Original 1946 Photo F8F Bearcat Fighter Crash Restricted Marthas Vineyard 8x10 For Sale

## 1946 Original US Navy RESTRICTED 8x10 Photo: Grumman F8F Bearcat Runway Crash**Location:** U.S. Naval Auxiliary Air Facility, Martha\'s Vineyard, Massachusetts
**Date Stamped:** March 8, 1946
**Format:** Guaranteed Authentic 1940s Vintage 8x10 Silver Gelatin Print (Type 1)### Historical Summary
Up for sale is a premium, historic piece of naval aviation lore: a 100% guaranteed original, period-authentic 1946 US Navy service photograph capturing the intensive recovery operation of a crashed Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat fighter aircraft. The reverse features a complete, crisp Bureau of Aeronautics ink stamp boldly marked \"RESTRICTED - OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH - NOT TO BE USED FOR PUBLICATION.\" The original administrative ink script is perfectly legible:
* Local Neg No: M.V. 1381
* Date: March 8, 1946
* Subject: CRASH F8F / RUN-AWAY FIRE / BuNo 94860### Niche Collector Appeal
This photograph captures an incredibly specific, brief window in military history. The aircraft belongs to VBF-18 (Bombing Fighter Squadron 18), carrying the wartime fuselage markings \"18-BF-19\". Following the conclusion of WWII, these specialized carrier-borne squadron designations were phased out quickly, making original photos of early Bearcats carrying these specific transitional squad markings exceptionally scarce on the open market. The photo clearly shows airfield personnel and heavy crane rigging working on the tarmac to safely upright the advanced piston fighter and clear the runway.### Condition Report
Excellent vintage condition. Strong contrast, deep historic blacks, and a beautiful native silver gelatin gloss surface luster. The photo paper shows a minor, natural curve along the edges completely consistent with fiber-based photo paper from the 1940s. Clean reverse with sharp, unsmudged stamps. Please examine all high-resolution scans for precise edge and surface details.