F3F-2

The F3F-series was the last biplane fighter in front-line service in Naval Aviation.  A Navy salvage vessel recovered the museum’s airplane from the Pacific Ocean in 1990, 50 years after its pilot ditched while attempting to land on board the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CV 3).  The pilot was Marine First Lieutenant Robert Galer, who later received the Medal of Honor for heroism at Guadalcanal during World War II.