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**Rare Early Aviation History Archive – 15 Original Kodachrome Slides (November 1961)**
Up for sale is a stunning, historically significant lot of fourteen (15) original 35mm color film slides documenting legendary airshow pilot John William "Bill" Fornof alongside his civilian-owned Grumman F8F-2P Bearcat (Registration N7700C / Bureau Number 121608).
### Historical Significance & Provenance
Each slide mount is distinctly stamped "NOV 61" (November 1961). This date makes the collection exceptionally rare, as it captures Bill Fornof at the very beginning of his civilian warbird career, well before the formation of his famous late-1960s "Bearcats in Bronze" aerobatic team. The aircraft is shown in its early dark/bare metal finish rather than the later polished bronze metallic scheme.
Adding to the pedigree of this archive, these photos were taken directly by my late father-in-law, who was an amateur photographer and a fellow U.S. Naval Aviator. Captured through a pilot’s eye, the slides offer highly detailed candid perspectives, including crisp close-ups of Bill Fornof in his cockpit (bearing the custom panel name graphic), ground framing, walk-arounds, and full profiles of this iconic late-WWII carrier fighter. There are also some photos of my father in law in this lot, enjoying the plane as well.
### Condition & Film Quality
* **Film Stock:** Authentic Kodachrome film from late 1961.
* **Color Stability:** Excellent. Due to the unmatched archival quality of Kodachrome dyes, the colors remain incredibly rich, sharp, and vibrant, showing zero signs of fading, magenta shifting, or typical aging degradation.
* **Physical Condition:** Excellent vintage condition. Cardboard mounts are clean and structural. Film has been safely stored in a climate-controlled environment for over 50 years.
### What You Get:
The winning buyer will receive the complete physical archive of all 15 original slides pictured in this listing, inheriting full physical custody of these rare historic images. Perfect for dedicated military historians, aircraft modelers, warbird enthusiasts, or historical photo archives.
**Shipping:** Will be securely packaged in a box mailers to ensure safe delivery. Please view all photos for details. Feel free to message with any questions!
