C-54E N9013V - Lynch Air Tankers/Cargo

[Feather #3]

Hi!

We're now working on a complete restoration for a new career for the old girl.

Having just stripped the interior lining, we've found "aftermarket" hand and footholds on the fuselage with a steel bracket just forward of the wings roots and a small door above the window line which must have been used to load liquids.

Earlier photos prior to service with Lynch don't seem to have these. Do any of you out there have any idea of the precise use of these items and, even better, photos of their use for our records??

Thanks and cheers,

F#3

[gary1954]

Feather #3, uhmmm....
...How do we know that there is a restoration going on? Do you have any "p i c t u r e s" for us to see? hmmmm

[The Inspector]

Got the msn? N 9013V shows (for a number of years) as a 'Veal AK Tundra 18' registered in Alaska so I guess it's a modded CUB conglomerate bush plane.
Bouncing the msn off of Baughers lists may open doors to post military operators- www.joebaugher.com

[Feather #3]

Guys,

Someone must know someone in Billings MT with an answer?

G'day

[Invader26]

Will she be restored as a C-54 or as a "civvie"?

[WallyB]

Got the msn?

27352, line number 298. Just 2 identities - 44-9126 (5/14/45) and N9013V (10/5/78).

[Feather #3]

She's been in Oz as VH-PAF for a number of years.

Was restored to flyable condition at Archerfield, Qld. [see http://www.hars.org.au for the details] and is now being fully worked by us back to a pax configuration.

However, there are some missing bits in the story and the biggest of those is the time at Lynch Air Tankers [later Cargo.] One of those is the mods I describe above.

Net research well covers Lynch's A-26's, but the DC-4/C-54's are another matter. It would be good if the gaps can be filled, and, as I said, someone on this forum will have a contact who can help.

Thanks and G'day

[The Inspector]

Found your birds history in GOOGLE @ "VH-PAF Douglas DC-4". Briefly, stayed in the USAAF/USAF until 12/71 then to MASDC. Auctioned to DROSS Metals then sold & onto U.S. registration. several sales and leases until 1980 when it was nabbed hauling vegetable matter clandestinely and seized by the Sheriff in a Florida County. then several more leases/sales until it went to PACIFIC AIR FREIGHTERS in Oz as VH-PAF.
Hope this and the steer to GOOGLE helps you-

[Malcolm Hood]

Feather #3

I received the following from a fellow Australian historian who visited Denny Lynch regularly while he owned the C-54:

"N9013V was only used as a freighter while owned by Lynch Air Cargo. Its interior was stripped for cargo work. Definitely not used for any chemical carriage or application work.

Denny Lynch purchased N9013V for planned work on US Postal Service contracts out of Denver CO and Billings MT. His Lynch Air Tankers (motto "Slurry In A Hurry") fleet of Douglas A-26 Invaders weren't getting much fire attack work after the USFS stopped awarding contracts to piston engined tankers so he decided to branch into freight work. Denny's family operated the long established FBO Lynch Fying Service at Billings-Logan, and Denny formed an associate company Lynch Air Cargo.

He purchased N9013V in June 1984 from John Thrasher of Fort Lauderdale FL after seeing it advertised for sale in Trade-A-Plane, grounded at Nassau, Bahamas with a u/s engine. It had been on the ground at Nassau for about 8 months after making a forced landing there on its way to Florida following being impounded in Venezuala for drug running. The aircraft had a shady past with several owners after disposal by USAF. With great assistance from veteran piston aircraft dealer Jim Boy of Carolina Aircraft Corporation, Ft Lauderdale, Denny and Jim did a 3 engine ferry from Bahamas to Billings MT where Denny got it back into good shape. Unfortunately his bids for postal contracts were unsuccessful and the C-54E picked up only a handful of occasional charters, one being for a TV advertisement filmed in California. As age and health problems ended his flying career, Denny sold the C-54 to Australia."

Regards

[Feather #3]

Malcolm,

Thanks for that. The implication is that the fluid loading "accessories" may have been fitted earlier, but you've given me a couple of leads.

G'day

[JohnH]

Got to see that airplane in 1990 when it stopped at Chino. Had a great lunch at Flo's with Denny , he was a great guy.

[Feather #3]

JohnH,

We should start a separate thread on just who has eaten at Flo's!!??

THAT would fill a book of who's-who!

G'day