BT-13s & UC-45J - Pfoutz farm 1979 (+ PT-22 & Lockheed 12!)

[Chris Brame]

Got a new batch of photos from Leon Cleaver, taken April 27, 1979 at Paul Pfoutz's farm in West Alexandria, Ohio:

Chris - Once again you have tickled my interest in one of your subjects. I have attached a photo of the Paul Pfoutz collection in West Alexandria Ohio circa 1970's. If you think 4 photos would fit your WIX category, I'll send them on...I imagine there is plenty of info out there in regards to the Pfoutz collection - maybe even on WIX...Leon

BT-13 in foreground 4-27-79. Yale 3372 disassembled - not in picture

UC-45J 44580 - Pfoutz farm

N70030 (42-42552) is now with Bruce Koch in Michigan.

N63656 (c/n 2972) is with David Beulke of South Dakota but there are photos from 2010 that show it dismantled with another BT at Anoka, MN:
http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/ph ... 23861.html

N52879: No info comes up on this one; the N-number was last on a Bird A.

N63838 (c/n 2276) is with Kurt Von Graff in New Jersey, still flying and still wearing a red checkered paint job: http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/N63838.html

N65750 (41-22956) in the background behind '838 is also listed with Bruce Koch:
http://bt-13.org/bt-13a-41-22956/

UC-45J BuNo 44580 (N20003) appears to have been broken up; Aerial Visuals lists it as a cockpit display with the Beechcraft Museum in Tennessee, then with J.W. Duff Aircraft Salvage in Denver:
http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDos ... rial=35437

Interestingly, bt-13.org also lists Louise Pfoutz as owning the sister ship to my friend's 6-seat BT-13 conversion:
http://bt-13.org/bt-13a-43-10640/

Have a fun and safe Independence Day weekend!

Last edited by Chris Brame on Tue Jul 14, 2015 3:40 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[Chris Brame]

Sorry - double post

[M-62A]

Chris,
Re:

N52879: No info comes up on this one; the N-number was last on a Bird A.

From USCAR Jan 1968...
N52879; BT-13A, built 1942, c/no. 6528. Registered owner in Tutwiler, MS. Noted as an "Ineligible Aircraft" - i.e., no inspection reports received for more than 13 months.

Presumably rebuilt and restored since 1968 as according to the FAA website Convair BT-13A, c/no. 6528 is currently registered with an owner in Indianapolis as N413BT.

From Vultee resources c/no. 6528 was BT-13A 41-22450.

Tony Broadhurst

[Chris Brame]

Thanks Tony! Do you have USAAF serials for c/ns 2276 and 2972?
Photos of 41-22450/N52879/N413BT here:
http://www.abpic.co.uk/search.php?q=N413BT&u=reg
Looking pretty sharp! Wrong tail number but it ain't my airplane, yada yada yada...

[M-62A]

Re:

Do you have USAAF serials for c/ns 2276 and 2972?

Chris,
This is the information I have..
BT-13A c/no. 2276 = 41-11266. The AAF history card records 41-11266 was delivered to Corpus Christi (Navy) 10/18/41. I also have a note (source unrecorded) that it became SNV-1 Bu.3083.

BT-13A c/no. 2972 = 41-10655.

Looking pretty sharp! Wrong tail number but it ain't my airplane, yada yada yada..

I have seen a number photographs of surviving Fairchild PTs were the c/no has been adopted as the AAF serial, despite the true AAF serial number being recorded on the FAA copy of the original bill of sale. There was a PT-23 imported to the UK in the late 1980's similarly misidentified but the owner was convinced it was correct

Tony.

[Nathan]

I can't tell you how much I enjoy the photos from Leon. Its really interesting how some of these planes got "out in the field".

Thanks Leon!

[Nathan]

Found this on the UC-45J


Beech sn 8142, N20003, BuNo 44580, SNB-5, UC-45J
At Tullahoma Regional Airport, KTHA, Tullahoma, TN, Oct. 2005

The display card gives you recent info on this SNB-5. The first Twin Beech I flew (1963) was an SNB-5 and this panel brings back memories. From Baugher I gather that it was USAAF C-45F, 44-47733 or 34 that went to the Navy as a JRB-4. It is one of a group of 20 that were remanufactured into SNB-5's, and later redesignated the UC-45J.

Twin Beech SB-5 N20003 at Tullahoma



What a surprise to see the aft fuselage section of BuNo 44580 at Duff Aircraft, Denver, CO, in July 2011! Somebody had a project going here and was mating two aircraft, but apparently gave up. I have no idea about what aircraft the front part of this bird is/was, but it was once a high-gross Beech with short stacks, full gear doors and so forth..

[Chris Brame]

Thanks Nathan! One of the placards from the cockpit display mentioned that the plane was donated to Danville (IL) Junior College in 1969; I checked all their yearbooks from that period on archive.org and there was no mention of this C-45 in their aviation program, just some GA Piper and Cessna a/c.

By the way, I wonder how its left main gear got twisted like that?

[Nathan]

By the way, I wonder how its left main gear got twisted like that?

Bad landing? Towing it out to the field? Could be anything. Too bad it would have been a nice static display. All those markings are attractive.

[Nathan]

double post.

[carlisle1926]

Impressive set of photos.

[Chris Brame]

Yes, indeed - Thanks to Leon for taking those photos.
Jason, did you see my other BT find posting?
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=56171

[Chris Brame]

Just heard from Leon today, with a couple new additions:

Chris - I found a Columbus Dispatch Sunday Magazine dated March 18, 1979 with a front cover of Mr. & Mrs. Pfoutz and their PT-22 which I did not photograph on my trip there. There is more info in the magazine, but I don't think it would add much to the WIX blog plus the magazine size is 11" x 13". The second photo shows a Lockheed Electra which I also missed on the tour...

N57912 was exported to England several years ago.


Anyone have the ID and status of this Lockheed 12?

[Nathan]

Just heard from Leon today, with a couple new additions:

Chris - I found a Columbus Dispatch Sunday Magazine dated March 18, 1979 with a front cover of Mr. & Mrs. Pfoutz and their PT-22 which I did not photograph on my trip there. There is more info in the magazine, but I don't think it would add much to the WIX blog plus the magazine size is 11" x 13". The second photo shows a Lockheed Electra which I also missed on the tour...

N57912 was exported to England several years ago.


Anyone have the ID and status of this Lockheed 12?

It amazes me that even back then some people had an eye for what was important while other people would consider it junk. What a PT-22 and BT-13 go for these days.....................investments well made! Thanks to the likes of Mr. and Mrs. Pfoutz! People who helped fuel the start of the warbird movement!