told me he would be putting it up for sale in the near future.

136691: USS Hornet Museum, Alameda, CA    May 2010  This presented some problems photographing as it was at the back of the hangar deck in a very poorly lit area. 

136745:  Cal Fire Attack Base, Hemet-Ryan Airport, Hemet, CA   May 2009  This Tracker never served as an air tanker after returning from Japan.  The Air Attack Base at this location has a nice viewers area.  The staff was most gracious in giving me a tour of the facility.

144721:  Selfridge Air Museum, Mt. Clemens, MI  October 2009 - This finished up as a US-2A.

148730:  NAS Jacksonville Heritage Park   October 2008  The first two large photos and the first six in the gallery were shot very early in the morning and the remainder were shot very late in the afternoon.  These taken going into the Naval Air Station for an air show and then on the way out in the evening.

149240:  Patuxent River Naval Air Museum  October 2016   This Tracker was accepted by the US Navy on March 10, 1962, and after serving with the fleet , joined the Naval Research Laboratories in December 1969.  While there it performed meteorological and oceanographic research missions, along with tactical missions with chaff and sonobuoys.  Its last flight was to the Museum in February 1981.

151647:  National Naval Aviation Museum  November 2006
Note the Hurricane damage to the rudder.

151657:  USS Yorktown, Mt. Pleasant, SC  July 2012

151663:  Historical Aircraft Restoration Project, Former NAS Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, NY  May 2018

Tracker 151664 is located at the former NAS Floyd Bennett Hangar B in Brooklyn, NY at the Historic Aircraft Restoration Project (H.A.R.P.)  151664 is in pretty sad shape, and was apparently damaged in transit from the Cradle of Aviation Museum which didn't want it.  The Tracker sits forlornly along a wall with a huge storage box in front of it blocking it somewhat from public view.  The right wing is not attached and is located in another part of the hangar.  The mechanics in the hangar told me there there is ten years worth of work on the PBY before they could even think about starting on it.  H.A.R.P seems to be a well intentioned group but is extremely underfunded and understaffed.  The roof leaks and the hangar is in the same condition it was in 1972 when the Navy left.  In spite of the handicaps the organization faces it does have about a dozen very well restored aircraft, engines and vehicles on display.  Hopefully some volunteers will take an interest in 151664 and start her restoration.  All of the photos below of 151664 were taken by the author on May 31, 2018.  DDJ 6-23-2018


The port wing is still on the aircraft and it still has the rocket rails attached.


The cowling is off both engines, the flaps are hanging down on the port wing, and the rudder is off the aircraft.


The sonobuoy tubes are still present in both engine nacelles.


The end of the MAD boom is missing, allowing for inspection of the detection device in the boom. 


The flight deck has been gutted of all of the instruments and controls, and is storage for many of the missing cowlings off of the aircraft.


There are more sheet metal panels stored in the radio compartment.


The starboard outboard wing panel is not attached to the aircraft.


The starboard outboard wing panel.  I do not remember seeing the rudder anywhere in the building.  In the background is the nicely restored A-4 Skyhawk the organization has.


Several more of the H.A.R.P. restorations on display. 


The PBY Catalina that is the current restoration project of the group.


The north side of the former NAS Bennett Field Field hangar B.  This is one of the larger hangars I have been in.  Today the field is no longer an active airport.  The National Park Service now owns the land and former hangars.  It will be interesting to see whether preservation of this hangar and others on the other side of the field will continue to stand, or in the end will succumb to redevelopment like so many other former military bases have.

CS2F-2 #1545:  RCAF Air Museum in Trenton, ONT   June 2016

CS2F-2 #1573:  Chilliwack Military Education Centre in Chilliwack, BC  May 2012

This aircraft is now at 45070 Caen Ave. Chilliwack BC.  It was moved there after 2015 when the Military Education Center closed.

CS2F-2 #1577 :  Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum's Tracker while on display at its 2013 June Air Show - This year the second of the two rebuilt engines had been installed and the paint stripped. 




Left side anti-submarine operator's position.


Right side anti-submarine operator's position with the flight deck in the background.  A George Foreman grill was being stored in this area and is not part of the original equipment!


This out of focus photo of the rear of the crew compartment shows several radios in the back.  This area also unfortunately makes good storage for folding chairs.
 

CS2F-2 #1577 :  Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum's Tracker while on display at its 2012 June Air Show -  Changes can be seen from previous year below.  The rebuilt #2 engine was put on for show purposes as after the event it was taken back off and the entire airframe was stripped to the bare metal.

CS2F-2 #1577 :  Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum's Tracker while on display at its 2011 June Air Show - This Tracker has all of the ASW equipment on it and may be one of the most if not original condition Trackers in existence.  It is being readied to fly again in the next year or so.  It will be a welcome aircraft to the air show circuit.

CS2F-2 #1600 :  Toronto Aerospace Museum July 2007
This was the last license built DeHavilland Tracker constructed at the current location of the museum.    

  

       Master Tracker Photo Page   Special Groups   133090 - 136427   136431 - 136560   136573 - RCN 1600
 

Home   Argentina    Australia    Brazil    Canada    France    Italy    Japan    Netherlands   Peru    South Korea    Taiwan  Thailand  Turkey   Uruguay     USA   
Venezuela   S2F Basics   136427   USA Traders    USA Tracers    CVS Carriers    Wing Fold    My Tracker Photos    My Trader Photos   My Tracer Photos
World Wide Master Tracker List   My Cal Fire Turbo Tracker Photos    My Marsh Aviation Photos   Trackers Gone West    Cal Fire S-2T List   Gitmo Bay Tracker   Links
My United Aeronautical Corporation Photos      Archived Tracker Updates   The Chess Players   Brazil Traders   Guest Photos

 
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