In the last week of May, the Petrof Bay was relieved of combat duty and sailed for the States stopping in Apra Harbor on the first day of June. This aircraft was off loaded and reloaded aboard the USS Steamer Bay, CVE 87, which was at that time in dry-dock under going repairs. The Composite Squadron, VC 93, received orders to board the Steamer Bay at this time.

The aircraft being stripped down

The three of them, the ship, the squadron and this aircraft departed Apra Harbor, returned to the war, and for the next month continued attacks against the enemy. This final month completed the average 180 missions for each of the original fighter planes, including Grumman Wildcat, FM-2, Bureau Number 74512.

 The quality of this aircraft, the efficiency of the officers and men of the Petrof Bay and Steamer Bay, the skills of the pilots who flew these 180 or so missions and brought this aircraft back to the US is a credit to the Navy, to manufacturers and to the people who constructed all the Grumman planes.

At the end of the Steamer Bay's tour of duty, the war had ended for the ship, the squadron and this plane. All three returned to San Diego. VC 93 disembarked at North Island Naval Air Station and the Steamer Bay sailed for Seattle where this plane was off loaded. The history of this plane is unknown from September 1945 until 1949 when it was "given" to the Tacoma Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Training Center.

For the next ten years it became derelict and then was presented to the King County Parks and Recreation Board. It was placed on the White Center playground where it was kicked around for another ten years. At this time the plane came under the control of the "Museum of Flight".

Here is the aircraft stripped down to bare bones. The two upper longerons are original the two lower ones are new.

In the next 25 years several attempts by various organizations were made to restore the plane to its original condition. These efforts failed. The plane returned to The "Museum of Flight" where it is now under going restoration under the direction of Mr. Milt James and his able aviation engineering crew. This plane is on view while being restored at the restoration hanger located about one mile south of the Everett Boeing Plant in Everett, WA.