100 years of Marine Corps aviation!

Today marks the centennial of USMC aviation. On May 22, 1912, Marine Corps 1st Lt. Alfred A. Cunningham reported to Annapolis, Maryland for flight training, becoming the first Marine aviator and marking the birth of Marine Corps aviation. To celebrate 100 years of USMC aviation excellence, I took a few photos of the AirVenture Museum's F4U-4 Corsair, finished in the marking of Marine ace Kenneth Walsh. Walsh was the first Corsair ace and the fourth highest Marine ace with 21 victories during World War Two. Enjoy!

Attachment 1985Attachment 1986Attachment 1987Attachment 1988Attachment 1989Attachment 1990Attachment 1991Attachment 1992

Here is some more related content that some of you might enjoy - a selection of interviews with USMC aviators from the Timeless Voices of Aviation oral history archive.

http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=18118140001
Interview with Karen Fuller Tribbett - USMC's first female jet fighter pilot.

http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=1317868385
Interview with Lyle Bradley - USMC Corsair pilot with VMF-123 during WWII.

http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=1397803570
Interview with Herb Allender - USMC Corsair pilot with VMF-212 during WWII.

http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=1683793414
Interview with Wes Todd - USMC Corsair pilot with VMF-213 during WWII.

http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=784183675001
Interview with Fen Lind - USMC Corsair pilot with VMF-222 and VMF-218 during WWII.

http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=27504931001
Interview with Lawrence Alley - USMC Skyraider pilot with VMA-121 during the Korean War.

Always have loved the 'Bent Winged Bird" "Whistling Death" ever since I first saw one fly at a local airshow back in the mid 70's , some years later I saw one of the rarer "Birdcage" canopy types too, a beeeeeee u t ful aircraft to say the least !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!