American aircraft photos 8 - 12

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by Buckeye30

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.

Nick

Sorry Nick, for late reply.
Been in Tanzania "chasing" animals. No access to either email or TOCH down there due to some snags
created by ourselves.....

Anyway, what I ment with my previous remarks was that some (all?) of the AT-9 which began life with a 1.
plus block number, later in life was repainted with the fiscal year digit 1 and its block number without the dot,
that is the normal way we are used to see it represented.

Cheers
Stig

[Buckeye30]

Hi Stig. This seems to be a practice on the Curtiss St. Louis line only; for A-25s, AT-9s and C-76s. I don't think the trainer type serials would be re-painted as an order.
The first 2 C-76s as completed (42-86913 / 914) had dots but subsequent ones apparently not.
Incidentally the Fiscal year was added to serials on June 30 1921 ( as on the XCO-6 23-1236) then carried onto Air Corps in 1926.
Regards
Nick

[Stig Jarlevik]

Well Nick

Since the AT-9 I am talking about came from exactly the same blocks getting the dot the conclusion is
a) They never received the dot in the first place
b) They must have been repainted at some point, without the dot.

Cheers
Stig

[edwest2]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/40410943792...IAAOSwFexjxK-m
https://www.ebay.com/itm/40410943792...QAAOSwDUBjxK-m
https://www.ebay.com/itm/37445379280...UAAOSwyetjvqsS

[Buckeye30]

Ed. Photo 1 is 44-87640 ( there is a better photo on Flickr showing this, also the Block 85-BW and 11 bombs)-- 462BG on Tinian late in the war ( 44-87641 flew 11 missions before the end).
The 1st "Iron George" was 44-27340, earlier. Presumably the other 2 are the same Group. "George" may be a crew name but it was the usual name for the Autopilot on board.


Nick

[edwest2]

Thank you Nick.

[edwest2]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/15540782716...sAAOSwg2dj6uKr
Off topic
https://www.ebay.com/itm/15540763590...8AAOSwPo5j6raQ

[Buckeye30]

Hi Ed. I can't remember the serial at the moment but I'm pretty sure it's 93BG (and she has the Douglas-style of anti-glare panel) and interesting colours.........
Yellow face with 63-mission bomb marker, red nose turret, lips and tongue, a small Texas longhorn bull behind the face; very similar "face" style in the 448th, 458th and 308th BGs.
Sadly scrapped in the US post-war.


Nick

[Buckeye30]

Hi Ed. I don't know if you are interested in such things like me but this has the features of an early Douglas-built B-24J ( J-1-DT or 5-DT) from 42-51226 to 42-51395.
Sloping bombardier's window (unbraced) with small window behind.
Rounded side window above.
High pitot tube.
Unpainted finish.
Douglas anti-glare panel style, over pitot.
Nose-wheel door down.
Emerson nose turret.
There was a very similar one in the 389BG but with several detail differences (probably an "H").
There is a very clear colour photo of the one in your photo in a scrapyard in the US, the caption says in Albuquerque NM but only the nose is visible. Also she is in a take-off photo of the 93BG on May 20 1945.


Nick

[edwest2]

Hi Nick,


Thank you for that detailed reply. I have little knowledge of American aircraft, preferring to study German types. However, I'm sure the info you provided will be appreciated by those who study American aircraft.


Best,
Ed