Beech UC-43 - crash 19 Dec 1946 - serial?

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

"FAA Aircraft 1939-1945" has the following -
FT509 - ( 44-67763 - c/n 6871 ) - Rtd USN as Bu 32900 - became NC248/N248E.
However Joe Baugher has in his site that FT509 was c/n 6771.
So perhaps he has a typo and maybe it is 6871 ?
And in turn the original number 8871 may have also been an error for 6871 ?
Anyone have details of NC248 or as later N248E ?

My two pence worth
Alex

[Revi16]

6871 - http://beech17.net/?page_id=1239

[Alex Smart]

Hello Revi,
Thank you for the reply and the link.
I am still of the opinion that it was an a/c of British parentage though.
The start of the number "66" may well be in place of the first two alphabetical letters . This is seen several times in MACR reports specially with USAAF Spitfire losses when the serial number is given as 66 the followed by three numbers.
Just a thought, could have been an ex RAF or RN a/c returned to US service in Europe and not given a US serial number at the time of accident.
Alex

[Leendert]

Thanks for the follow ups. Possibility of ex-RAF has crossed my mind as well.
FAA flew the type as well.

Have contacted another source and will keep you posted.

Regards,

Leendert

PS ASN entry is edited now. This of course reopens the question what French military plane crashed near Toulouse with 8/9 injured. Date on or around 22 Dec 1946.

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
As a follow up.

As it was only a minor accident the a/c would have possibly been repaired and returned to service perhaps ?
But reported as partially burned and written off, but was out of gas ?

Also is it known how many others were sent over to Europe if any apart from those of RAF and RN ?
8th and 9th AAF's for example.

The Baltimore V mentioned earlier was SOC in April 46, so was it taken to Germany for scrapping ? If so it may have been found to have been serviceable enough for Embassy use ?

Alex

[Leendert]

Alex,

Official accident report specifically mentions UC-43 and just 8871 as serial.
No idea were 43-8871 (Baltimore) came from as on accident-report.com.

To my knowledge only other Staggerwing flying for US Embassy London had been YC-43 39-139, I believe preserved till this day.

Regards,

Leendert

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Had not looked at "39"
Seems its in Holland, so perhaps to look for signs of old burn/fire marks ?
However 39-140 may be worth a search ?
Alex