Aircraft Identification circa 1980 in Germany

[gary1954]

I was wondering if anyone of the wizards can Identify this aircraft.
Sorry for the crummy picture as the camera I had was a light leaking pos.
The picture was taken at Hanau Army Air Field at Fliegerhorst Kassern, Germany in I believe
1980. I do know that the pilot was French and that the aircraft was under French Registry.
That is all I know about it.

[Jollygreenslugg]

Could it be one of the aircraft used in the film "A Bridge Too Far"? A quick Google suggests that they were Dutch, however.

Any other European-made war movies from the late '70s which may have called for quasi-Thunderbolts?

Cheers,
Matt

[gary1954]

I just do not know....the guy flying it was definitely French, spoke the english language like a pro, was a nice guy as well, I really wish I'd have gotten the civil on it. The dude owned the plane....I'm stumped.

[Jollygreenslugg]

G'day Gary,

I'm wondering whether it's T-6G 51-15113?

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/texanreg ... 15113.html

The scheme is not completely dissimilar, and could have been applied after your shot was taken. The non-standard star and bar dimensions of both schemes, what looks to be green and brown camo on both and the fact that F-AZAU was French-registered at the time point to it as a possible match. I've noted the different front canopy but it looks like a possible repaint of the same machine.

I wonder if there's a list of French-registered Harvards out there...

Cheers,
Matt

[gary1954]

hey, thanks and now I have a lead to go on. I should like to see if I could find out the registration and serial, with this information I can at a minimum surf the web and see what I can shake loose.
I have a picture of the instrument panel it reads Radio Call 114-790 but I can;t find anything on it.

[Fogg]

It may be a long shot, but when I saw your photo I also thought of F-AZAU...

http://www.airliners.net/photo/North-American-T-6G/1291658/&sid=f83952320a3e17b7da536ed634ea7ec7

[gary1954]

thanks ya'll. I flashed a message to the j. decoop, la ferte-alais, france with a photo of the plane asking them if the can identify the plane.
I advised them that I have a photo of the instrument panel and will send that if it will help.
Now we wait and see.
I too think this is the same airframe, I just want to be certain.
Thank you again for your helping me try and ID this airframe.

[T J Johansen]

I think the number is possibly an abbreviation for 51-14790 which became F-AZAY, also owned by J. Decoop of La Ferte Alais/ Mulhouse in late 1979. It crashed at Longuyon on June 9, 1985. All this according to Geoff Goodall's Warbirds Directory vol. 4.

T J

[gary1954]

*SNAP*
Thats what I'm Talkin about!!! Thanks TJ