Green Cove Springs in Clay County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Pratt Whitney R-2800 Twin Wasp Engine

Military Museum of North Florida

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, August 5, 2021

1. Pratt Whitney R-2800 Twin Wasp Engine Marker

Inscription. The R-2800 was developed in 1937 and was the first 18 cylinder radial engine. It produced 2,350 horsepower and weighed 2,000 lbs. The engine was regarded as the Cadillac of engines at that time and the engine was the workhorse for World War II. It powered the P-47 "Thunderbolt", the F6F "Hellcat”, the F4U "Corsair", the P-61 "Black Widow fighters, and the B-26 "Marauder" and A26 "Invader" bombers.

The engine here is from a F4U "Corsair". This is a late model that had a water injection system that increased the horsepower to 2,500 hp making the Corsair’s top speed 453 mph vs the Hellcats’ 380 mph.

A special thank you to the Reynolds Corporation and to particularly those individuals here in Green Cove Springs who allowed us to recover the two engines and parts that are now here in the museum. Their knowledge of the area and especially the history of Lee Field was and is invaluable.

Erected by Military Museum of North Florida.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1937.

Location. 29° 58.786′ N, 81° 39.196′ W. Marker is in Green Cove Springs, Florida, in Clay County. It is on Bunker Avenue 0.1 miles south of Leonard

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C. Taylor Parkway. The marker is located on the grounds of the Military Museum of North Florida. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Bunker Avenue, Green Cove Springs FL 32043, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in First Coast

and in Greater Jacksonville.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: “The Willys” (here, next to this marker); M151 Series Military Utility Tactical Truck (here, next to this marker); The M-170 Truck, Ambulance (here, next to this marker); The Gama Goat (here, next to this marker); 5”38 Caliber Single Mount Dual Purpose Gun (a few steps from this marker); LARC-LX (within shouting distance of this marker); Benjamin Lee II Field (approx. 0.2 miles away); Veterans War Memorial (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Green Cove Springs.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Fort San Fransisco de Pupo (was approx. 1.4 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . .
1. Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp R-2800 CB16, 2-Row, Radial 18 Engine. (Submitted on January 22, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. The Military Museum of North Florida. (Submitted on January 22, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, August 5, 2021

2. Pratt Whitney R-2800 Twin Wasp Engine Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 22, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 533 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 22, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.