Questions for the CAF guys

Of all the aircraft in your fleet, would there be any aircraft that did have actual combat experience? And what aircraft in the fleet would you state, would have the most colorful background history?.

I also have wondered who makes the decisions concerning paint schemes and markings. I have heard significant donors have a lot of say in the schemes chosen.

Mark

[Matt Gunsch]

The B-25 with the Az wing is a combat vet, and is being restored in it's original markings
B-25J-10NC c/n 108-35262 43-35972 (N125AZ), ex 12th AF / 319th BG - 15 combat missions, ex-TB-25J, ex-TB-25N BD-972, ex-air tanker, " 18 Maid in the Shade ", Commemorative Air Force / Arizona Wing(CAF), Falcon Field, Mesa, AZ (A) [25]

from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Amer ... _Survivors

[CAPFlyer]

If they donate money specifically for paint, then yes, their desires are given a certain amount of "extra" weight. However, the unit and/or sponsor group (depending on how the aircraft is assigned and how the unit operates) will make the final decision on how the airplane is painted. It is up to the individual unit/group to decide how they come about the decision (vote, poll, contest, etc.).

As for "most colorful" history, I would have to say that "Ol' 927" certainly has one of the most interesting as does the R4D-6S "Ready4Duty".

"Ready4Duty" is, in essence, a 3 time combat veteran. It flew anti-submarine patrols over the Central Atlantic and Caribbean during WWII as one of only a couple dozen R4D-6S's built and possibly was responsible for the sinking of a U-Boat off the South American coast. It then served as a covert ELINT aircraft (designated an R4D-6X) during the Berlin Airlift. This was a very dangerous assignment since the Soviets probably would have shot down any ELINT aircraft the could have positively identified. It then finished its service to the U.S. Government as a Smoke Jumper aircraft for the U.S. Forest Service battling fires across the country and was called C-47B (which led to the original confusion that almost got the airplane restored as "Rebel Rouser II").

[Taylor Stevenson]

The P-40N was an RCAF bird that served in WWII... not sure if it had combat.

[daveymac82c]

Hey Taylor,

what was the RCAF registration/serial number for that P-40. There's a chance that it may have seen some action in Alaska against the Japanese.

Let me know and I'll try looking into it. Bill Walker, if you're listening you could probably beat me to it. I was just going to check your site.

Cheers,

David

[flyntexn]

To follow up on what Taylor said, yes the P40N (actually a Kittyhawk Mk. IV) N1226N was with 111 Squadron RCAF in the Aleutians. It was part of a group of K's and N's that went up from Victoria as an attachment to young Chennault's USAAC flyers. I researched this extensively when I first got involved with the airplane, and actually acquired some pictures of it sitting on PSP being armed. I also have a pic of it in bare aluminum with the RCAF roundels and a training squadron nose number. I will try to post here if I can scan them in. I'm still trying to track down combat history, if any, and would be interested in any leads.


As an aside, I currently own Harvard Mk. IV, N1811B, Ser. 20247, formerly Lone Star Flight Museum, former Bill Melamed (John Muszala restoration). It's based at GTU (Georgetown, TX) where we are also working on the POF Pilatus P2, which will hopefully fly within the next 90 days.
Kent H.

[Ztex]

(which led to the original confusion that almost got the airplane restored as "Rebel Rouser II").

"Almost" hehe

[JT]

The CAF's Seafury, WJ288, is a Royal Navy Korean War Vet.

JT