US Air Transport Command a/c serials 1943-1944

[cz_raf]

Hi all,

I am looking for aircraft serials used by US Air Transport Command for return flights Accra - Miami in 1943-1944.

So far I was able to identify most of them but as the record state them only by four digits I would like to ask for confirmation of my idea - I suppose those digits may be the last four digits of the serial number.

5196 - ???
2335 - Douglas C-54 Skymaster (42-72335)
2941 - Douglas C-54 Skymaster (42-32941)
8625 - Douglas C-54 Skymaster (42-32941) ?
2944 - Douglas C-54 Skymaster (42-32944)
8627 - Boeing C-75 Stratoliner (42-88627) ?
8624 - Boeing C-75 Stratoliner (42-88624)
7302 - Boeing C-75 Stratoliner (42-88624) ?
8390 - Boeing C-75 Stratoliner (42-88624)

Any help much appreciated

TIA

Pavel

[edwest2]

Hi,


I hope the following provides some clues:


http://cgibin.rcn.com/jeremy.k/cgi-b...t=Douglas+C-54


Ed

[cz_raf]

Hi Ed,
thank you for link to very useful tool to search Joe Baugher's pages which I have been searching manually what was very tiring.


Pavel

[RSwank]

Here is Joe Baugher's link to the C-75s 42-88623 to 42-88627 which may give you a few more clues.

http://cgibin.rcn.com/jeremy.k/cgi-b...88624&content=

Note that 42-88623 flew for a while with the incorrect tail number 42-88625.
and 42-88625 was for a while incorrectly labeled as 42-88624.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by RSwank

Here is Joe Baugher's link to the C-75s 42-88623 to 42-88627 which may give you a few more clues.

http://cgibin.rcn.com/jeremy.k/cgi-b...88624&content=

Note that 42-88623 flew for a while with the incorrect tail number 42-88625.
and 42-88625 was for a while incorrectly labeled as 42-88624.

Hi Rolland

I actually doubt that any of these aircraft flew with the wrong tail number.
If anyone can send me some photo or written evidence of this, I would be very happy, but until then I consider this to be a myth.

Cheers
Stig

[cz_raf]

Hi Rolland, thank you so it seems to me - if my consideration that the four digits are the last for of the serial - is right I have picked up right aircraft in all cases.


So only the first onre remains:


5196 - ???


"My candidate" would be:
Douglas C-47A-80-DL Skytrain 43-15196 but as it was produced in 1943 I am not sure if it was in operation already in May 1943?


TIA

Pavel

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by cz_raf

5196 - ???

"My candidate" would be:
Douglas C-47A-80-DL Skytrain 43-15196 but as it was produced in 1943 I am not sure if it was in operation already in May 1943?

TIA
Pavel

No it wasn't.
Delivered to Baer Field and 806BU 18 Feb 1944 and later used by 9th AF during the war. Nothing to do with Africa

Cheers
Stig

[cz_raf]

Opps! Many thanks Stig! So I have to look for another candidate.

What about Curtiss C-46A-1-CU Commando 41-5196?

Unfortunately I am not able to find out if this tpye was ever used for transport flights between Accra and Miami or at least on the last leg from Brazil to Miami.


Any help much appreciated.


Pavel

[Alex Smart]

Hi,
From AB's "Curtis C-46 Commando"
26398 - 41-5196
3 Feb 43.
LA Garcia.
CaribW 29 May 43
RFC at Bush Fld 5 Oct 45
Back to USAF 9 Mar 48
Langley 5 May 48
Reclaim with 6 All 49.

[cz_raf]

Many thanks Alex! My man would arrive to Key West (not Miami in this case) aboard this aircraft from probably somewhere in Brasil on 22 May 1943. The aircraft veing recorded only as "US 5196". So The question is if it may be 41-5196 or not at the time?



Pavel