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Need Help Locating an Aircraft - Lockheed R5O

Sat Feb 07, 2015 12:10 am

We need help locating a former CG R5O (Loadstar) for historical purposes. Some info is below. Would anyone have any idea where she is currently at? Mucho Gracias......

I located some recent history on a Lockheed R5O, original USCG aircraft that was obtained on May 14, 1940 as a VIP
transport for the Sec. of Treas. After CG service, it was sold as surplus and was exported to another country. However, it
found its way back to the US and was issued an Air Worthiness Certificate around the 1951/52 timeframe. It appears to have been
licensed as N54549 from 1951 through January 30, 2013, when it was listed as SALE REPORTED. The info is foggy after this point as the only address listed is a P.O. Box in Miami Springs, FL.

The aircraft was produced on a USN production run (BUNO 2101) with a Lockheed c/n of 2008. Diverted to the USCG as V-188 on May 14, 1940, it remained in service through February 1943.


Here she is in CG skins circa 1940/41.
Image

A 1952 pic of her.
Image

Re: Need Help Locating an Aircraft - Lockheed R5O

Sat Feb 07, 2015 9:45 am

I suspect this is long gone, and was cancelled as part of the tidying-up exercise the FAA is undertaking at the moment.
Its last ownership change was in 1967, and according to "The Lockheed Twins" an FAA enquiry in May 75 was unanswered.
Andy

Re: Need Help Locating an Aircraft - Lockheed R5O

Sat Feb 07, 2015 10:28 am

Andy Marden wrote:I suspect this is long gone, and was cancelled as part of the tidying-up exercise the FAA is undertaking at the moment.
Its last ownership change was in 1967, and according to "The Lockheed Twins" an FAA enquiry in May 75 was unanswered.
Andy


Andy,

Thanks for the response. We have an owners address from the date of sale in 2013. Will probably follow up on that angle next week. I was hoping someone may have some idea of where it is parked/stored right now. That would be the oldest known, original CG aircraft if we can find it.

v/r....John

Re: Need Help Locating an Aircraft - Lockheed R5O

Sat Feb 07, 2015 4:21 pm

Coastie John,I believe that the PBY that the Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum has, had served with the US Coast Guard.

Re: Need Help Locating an Aircraft - Lockheed R5O

Sat Feb 07, 2015 4:33 pm

helinut wrote:Coastie John,I believe that the PBY that the Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum has, had served with the US Coast Guard.


Could be....our aircraft historian will know that. I'll pass it on to him....thanks.

Re: Need Help Locating an Aircraft - Lockheed R5O

Sat Feb 07, 2015 6:46 pm

CoastieJohn wrote:
helinut wrote:Coastie John,I believe that the PBY that the Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum has, had served with the US Coast Guard.


Could be....our aircraft historian will know that. I'll pass it on to him....thanks.


Here's report on that Canada one. We don't have much info WRT to the dates on it though.

It is BUNO/CG# 05021 and is one I documented many years ago based on a questionnaire mailed to aviators and aircrew in the late 1970s. Although they call it a CANSO, it's actually a San Diego built PBY-5A by Consolidated..

Re: Need Help Locating an Aircraft - Lockheed R5O

Sat Feb 07, 2015 9:24 pm

Heres what I found out about its history before it came to Canada, I was involved with its recovery,
Military Service Summary:
Bu05021 was delivered to the Transition Training Squadron Pacific at San Diego on March 1st, 1942.
Assigned to Commander Patrol Wings Atlantic on March 11th, 1942.
Reassigned to NAS Pensacola on March 17th, 1942.
On Feb. 27th, 1943 she was assigned to NAS Alameda.
Assigned to NPG (Naval Proving Ground) Dahlgren on April 10th, 1943.
Sept. 1st, 1943 transferred to the Atlantic Fleet at Norfolk.
Assigned to ComAirLant on Nov. 18th, 1943.
The period from November 1943 to September 30th 1944 remains a mystery. During this period, it was apparently based at NAS Norfolk, Va. This would have been an active period for all US Navy patrol aircraft during the war, the U-Boat fleets were starting to lie off the US East coast and our aircraft could have participated on these patrols against this threat. This part of the aircraft’s history remains a mystery, which requires further investigation.
On November 22nd 1944 05021 was received by Hedron-2 FAW-5
In January 1945, it was transferred to the U.S Coast Guard. She was stationed at CGAS Miami Florida, until July 1945 when she was flown to NAS Seattle where she was stricken off the Navy’s list on Jan. 31st, 1946.
Civilian Service Summary:

Re: Need Help Locating an Aircraft - Lockheed R5O

Sat Feb 07, 2015 11:01 pm

helinut wrote:Heres what I found out about its history before it came to Canada, I was involved with its recovery,
Military Service Summary:
Bu05021 was delivered to the Transition Training Squadron Pacific at San Diego on March 1st, 1942.
Assigned to Commander Patrol Wings Atlantic on March 11th, 1942.
Reassigned to NAS Pensacola on March 17th, 1942.
On Feb. 27th, 1943 she was assigned to NAS Alameda.
Assigned to NPG (Naval Proving Ground) Dahlgren on April 10th, 1943.
Sept. 1st, 1943 transferred to the Atlantic Fleet at Norfolk.
Assigned to ComAirLant on Nov. 18th, 1943.
The period from November 1943 to September 30th 1944 remains a mystery. During this period, it was apparently based at NAS Norfolk, Va. This would have been an active period for all US Navy patrol aircraft during the war, the U-Boat fleets were starting to lie off the US East coast and our aircraft could have participated on these patrols against this threat. This part of the aircraft’s history remains a mystery, which requires further investigation.
On November 22nd 1944 05021 was received by Hedron-2 FAW-5
In January 1945, it was transferred to the U.S Coast Guard. She was stationed at CGAS Miami Florida, until July 1945 when she was flown to NAS Seattle where she was stricken off the Navy’s list on Jan. 31st, 1946.
Civilian Service Summary:


Excellent info...much appreciated!! I'll pass it on.
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