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Originally Posted by DaveM2
On a P-400 two different serial numbers have been found - BW330 and BX149 on the rear fuselage ( not an easily replacable extremity). Does anyone have an idea why this maybe. Anyone have any information on either serial number?
TIA
Dave
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It is quite possible Bell initially painted the wrong RAF Number on it first.. It has happened before to others, such as Consolidated (Libs) and Curtiss (at one point they just continued on past a ??999 to ??1000) for P-40s. Also either Americans had problem with the concept of 'black out blocks' aor the British Purchasing team in the US had a problem with them.. Anyway a whole bunch of AANNN to BZ???? were pre-allocated to British Air Purchasing in the US for farming out to the US manufacturers.
There were BW??? serialed RAF ones.. onewithout looking them up any further.. The net (Baugher has up to BW183) and also has reference to BX149
"BX149 to USAAF. condemned Mar 23, 1943"
http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/p39_5.html