Miss Merced was delivered to RCN as WG567 and brought on charge on August 28, 1951.
Ending service on February 8, 1957, it was owned by Robert P. Vanderveken, Pierrefords, Quebec, from September 1961-1965 and registered as CF-VAN.
Owned by Michael D. Carroll, Long Beach, CA, 1965-1969, it was registered as N878M and modifed as racer. Military equipment removed, airframe lightened. Outer wing panels clipped (removing 6.5 ft. total). Small bubble canopy installed.
The first race appearance was at Reno 1966. It was flown as race #87/”Signal Sea Fury” by Lyle Shelton.
Owned by Sherman Cooper, Merced, CA, 1969-1972, it flew as Race #87/Miss Merced.
Reno – 1970 – Unlimited Class – Hawker Siddeley Sea Fury FB Mk.11 (#87) “Miss Merced” (N878M) William (Sherm) Cooper Finished 3rd (Gold) Speed 412.583 mph
It nosed over during forced landing after engine failure near Mojave, CA, November 13, 1971.
Frank C. Sanders, Chino, CA, acquired the wreck in 1980-1981, who sold to James A. Mott, South Gate, CA, in 1984. It was rebuilt at Chino, 1984-1988 and flew as race #42/Super Chief.
Stephen Bolander and Jim Michaels/J&S Aviation, Oconomowoc, WI, owned N878M March 24, 1999-2002, trucking it from Chino to Ione, CA for restoration. Fitted with Wright R-3350 and additional racing mods. First flight, Ione, CA, March 2000, and flown as race #87/Miss Merced.
Owned by Eric Woelbing, Franksville, WI, July 21, 2003-2004. Flown as race #87/Miss Merced. Based at Kenosha Airport, WI.
All Aero 