December 7th, 1941 My O-58A was in La.

[L-4Pilot]

On December 7th, 1941 my O58A was with the 109th Observation Squadron at Esler Army Airfield, Camp Beauregard, La. Click on the link and scroll down to La. The 109th was flying O47, O49 and O58 aircraft at that time. Mine had been delivered to the 109th earlier in November. It is humbling to have responsibility of restoring and caring for these historic aircraft. The old Aeronca soldiered on from 1941 to 1945 flying a total of 756 hours from New York to Ga., mid west and Gulf Coast.


http://www.navsource.org/Naval/usaaf.htm

[PropsRule]

...and this is why I love vintage aircraft. Imagine that, a direct, tangible link to a period of history I was born too late to see. What was going through the pilot's mind when your O-58A made its first flight after the news of the Pearl Harbour raid broke? When I have the chance to sit in an old airplane, I usually take time to just think about things like that.

(Unless we're actually going flying, and then it's better to get my head in the game!)

[Dan Jones]

On Dec 07, 1941 my BT-13A was with the 75th Flying Training Detatchment (Contract Flying School, Basic) Riddle McKay Aero School, Clewiston, FL, being used to train RAF students with #5 BFTS. Last year I was in my shop with my iPod hooked up to the stereo and it randomly cut to a recording of President Roosevelt giving his famous "Day of Infamy" speech. I couldn't help but reflect that the old Vultee might have been sitting in a Florida hangar getting worked on at the time that broadcast was made, and might have heard it live.

[L-4Pilot]

On Dec 07, 1941 my BT-13A was with the 75th Flying Training Detatchment (Contract Flying School, Basic) Riddle McKay Aero School, Clewiston, FL, being used to train RAF students with #5 BFTS. Last year I was in my shop with my iPod hooked up to the stereo and it randomly cut to a recording of President Roosevelt giving his famous "Day of Infamy" speech. I couldn't help but reflect that the old Vultee might have been sitting in a Florida hangar getting worked on at the time that broadcast was made, and might have heard it live.

If only we could touch the skin or tubing on these old planes and be able to see and hear what they did while they served.

[L-4Pilot]

...and this is why I love vintage aircraft. Imagine that, a direct, tangible link to a period of history I was born too late to see. What was going through the pilot's mind when your O-58A made its first flight after the news of the Pearl Harbour raid broke? When I have the chance to sit in an old airplane, I usually take time to just think about things like that.

(Unless we're actually going flying, and then it's better to get my head in the game!)

Well said my friend.

[Fouga23]

O-58A? Since when did Jetrangers fly in WWII?

[gary1954]

O-58A? Since when did Jetrangers fly in WWII?

LMao, you are thinkng maybe the OH-58 Jet Ranger maybe?

[gary1954]

...and this is why I love vintage aircraft. Imagine that, a direct, tangible link to a period of history I was born too late to see. What was going through the pilot's mind when your O-58A made its first flight after the news of the Pearl Harbour raid broke? When I have the chance to sit in an old airplane, I usually take time to just think about things like that.

(Unless we're actually going flying, and then it's better to get my head in the game!)

Well said my friend.

Definitely...Imagine touching a skin or part of the airframe, and you get a telepathic message that says to you...."you aren't gonna believe this @&*# !!

Last edited by gary1954 on Sun Dec 09, 2012 10:09 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Noha307]

If only we could touch the skin or tubing on these old planes and be able to see and hear what they did while they served.

Definitely...Imagine touching a skin or part of the airframe, and you get a telepathic message that says to you...."you aren't gonna believe this @&*# !!

Not to turn this into another one of those threads, but this is exactly the reason I value the historical integrity of these aircraft. Being able to touch something that was actually there, to place your hand on an aircraft and say to yourself, "70 years ago, this was in the sky dogfighting other aircraft, dropping bombs, dodging flak..." is just...I can't put it into words. When you start replacing more and more parts, you lose that.

Sorry, I'm done, please carry on with your regularly scheduled discussion.

[L-4Pilot]

If only we could touch the skin or tubing on these old planes and be able to see and hear what they did while they served.

Definitely...Imagine touching a skin or part of the airframe, and you get a telepathic message that says to you...."you aren't gonna believe this @&*# !!

Not to turn this into another one of those threads, but this is exactly the reason I value the historical integrity of these aircraft. Being able to touch something that was actually there, to place your hand on an aircraft and say to yourself, "70 years ago, this was in the sky dogfighting other aircraft, dropping bombs, dodging flak..." is just...I can't put it into words. When you start replacing more and more parts, you lose that.

Sorry, I'm done, please carry on with your regularly scheduled discussion.

Great comment, that is why I try to save as many original parts when I restore an aircraft, the throttle levers and knobs are even original. Also I am going to a great amount of trouble to overhaul the original engine that was in the aircraft when it left the Army in 1945. It has the two military overhauls stamped on the case, the last one was in 1945 at OCAD.

[L-4Pilot]

O-58A? Since when did Jetrangers fly in WWII?

Light aircraft were initially tested during the 1941 Louisiana Maneuvers, the Piper Cubs were designated YO-59, the four off the shelf Aeroncas were designated YO-58. The tests were a success and in 1941 the Army ordered an additional twenty Aeroncas and they were designated O-58A,. Only four of those twenty O-58A aircraft remain in existence and none are airworthy. In 1942 the Army changed the O to L and my O-58A became a L-3A.

[Taylor Stevenson]

Can't forget the Stinson O-62 (L-5 Sentinel)!

There are quite a few O-62's still around as most were used as stateside trainers... If you look at an O-62 or early L-5 and the last variant, the L-5G, they are basically two different aircraft. Really neat progression in the different models of L-5, I'd love to have one of each!

T

[Noha307]

Great comment, that is why I try to save as many original parts when I restore an aircraft, the throttle levers and knobs are even original. Also I am going to a great amount of trouble to overhaul the original engine that was in the aircraft when it left the Army in 1945. It has the two military overhauls stamped on the case, the last one was in 1945 at OCAD.

Good to hear, that made my day!

[JohnB]

Can't forget the Stinson O-62 (L-5 Sentinel)!

T

Or the Beech UC-63.
Circa 1968 I was 13 and the Wing CC Col. "Big Ben" Benham of the 11th (or was it the 87th FIS by then?) at Duluth IAP bought a beautiful Beech Straggerwing (c/n 4906, formerly 43-10858, then N477FT, then NC54657, now in Canada with unknown C-XXXX ). Jet black with gold Beech stripes.
My father was Director of Maintenance at the time.
One night he came home and asked "What was the military designation for the Staggerwing in the war? We were at the Officer's Club and no one could remember it."

"Easy" I said, "UC-63". I din't even have to look in my trusty US Military Aircraft Since 1909...since I wouldn't own one for another four years.

Last edited by JohnB on Sat Dec 08, 2012 11:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[PropsRule]

..."Easy" I said, "UC-63". I din't even have to look in my trusty US Military Aircraft Since 1909...since I wouldn't own one for another four years.

Nice!

(Serial number 4906 shows up as a D17S, constructed in 1943, imported to Canada in 2011, now registered C-GYDJ in British Columbia.)