Re: American aircraft photos 8 - 12
 

There were PB4Ys and PBYs on Morotai the same time as PVs (Fleet Air Wing 17 from 19/10/44 to 30/12/44) the PBY is a "Black Cat" possibly from VPB 71, they were Matt Black overall and on Morotai in Nov.-Dec. VP/VPB 11 also there Oct.-Nov. The Liberator looks like a Navy PB4Y-1, in the old Blue Grey-Light Grey rather than Army Olive Drab; one of 3 VPBs there.

If the PV is 34874 she was wrecked in a Jap air raid in the Admiralty Is. 29/11/44.
There were PBM Mariners from VPB 20 "Nightmares" on Morotai from Oct. ( I think they had some black aircraft).


Nick

Re: American aircraft photos 8 - 12
 

Very impressive Nick

You should do a book one day.... :)

Cheers
Stig

Re: American aircraft photos 8 - 12
 

As regards VPB20 I presume you mean that the squadron was tender based at Morotai (USS Tangier) rather than "on" the island.

Re: American aircraft photos 8 - 12
 

Thanks George yes "on" was the wrong word. According to Navy sites she was there 21/9/44 to 1/12/44; at one time the Flagship of COMAIR 7th Fleet.


May I ask a question as you are an SB2C enthusiast ? Have you any thoughts on the odd serial presentation on some A-25s (like 41-18774, 41-18787 and 41-18826) and other Curtiss types like AT-9s such as 41-11972, 41-12025 and 41-12150? It seems to be a Curtiss practice to put a dot between first and second digits as in Ed's photo.
Just been bugging me for a while.


Cheers
Nick

Re: American aircraft photos 8 - 12
 

I know little about Army practices but the "dot" appears to be restricted to FY41 aircraft built by the St Louis plant and, as an abbreviation of the dash, makes it easier to fit the full serial number on the fin. Presumably it's use was approved by the Army inspector at the St Louis factory?

Re: American aircraft photos 8 - 12
 

Army-Navy Bulletins and their Inspectorates were primarily concerned with colour standards and specified detail markings like data panels, as long as serials were correct colours and sizes (but even these varied occasionally like red on some C-47s) it seems the actual presentation was left to the factory, in this case Curtiss St. Louis (Lambert Field).
The blocks concerned were (A-25)---3 blocks from 41-18774 to 41-18873, and AT-9s in blocks 41-11939 to 41-12279 / 41-5745 to 41-5894 / 42-56853 to 42-57152, so some were Fiscal Year 1942.
The "dots" were no doubt a factory peculiarity.
Regards
Nick

Re: American aircraft photos 8 - 12
 

No opinion with regard to the dot, but from photos of AT-9/AT-9A later in their career, no dot is visible,
so must have been redone at some stage.
Earliest dated photo is in 1943.

Cheers
Stig

Re: American aircraft photos 8 - 12
 

Hi Stig. Is this one of the photos (Jan. 1943) on the St. Louis line; both aircraft are second in production but different Fiscal years.

As you say at some point in the last AT-9 and A-25 blocks they deleted the "dot"; the latest serials I've seen with them are 42-57061 (AT-9) and 41-18826 (A-25). In the other AT-9 block 41-5850 (near the end) had a standard serial.

https://www.docdroid.com/9tu76LJ/cur...os-pdf#page=13


No big deal but still interesting anomaly.
Nick

Re: American aircraft photos 8 - 12
 

Nick,


I agree with Stig. Write that book. If not, and for others interested, a series of books that include Allied aircraft markings from the PTO.


https://avonmorebooks.com.au/?page=2




Thanks again,
Ed

Re: American aircraft photos 8 - 12
 

Ed thanks for the link, I love a nice profile. Wish I could afford the set.
************
Nick