More Coast Guard Aircraft History

[CoastieJohn]

[url=http://s624.photobucket.com/user/tanks_09/media/Loc.13.jpg.html]

HEY! I spy with my little eye the Sikorsky S-60 cab section in the background!

That's a HH-3F looking face on. Those pics would likely be circa 1980's.

[Chris Brame]

Here's a photo from Leon Cleaver, HU-16 #7229 ex-Cape Cod being sold surplus:

"Otis AFB - Sold to Texas Turbo on sale no. 27-0282 - 13 Aug. 80" Per Baugher: 51-7229 (c/n G-312) transferred to USCG as UF-1G 7229.

I'll try scanning the Air Classics story on the PBY at Elizabeth City later (my scanner's dying but I might get a grayscale out of the darn thing).

[armyjunk2]

Back again, I have quite a few US Coast Guard aircraft pics posted up above in the "Grumman, the people that made the planes 12 SEPT 2010" thread above. Pages 32 and 35 should get you close to them.

[jdvoss]

Coastie John,

Thank you so much for posting the photo of the Curtiss R5C Commando. The aircraft seems to be wearing its WWII camouflage paint scheme from its previous service with either the USAAF or USMC. I cannot tell from the photo if it is indeed a USCG A/C or simply a file photo of a Curtiss Commando. Possibly no photo exists of a USCG R5C aircraft that depicts the expression "U.S. Coast Guard" on the fuselage or "coast guard" on the vertical tail.

As a point of interest just to the left of the nose the Washington Monument can be observed and to the right of the tail is the U.S. Capitol. So the photo was taken wither at Bolling Field or NAS Anacostia.

JDV
www.fuselagecodes.com

[CoastieJohn]

Coastie John,

Thank you so much for posting the photo of the Curtiss R5C Commando. The aircraft seems to be wearing its WWII camouflage paint scheme from its previous service with either the USAAF or USMC. I cannot tell from the photo if it is indeed a USCG A/C or simply a file photo of a Curtiss Commando. Possibly no photo exists of a USCG R5C aircraft that depicts the expression "U.S. Coast Guard" on the fuselage or "coast guard" on the vertical tail.

As a point of interest just to the left of the nose the Washington Monument can be observed and to the right of the tail is the U.S. Capitol. So the photo was taken wither at Bolling Field or NAS Anacostia.

JDV
http://www.fuselagecodes.com

I've asked our CG aircraft researchers about that aircraft. They "normally" post only CG aircraft pics at that website. I'll post back when I hear something.

[CoastieJohn]

Coastie John,

Thank you so much for posting the photo of the Curtiss R5C Commando. The aircraft seems to be wearing its WWII camouflage paint scheme from its previous service with either the USAAF or USMC. I cannot tell from the photo if it is indeed a USCG A/C or simply a file photo of a Curtiss Commando. Possibly no photo exists of a USCG R5C aircraft that depicts the expression "U.S. Coast Guard" on the fuselage or "coast guard" on the vertical tail.

As a point of interest just to the left of the nose the Washington Monument can be observed and to the right of the tail is the U.S. Capitol. So the photo was taken wither at Bolling Field or NAS Anacostia.

JDV
http://www.fuselagecodes.com

You were on the right track. Here is the response I got.

The markings on the R5C/C-46 could either be USMC or USAAF and both services machines
had near identical livery. Note that what can be seen of the roundel on the fuselage appears to
lack the "bar" aft of the star. If so, the picture wound have been taken of a machine circa 1942
to early 1943. The Coast Guard did not get their R-5Cs until the immediate post-WWII timeframe.


Edit Added: If anyone wants to explore more about Coast Guard aviation, there is alot of information and photo's at the below link to keep you busy for a while.

http://uscgaviationhistory.aoptero.org/

[Chris Brame]

Found the news article on the Elizabeth City PBY-5A in the August, 1974 issue of Air Classics, pages 12-15:







Luckily managed to get one scan of the photos before it turned everything pink again.
Anyone know more about Mr. Hadsell?

[CoastieJohn]

Excellent find!!! I'll fwd that one on.

[Warbird Kid]

That's a HH-3F looking face on. Those pics would likely be circa 1980's.

Originally I had unsuccessfully linked a photo. Now I have the correct one linked showing the S-60 cab in the background.

[CoastieJohn]

That's a HH-3F looking face on. Those pics would likely be circa 1980's.

Originally I had unsuccessfully linked a photo. Now I have the correct one linked showing the S-60 cab in the background.

Ahh...ok. Sure looks like it.

[Chris Brame]

Big update: Got these shots of the Elizabeth City PBY-5A today from Leon Cleaver and scanned them; notes are from the back of the photos. They were taken on April 19, 1979:

"PBY located on Jack Trueblood residence abeam of Elizabeth City Coast Guard Station, Elizabeth City NC"


"Control surfaces and other components supposedly in Florida with owner Marvin Kohn. Gun blister frames inside tail."


"Right side looking aft. Aircraft for sale in Trade-A-Plane for $15,000"


"Taken from compartment behind cockpit looking at instrument panel. Navigator's station above."

The owner tried to sell it through Trade-A-Plane without success, raising the price as he went:


Meanwhile, Gary Larkins had seen the plane and spent ten years dealing with the owner until he bought it in 1985, according to Nick Veronico's article "Cat in a Barn" in the Sep/Oct 1989 Warbirds International. The article went on to discuss the ongoing rebuild; it was supposed to have been a totally authentic flying restoration when it was finished; but after this was written, it ended up a static in the museum in Indonesia.

Leon also sent a batch of photos taken over the years at Elizabeth City; I'll scan and post them next.

[CoastieJohn]

Wow! Congrats on another excellent find!! I'll fwd those on to our aircraft guys.

I've also heard there is still a PBY part or two still in the CG's possession at ECity. One may have been a blister. Haven't confirmed it....just word of "email".

[CoastieJohn]

I do not know if this pic has been around before. This is believed to be an early experiment with RATO out of North Island by the Navy. The CG had a couple of planes at San Diego but this not believed to be one of them. Pretty interesting pic.

[Chris Brame]

As promised, more USCG aircraft from Leon Cleaver (Woodsy Airfield):


"H-52 at Cleveland ARTCC open house, 9-25-76"


"HC-130B at Lewis-NASA, used in ice patrol, 4-16-77"


"H-52, Lorain Community Hospital Helicopter Landing Facility, 12-13-81"


"HH-3F 1431 from Traverse City, Cleveland National Air Show, Burke Lakefront, 8-30-86"


"Falcon 2115, Burke Lakefront, 8-30-86"


"HH-52 from NAS Glenview (Chicago), Mt. Comfort, IN 6-25-88"


"HH-65A, Lorain County Airport, Ohio, 8-6-94"


"HH-65A 6565, based Detroit, Lorain County Air Show, 7-26-97"


"HH-65 Dolphin, Lost Nation Gathering Airshow, Mentor, Ohio, 7-14-06"


"HH-52, USCG Elizabeth City, NC, 6-14-14"


"HU-16E 7247, USCG Elizabeth City, NC, 6-14-14"


"HU-25A 2136, USCG Elizabeth City, NC, 6-14-14"

As always, thanks to Leon for sharing his collection!

[CoastieJohn]

Yes, thanks to Leon (and you) for sharing his pics. I have time on a few of those airframes.

If he has anymore CG aircraft pics, especially the older ones, those will be of interest. Thanks....John