UFO Extraordinaire!

[Forgotten Field]

Nothing as earth shaking since shock and awe... What the hell is this?

[Cvairwerks]

Can't tell for sure, but that is a Fairchild spar section laying there in the second picture.

[Forgotten Field]

Quite right. That is one of the wing sections I got in the last pile of goodies. They are all shown on the link below...

The BIG pile of PT26 parts

[Cvairwerks]

Before you scrap that fuselage, you might run the s/n through Maxwell. If I remember correctly, only the PT's that were built for Canada had the fire extinguisher installation.

The first item is probably something out of a bomb bay. Note the needle bearings in the one casting...it hangs on, or holds up some type of rotating shaft. The other end appears to have a quick release mechanisim. I'll take a look through my SRM for the AT in the morning when I get home and see if it looks to be and

[Steven M. Dennis]

Before you scrap that fuselage, you might run the s/n through Maxwell. If I remember correctly, only the PT's that were built for Canada had the fire extinguisher installation.

You are correct, she is a Canadian (Fleet) built PT-26, and never served in the USAAF. Maxwell won't have much on her, but this is the history that I have on the old relic, courtesy of my good friend Tony Broadhurst who has researched all of my Fairchilds for me as well as for many other PT restorers. He is THE guru when it comes to PT histories.

"The Maryland relic is Fleet c/no. FT689; AAF 42-71104; RAF serial FT689. None of those are the identity it wore on it's fuselage in service. That marked identity and the one the students recorded in their log books was the five digit RCAF serial, which was RCAF 14528. We can then look at the appropriate RCAF record card and find 14528 was taken on strength by the RCAF's No. 3 Training Command on August 20th, 1943 and assigned to No.13 Elementary Flying Training School.

Prior to August/September 1943 No.13 EFTS at St Eugene, Ontario was equipped with Fleet Finch biplane trainers and most of the Course intakes there were of mainly RCAF students. In August, 26 brand new Cornell II (more were added later) and a handful of "second-hand" Mk.Is were delivered to St Eugene, Ontario. From then on and until the unit closed in September 1945 (having by then moved to near-by St. John / St Jean, P.Q.) this EFTS trained courses of Fleet Air Arm pilots from a Royal Navy training "ship" in England and which included Brits, Canadians and New Zealanders.

20.7.44 RCAF 14528 was assigned to No.9 Repair Depot "For repairs and embody modified tail oleos".

"23.9.44. Allotted #3 T.C. after completion of rear fuselage and modifications."

It may have returned to No.13 EFTS but the card is not clear on that. It is recorded as "APDAL" (Aircraft Pending Disposal At Location) with #502 Reserve Equipment Maintenance Satellite of No.6 Repair Detachment at St Eugene on 21st. June 1946. On the same date 14528 is recorded as transferred "Free Issue" to Office, Foreign Liquidation Commission, Bell Niagara Modification Center No.7, Niagara Falls, N.Y.

"Hours - Since new 1069.05; Since O'haul NIL.

The serial nos. of the Ranger fitted at that time were 2915/270971."

So there you have it John, (just in case you were wondering about the service life of your bird).

Now I realize this has NOTHING to do with the UFO, but since our good friend Craig brought up the Fairchild bits, I had to jump in. You know how I am...

Will try to e-mail you tonight about sending over the torque tubes, John. I'll send you a photo of mine.

Til next time.....

Steve

[Forgotten Field]

Thanks much. It really makes my day when the history comes out. I have owned so many pieces which had history with them- you could just tell by their condition like my 1916 Air Service Altimeter- and it is sad to think about what minutiae are lost when owners pass or documents are destroyed. I have the delivery sheet from when the L5 was accepted by the 442nd Field Artillery Battalion at Fort Bragg in 1945 (after the war). I have to go looking for that history one of these days. Please pass my thanks on to Tony if you get in touch with him again. If he has any questions about peculiarities of this airframe relative to his documentation and studies, he is more than welcome to call or email me about it and I'll help him out as much as I can (PT expert that I am not). Hey, I actually got the one torque tube off the frozen ground today, but I had to leave right after. I'll be shooting you an email on it shortly.

This is what I really like about WIX- just an incredible amount of knowledge here...