Warbird Information Exchange

Hello,

I wonder if anyone can help. I'm assisting in the rebuild and eventually repaint of a N3N-3 biplane and although we know its going to end up in Orange-Yellow (FS13538), the owners would like to break up the overall colour with an red instrument training band on the fuselage with the numbers changing colour as they go through the band - black on the yellow and white on the red.

I have only seen one period photo of an N3N with the said band, that being Bu2829 which wears 659 on the fuselage with the 5 in the red band. I presume that the last digit is the last digit of the Bu number, but then I havent a clue and am asking if anyone knows what the significance of the other two numbers are - Squadron and Flight?

Our N3N-3 only served at Pensacola from 13 November 1941 until 29 September 1943 when it went to Glenview. It was struck off charge 14 December 1943, so not a long service record.

If anyone can answer my query, I will be pleased to hear from them, as we intend to start painting the airframe in the New Year.

Thank you

Martin Pengelly
Cornwall UK

Typically the number assigned would be a Squadron number and have no relation to the BuNo.

Martin,

I have reviewed a number of my WWII naval aviation publications and I have concluded that the 3 digit number on the fuselage was locally assigned. There was no association with the BuNo at all. I ran across several N3N photos displaying the following nos ( 679, 702,706,662, 663, and 678) all of which were based at NAS Corpus Christi (TX) or its auxiliary of NAAS Rodd Field. Actually the USAAF did the same for its BT and AT aircraft i.e. all locally assigned w/no association with the s/n).

JDV
www.fuselagecodes.com

I'm afraid to say that ours is 4445. I only used 2829 as a reference as that is the only one in photo form that I could find with the red fuselage band. As to the record card for 4446, it is very bleak with only 3 lines on it. Delivered 13 November 1941 to Pensacola and received 4 days later. After that it stayed there until 29 September 1943 when it went to Glenview. Struck off charge 14 December 1943. I have ordered the FAA records and when these arrive you are more then welcome to have a copy of what they send me.

Sorry for any confusion and thanks to everyone else for replying. Will have to think carefully as to what numbers we do place on the fuselage side now!

Best wishes to all.

Martin

Here's a pic with a BuNo that's close, stripe and all.

http://collections.naval.aviation.museu ... FQuery.php

That's awesome! Rob - have you got any info on N3N-3 #4402? I flew it out of a little lake that it ended up in after the engine came apart a couple of years ago. Nice little airplane on floats.

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Defending Stearmans on WIX since Jeff started badmouthing them back in 2005.

That's interesting. I'm currently rebuilding an ex USN Stearman (an N2S-3) and it's first assignment was also NAS Anacostia. I wonder if that was just a "paper" assignment only for accepting it into the inventory or if it was actually there? About a week later it was at NAS Memphis, staying for about two years.

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Defending Stearmans on WIX since Jeff started badmouthing them back in 2005.

BuAer #05284. I wrote the Navy some years ago and they sent me their files, but PM me your email and we can compare notes.

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Defending Stearmans on WIX since Jeff started badmouthing them back in 2005.

Okay here goes! When I was researching the history of my Stearman a few years ago (also a Navy Instrument Trainer) it was soon established that there was no link at all between the Bu No and the three digit squadron number. However after coming across a few very early de mobbed Stearman photos, there did seem to be a link between the squadron codes and the last three digits of the civil reg. I am not saying that this is a given, but on some aircraft this did seem to be the case. Something to think about. Not to confuse this with the early restoration habit of using the reg numbers to determine the squadron number when it was not known. Can of worms? Yes.

Steve

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75-Stay Alive, 76-Radio Tricks, 77-Going to Heaven.

I don't have any pics of it but I'll see if Joe has the logs for it. It's a pretty rough looking project that's packed up in a seacan in Red Deer. Most of the big pieces are there but there's not too much else. All that stuff is around though so I'm sure it'll amount to something someday.

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Defending Stearmans on WIX since Jeff started badmouthing them back in 2005.