Warbird Information Exchange

Guys,

Looking for any service information or the fate of T-33A 53-5105. The reason is that I purchased an original manual and it was marked as the manual that was "assigned" to this particular plane. I am sure she does not survive, but I wonder where the poor plane ended her days, and spent her living ones.

Any info is appreciated.

JOE

Interestingly the "nearest" survivor by serial is T-33A 53-5109 in Tuscaloosa, AL.

As you probably know, it's not listed on Braugher's site.
http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/usafserials.html

There is a book that lists the hundreds of T-33 survivors scattered around the country...it might be in there.

_________________
Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.

I justed checked my database. I don't have it noted in there.

Mike

_________________
Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
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Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.

After several searches, thats what I kinda figured. I don't see it on any foreign lists, and its important to remember that over 50 percent were lost to operational crashes during the life of the plane. Flight training is hazardous, as any flight instructor will tell you. Does anyone have the USAF record cards?

Joe,
It went to MASDC, and was put onto the USN inventory there with paper BuNo 156150.
From there it went to Fort Leonard Wood MO, I guess for use on the ranges. It was last seen there in Feb79.
Regards,
Andy Marden

Andy,

Thank You! I will note the book with a label, and seek a picture of the plane for the binding. Its always sad to know the plane ended its days on a range somewhere....but it survived its service and trained its students. Here is a link to a range in Idaho...with some T-Birds!

http://www.skippyscage.com/aviation/id/ ... /index.php

Neat link Joe, thanks for posting it.

Sad, sad, sad...

Could you post a photo of your flight manual showing the s/n writing on it?

-Derek

I will photo the manual and put it up for you. Its just a brown paperback cover with the writing in a red mechanics crayon I think.

Looking at the Baugher site, a lot of QT-33A's! Were they all static targets, or were they operable aircraft that were "expended" in tests? This was 250 airframes!

Where is a good source of info on the QT-33? This from the china lake site...58-0493




155918/156169 Lockheed QT-33A
Transferred from USAF
155986 was ex-USAF 58-0476
155987 was ex-USAF 58-0477
155988 was ex-USAF 58-0493
156157 on static display at Sheppard AFB, marked as 35255.
156163 was ex-USAF 55-4380
156164 was ex-USAF 55-4385
156165 was ex-USAF 56-1596
156166 was ex-USAF 56-1652
156167 was ex-USAF 56-1732
156168 was ex-USAF 56-1773

And here is 155947....

http://joeidoni.smugmug.com/Aircraft-Cr ... 86_qyKQZ/1

Here is the manual....

Trying to flesh out the list for the baugher site, I would like to see if we could as a group tie up the Bu to USAF serials, and perhaps even fates for these 250 planes... shot down, range use and displays....In my searching on the internet I found that the self destruct charges were shaped explosive units that replaced the inner fuel caps, and were radio activated. Detonation of the "filler cap" charge sent a shock wave into both wing spars, fore and aft and immediately forced a "perfect" near vertical descent path with little dispersion of structure. Looking at the crash site of 155947 it appears to me that that is what took place, as the plane is on the edge of the range, and hit with a vertical pile of parts profile. Kind of interesting. And obviously on a QT-33 kick for a while....need another in 1/48!

In any case photos are from the net, lots on the China Lake Alumni 77/78/79 years....


155918 starting serial


155947 QT-33 wreck in Argus Range north of Trona CA as "5947"
155948 QT-33A photgraphed departing NAWC China Lake 78

155956 QT-33A "69" photographed NAWC China Lake circa 78

155966 QT-33A "50" photographed NAWC China Lake circa 78


155983 QT-33A photographed NAWC China Lake circa 78

155986 58-0476
155987 58-0477
155988 58-0493 QT-33A photographed NAWC China Lake circa 78

155997 QT-33A photographed NAWC China Lake circa 78

156000 photographed NAWC China Lake 78'



156005 photographed NAWC China Lake 78'
156007 photographed NAWC Pt Mugu 78' modex "53"

156157 static display at Sheppard AFB, marked as 35255

156163 55-4380
156164 55-4385
156165 56-1596 To MASDC as TC1201 Feb 4, 1980. Still on AMARC inventory
156166 56-1652 to AT-33A. Ecuadorian AF 607. To US Navy as QT-33A 156166
156167 56-1732 1732 to US Navy as QT-33A 156167. To AMARC Feb 4, 1980
156168 56-1773 1773 to US Navy as QT-33A 156168


156150 53-5105 MASDC to USN as QT-33A 156150 to Ft Leonard Wood MO last seen 79

156157 53-5255 5255 at Sheppard AFB, TX. Was BuNo 156157


156169 ending serial

For a drone thread....look at this!

http://f-86.tripod.com/fsi.html

It seems that the programs to Drone most aircraft now attract some interest, back when the P-80/T-33 aircraft were done there was little notice paid to these "hack" type aircraft. And so as a further, a little more study was in the cards.

Further research has led ne to more QT-33 data, as well as now a list taken from the Davis Monthan site to give me a partial list of T-33A airframes that did go to the USN for this program. I am looking for a way to tie up the USAF serial to a USN Bu number, so perhaps someone has access, or can tell me how to find the numbers?

This is to fill the USN Bu block 155918 to 156169 on the Baugher site, and for researchers permanently document the QT-33A, at least serial wise.

KNOWN USAF to UNKNOWN USN serials are...

53-5865 QT-33A drone seen on Dump east of Armitage in 1975
57-7380 10 Feb 77 RDT&E China Lake 05 Dec 77 PACMISTESTCEN Pt Nugu, CA

51-4168 to USN 23 Mar 73
51-4184 to USN 23 Mar 73
51-4220 to USN 23 Mar 73
51-4306 to USN 23 Mar 73
51-4373 to USN 23 Mar 73
51-4417 to USN 23 Mar 73
51-4461 to USN 23 Mar 73
51-4492 to USN 23 Mar 73
51-6687 to USN 23 Mar 73
51-6830 to USN 23 Mar 73
51-6844 to USN 23 Mar 73
51-6878 to USN 23 Mar 73
51-6951 to USN 23 Mar 73
51-6957 to USN 23 Mar 73

51-8506 to USN 09 Aug 71
51-8511 to USN 09 Aug 71
51-8570 to USN 09 Aug 71
51-8631 to USN 09 Aug 71
51-8788 to USN 09 Aug 71


51-8962 to USN 18 Sept 69

51-8981 to USN 09 Aug 71
51-9020 to USN 13 Sept 71
51-9076 to USN 09 Aug 71
51-9081 to USN 09 Aug 71
51-9175 to USN 09 Aug 71
51-9212 to USN 09 Aug 71
52-9156 to USN 09 Aug 71
52-9177 to USN 09 Aug 71
52-9178 to USN 09 Aug 71
52-9235 to USN 09 Aug 71
52-9312 to USN 09 Aug 71
52-9360 to USN 09 Aug 71
52-9419 to USN 09 Aug 71
52-9420 to USN 09 Aug 71
52-9508 to USN 09 Aug 71
52-9757 09 Aug 71 then to DM as AATC1192 4 Feb 80? Returned?

53-5410 to USN 13.11.68
53-5921 to USN 19.10.68
53-5925 to USN 09 Aug 71
53-5930 to USN 6.11.68
53-5932 to USN 20.11.68
53-5983 to USN 13.11.68
53-6014 to USN 3.12.68
53-6017 to USN 09 Aug 71
53-6022 to USN 09 Aug 71
53-6027 to USN 09 Aug 71
53-6056 to USN 3.1.72
53-6092 to USN 4.10.68
53-6127 to USN 7.11.68
53-6130 to USN 12.9.68
53-6135 to USN 21.11.68
53-4379 to USN 09 Aug 71
57-0567 to USN 15.11.71

And an example of USN information gleaned from the web to tie to USAF numbers eventually...

155995 QT-33A "51" PMTC VX 30 last seen 10/75
155996 QT-33A "52" PMTC VX 30 last seen 10/75
155997 QT-33A photo NAWC China Lake circa 78 alumni 02 April 1974 SOC 3S
155998 28.1.75 RDT&E, 14.12.76 SOC 3S to Area N of airfield in 1975
155999 at China Lake in Apr 1974
156000 01 May 1974 SOC 3S RDT&E China Lake photo NAWC China Lake 78'
156001 QT-33A "72" VX 30 roster till 10/75 PMTC
156002
156003 12.4.75 RDT&E on strength? 21.6.76 SOC 3S RDT&E China Lake
156004 12 Apr 1975 RDT&E China Lake 21 Jun 1976 SOC 3S RDT&E China Lake
156005 06 1975 RDT&E China Lake photo NAWC China Lake 4 Jan 76'
156006 VX 30 roster modex "50" QT-33B last seen 10/75 PMTC
156007 photographed NAWC Pt Mugu 75' modex "53" VX 30 roster to 10/75 PMTC

an interesting thread, but kind of sad.