Warbird Information Exchange

How do you go about finding the possible military history of an aircraft. Even if was built too late to see action in WWII, It may have been used in Korea. What group has all the archives and such that I could track down the history of an aircraft by its' serial number. THanks in advance!!

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The more I learn about aircraft, the more I realize I still have to learn.

Chris,

Go here, http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/arch/co ... istory.cfm

That should give you all the information you need.

James

If it's an Army Air Force or Air Force plane the aircraft record card would be here,
http://www.au.af.mil/au/afhra/

If you know the serial number of the plane you are looking for just post it in a thread. More likely than not someone will already know the answer.

Regards,
Mike

Thanks guys!!!!!!

_________________
The more I learn about aircraft, the more I realize I still have to learn.

Following this thread, I know that during the second world war, Boeing had a special, stripped down 'D' model named 'BESSIE' that toured bases training B-17 crews & showing off the various cool new stuff on the airplane. I've been through Baughers site but can't find a listing for 'BESSIE.' What was her S/N?

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

The list of "D" models I have show most of them being destroyed at one point or another, but there is one that remained Stateside.

Possibly this one,

40-3065 Del. Wright Fd. 19/3/41; Gieger 19/12/41; Tucson 7/2/72; Sebring 20/6/42; Hobbs, NM. 7/11/42; Biggs 20/11/42; Ass. 93 Advan. Trng. Grp. Patterson 4/4/43; RFC 11/5/45.

Regards,
Mike

My bad! I mis- stated, 'BESSIE' was an 'F', they say the knees are the second thing to go, anyone remember whats the first...?
Gimme a break, I've spent the last two weeks learning all the new and revised stuff we will be teaching to Boeing employees starting Monday when they return from a 57 day labor action I only had to learn or revise around 15 technical classes-my brain is full.

_________________
Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

Hey, good news. There's only about 2300 B-17F's to reasearch. Good luck with that.

Regards,
Mike

The memory is the first thing to go. I. . . uh. . . well. . . I can't remember the other things. Darn!

Dean the brain-dead ol' fart. . .

While we're on the subject of Boeing using B-17s for demonstrations and research--does anyone have any photos or the serial number of the B-17C (or D, I'm not sure) that was used by Boeing to flight test portions of the B-29 flight control system? I have a copy of the book "The Superfortress is Born" and it references an early Fort being used for elevator and stabilizer flight testing. Thanks in advance if anyone knows.

Scott