Page 5 - Photos by Friends and Others

Vintage Transports, photos by Friends & Guests

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On a regular basis people sent me photos, to share their enthusiasm for vintage airliners or to illustrate a question. These photos have been lingering in a scrapbook or a discarded box somewhere and probably wouldn't find their way to Online-use or publication.
To prevent them from getting lost, subject permission of the sender, I would like to share them on this page.

Besides that fine photo of the Curtiss C-46, Gerben Groothuis also sent the following photos., taken at the Korean War Memorial, Yongsan-ku, Seoul (in Dec.2005).

Fairchild C-119G 3199,
ex/Taiwan RoCAF 3119/51-7996, donated to S.Korea as all Korean C-119s had been scrapped

C-123 plus various other aircraft; the C-123 is 64389 according to Survivors 2002

Douglas DC-4 72740	Grumman S-2 Tracker 6595
6595 gets a paint touchup	Grumman Tracker S-2 9258 (@Korean National War Cemetary, nearby)

These photos were sent to me by Dwight Beers of Portland,ME. He wrote:
"I have recently come into possession of some photos from around 1927, depicting some of Alaska's early aviation pioneers. Each of these photos include handwritten captions on the reverse. So far, Russell Merrill, is the only one I have been more or less able to positively identify: the caption on the reverse indicates that he is seated in the plane in the photo above.
The other man is identified as Robinson.
I also have some reason to believe that these folks were involved in some kind of survey work, for Dominion Explorers, Ltd.

More early Alaska aviation photos on Lars Opland's page.

I am sending you these photos, hoping that you or someone else can tell me a little bit more about them.

Lars Opland wrote me in response to this:
"The 2 Fairchild FC-2W2's CF-AAN & CF-AAO were both owned by Dominion Explorers. The plane in the photo of the fellow in the flying suit is an FC-2.
One more thing about the Fairchilds of Dominion Explorers: 1927 is too early!
CF-AAN and CF-AAO were built in 1928 and sold to Dominion Explorers in early 1929...
G-CYXW was completed in May of 1928 and sold to Canadian DND.
I see no purchases of Fairchild planes by Dominion until they bought FC-2 G-CARH in June of 1928...
This is from the article "Fairchild Utility Monoplanes" by Juptner, Molson & Rinehart, which includes a comprehensive production list of U.S. & Canadian airframes."

N67018 (c/n 22196/648) sits stored these days at Fairbanks,Alaska; I came across it in 2003.
Jim Ormiston read about this and sent me these photos and info in Jan.2007:
"Here are two photos of tailnumber 56544. These were taken at NAS Barber's Point on 21Apr67. This plane was used to haul the Fleet Marine Force Pacific Drum & Bugle Team (see also further below) around Australia and New Zealand for the Coral Sea remembrance, from 21Apr67 to 21May67.
This plane was a real workhorse! It carried us all over the Pacific and up and down the West Coast."
Jim Ormiston, FMFPAC D&B Team (1966-1968)

"After seeing all your great pics of the NWT, I've been going through a few files and memories. I didn't realize that I had a digital copy of this photo: C-GPNR and CF-BVF sitting side-by-side. You can just make out the "Summer Wages" logo on C-GPNR, on the left.
Taken in Hay River (probably Sep81), at what was then the main base of Buffalo Airways. Their maintenance hangar is in the background."
How things have changed... "
Don McDonald

While C-GPNR has sufficiently been described on my page Visit to Yellowknife 2006, the DC-3 CF-BVF (c/n 12317) I have not yet come across; its aviation history is: delivered as 42-92509 on 12Jan44, transferred as KG320 to the RAF; it served in the UK with 575 Sq in 1944 and during Feb46 with 435 Sq; it returned to North America for the RCAF in 1946, designated a Dakota 3R. Its service for Her Majesty ended when struck off charge in May70. Its civilian identity became CF-BVF for Wright Industrial Equipment Ltd of Edmonton,ALB on 25May70, soon being obtained by Diversified Developments of Vancouver,BC (02Jul70).
Dakota Holdings Ltd of Edmonton became owner on 10Mar71 and Terra Mining & Exploration (Edmonton) on 27Jul73.
Icarus Flying Service became owner on 08Feb88, Cotenair Inc on 14Nov88, Aviation Boreal (1988) Inc leased it in 1991, Target Marine bought CF-BVF in Feb95.
As N47TF it was registered to DAC Organization in Feb95, changing in Jul95 to Cinema Air Jet Centre, seen in Pacific Southwest colours in July 2000 and found its way to Planes of Fame Air Museum (Chino,CA) in 2001.
Source: DC-3, the first Seventy Years (Air-Britain, 2006)

Bob Reid sent me these in Dec.2006:

"These are photos of the Saudi Arabian Royal 1, Hence SA-R-1..
The airplane was gifted to the King of Saudi Arabia by President Roosevelt in 1945 just after the war ended. It was a C-47B.
The King used it as his personal aircraft (and actually flew it himself!) from the right seat. A few years later he began upgrading to bigger and better airplanes.

SA-R-1 was sent to be the first Airliner for Saudi and a total of 30,000 odd hours was put upon her. In the mid 70's Saudi stopped flying her and the airplane sat at the Riyadh Downtown airport (Prince Sultan Airbase) for the next thirty years.

After Boeing sold a lot of AH64 Apaches to the Saudi Air Force, they decided to do something for the Saudis in aviation... I was selected to go to Saudi Arabia to find a project. The C-47 was sitting at the south end of the airport, untied and unchocked, acting as a weather vane! A sad sight indeed....

Being the only historic piece of aviation in the country (and tied to the King) it was decided to restore the aircraft to its original and best condition to a time when the King was using it. And so we did!

28 airplane mechanics and 14 months later it was a brand new DC-3.

Meanwhile back in America.....I purchased 88874 (now known as Puff) to train the Saudi pilots here in the States, while my crew was in Saudi building a new airplane. Bob Reid and Saudi pilot trainees

My Crew at Royal Aviation completed this project in January 1999. I signed it off at that time and I did the test flight at that time.
All in all it took a total of 14 months: it was a little overdue as it was supposed to be complete in time for the anniversary of Saudi Arabia as a country, but we still made it though.
It flew beautifully. The Saudi Government appointed me the designee to test the RSAF pilots, so they could fly the plane legally. I spent the next month training the pilots I had trained in Arizona the year before. We flew all over the countryside, but when I left in late January I was told they stopped flying it.
The RSAF was building a hangar for it at the Museum, which is located at the NE end of the Old Downtown airport, (Prince Sultan Airbase). I checked Google Earth and didn’t see any new buildings. So I don’t know what the status is now...

It was a very interesting time of my life, to be sure."

Bob.
[ www.RoyalAviation.com]

These photos of ZS-BXF, recently at Johannesburg-Rand airport, were sent to me by Geoff Street, during Dec.2006.
ZS-BXF (Douglas C-47A, c/n 12107) is nicknamed "Klapperkop".

On 21Nov03, while on take off from Lanseria (north of Johannesburg, S.Africa), it crashed and it is quite remarkable to see it in such splendid condition again. Geoff Street kindly provided the following history details of Klapperkop-
Serial number 12107 entered service with the United States Air Force or Army Air Force as 42-92320 late in December 1943. Less than a month later she was transferred or sold to the RAF and designated FZ572 and almost immediately was transferred or sold to the South African Air Force, to operate for number 5 wing in Cairo, she was now designated 6821.
Sometime in mid August 1948 she was acquired by South African Airways and was issued with the South African registration ZS-BXF and the name “Klapperkop” (description of name to follow). She flew with SAA until early 1971 when she was returned to the South African Air Force to operate with number 44 squadron, and was then designated as 6888.
6888 (12107) then served a further 20 years with the South African Air Force until she was acquired by the South African Historic Flight in early January 1991 and was re-registered ZS-BXF. In January 2004 the aircraft had to make a forced landing near to Lanseria Airport and was badly damaged.
The aircraft has been lovingly restored to its present state and now stands proud and still ready to serve at Rand Airport in the south of Johannesburg.
"KLAPPERKOP"
The name given to this aircraft is steeped in military history. Klapperkop is the name of a hill that overlooks Pretoria - the Capital City of South Africa. This hill is the site of a fort that was built by the English during the Anglo-Boer War and strangely enough, the hangar of the SAHF looks onto this hill.

Geoff Street's photos on MyAviation.net

June 1987: CF-PWH is carefully hoisted on a trailer.
Sean Keating sent me the photos of this project, follow this link.

This DC-3 was restored and is now the oldest surviving DC-3 in Canada!
It is one of few surviving DC-3's with the (passenger)door at the righthand side of the fuselage.

See also my page, detailing its present exquisite condition, Canadian Museum of Flight at Langley,BC 2006

Gerben Groothuis sent me this image in Jan.2007. It shows Curtiss C-46D Commando, c/n 22364.
At some point this C-46 was decorated with serial 8541, which would make it ex/ 44-78541, which would make it c/n 22364...
It has been preserved at the Seoul War Memorial Museum, sometimes also referred to as the Korean War Memorial.
Another C-46 has been preserved in Pusan (Busan), believed to be 44-77592.
During May or June 2005 this C-46D has been resprayed and received the serial 10-541.
Gerben made this photograph in Dec.2005

This is Canso PBY-6A C-GFFJ, about 25 mile NE of Sioux Lookout, photographed by Mark Stachowiak.

Mark wrote: "the lake is called Jackson Lake, it's about 6 miles S of Adamhay Lake (Top NE corner of the Large Lac Seul); I took the pictures October 2006."

It crashed and was destroyed during water pick-up at Sioux Lookout, Ontario on 12Jul81.

For more details and photos by Mark see my page Wrecks of the North

Bob Reid sent me these photos in Dec.2006 and Bob wrote:
"This is 23AJ, I flew it out of Florida in november 2004.
It is now owned by someone in Glendale, AZ: Hans Lauridsen.
It is a really nice airplane!
And yes, that is my happy face in that cockpit photo..!"

N23AJ is c/n 9247 and wore the previous identities:
43-23385 - N48990 - N34116 - N66HL.
During 1995 it was for sale, as N66HL of Fly-RWH Aviation: asking price was usd 395.000 (21.912 flight hours) and featured this fantastic 12-vip seat configuration. That is some way to travel !!
On 18Oct04 it was registered to Hans Lauridsen as N243DC, but it was seen with parts missing (preserved) during 2005 at Glendale-Municipal and indeed it has been rumored Mr Lauridsen is setting up a museum.
But what a shame that this beauty isn't flying anymore... I wonder why ?!!

Frits Klinkhamer sent me these photos in Dec.2006. All three depict PZ-TLC of KLM Aerocarto.
Frits wrote: "... a few photos of PZ-TLC (c/n 6053) of KLM Aerocarto, not the best of quality I know...
I took them during my military conscription period in Surinam during 1973-1974; when exactly I cannot tell."

C/n 6053 was registered to KLM 02Jul76 and continued to Gum Air NV, and later again, to Aviateca Guatamala as TG-AXA (16Mar79).
It was destroyed, at some point in time, at Carmelita, Guatamala.

Frits wrote: "I never actually saw this Dakota fly; we visited the airport "Zanderij" (as it was named in those days) occasionally as it had the only decent bar in miles...
I do recall more aircraft on the dump there: a Lockheed Constellation, a few decrepit Dakota's and if I remember well, also a DC-6..."

John Ford sent me these photos of the ATL.98 Carvair N898AT of Brooks Fuel, clearly indicating the weather extremes in Alaska... The photo on the left show N898AT (c/n 20, former DC-4-1009 c/n 42994, line number 55) during summer 2006 at Bettles.

For more on the Carvair on my website, please to to: ATL.98 Carvair N898AT in final stages of restoration and Bliss with Brooks!!

And this is Wainwright,AK.... brrrr, coooold !!

John wrote:
"This winterphoto is from Wainwright, Alaska during November (2006). The Carvair carried a load of chain-link fence materials from Fairbanks to Wainwright for us (am working for the Wainwright village corporation, Olgoonik, doing projects on the North Slope)."
On a general note John added:
"I talked with Roger Brooks last week - he had just returned from down south somewhere with another DC4. He said that he plans to put it into service as soon as possible. With the upsurge in oil-field work on the North Slope, all the air cargo companies are very busy. Lynden's C-130 is booked months in advance, so the DC-4 and DC-6 operators ( Brooks, Everts, Northern Air Cargo) are staying busy too."
This brought me to talking to Roger Brooks himself and he confirmed he had bought N96358 (C-54E c/n 27284) and ferried it to Fairbanks early Dec.2006; N96358 and N82FA (C-54G, c/n 35960) would be used during the winter months, while the Carvair had been parked for the winter.
Roger's aircraft now kept busy with a contract for Mystery Creek Resources Inc, flying to the mine at Nixon Fork (started this summer, located 35 miles northeast of McGrath in Interior Alaska, owned by Mystery Creek Resources; indications are a yield amounting to 160,000 tons containing 136,300 ounces of gold). Here is more on mines and mining in Alaska.
Unfortunately, N898AT crashed 30May07 at Nixon Fork Mine (near McGrath,AK); initial reports reported crew escaped without serious injuries. OldWings.nl has a report and photos of the accident.

When Arnold Begeman visited Red Deer,ALB ( Canada) on 01Oct06, he came across this nice line up of Air Spray tankers.

Upon Arnold Begeman's visit he was fortunate to see Kenn Borek's Turbo Dak BT-67 C-FMKB come in and land... it was probably doing flight training.
This is c/n 19560 and was registered only a year (26Aug05) ago to this well-known operator of the Arctic North.

As a Douglas C-47A it served the USAAF (43-15094, served in 8th AF, flew in Belgium & Netherlands) and it became OH-LCI in Finland for Aero O/Y (Finnair) and was transferred to the Finnish Airforce (DO-6) in 1961.
It seems to have worn a British tailnumber as well: G-BLXW (no details).
At some point it became N57NA and was operated by Allied Freight, located at Nashua-Boire Field,NH.
I saw it at Miami in May 1999, in olive drab military colours, wearing tail number 315094/A markings.
In Dec.2002 it was bought by Chris Siderwicz from Edward B.Kalser (owner of Allied Air Freight, who had registered this aircraft to himself when AAF ceased operations) and N57NA was ferried to Hyannis,MA. Chris was a retired US Air pilot.
On 20Jun04 it was seen at Oshkosh, still in olive-rab colours and with titles Precious Cargo, but with various parts removed including the engines: it was clear it was going to be converted by Basler Turbo Conversions Inc. On 20Sep04 this Gooney Bird was seen stripped of its paint and awaiting installation of the PT-6A turbo engines.
On 02Sep05 it arrived unpainted at Calgary and was probably painted in Kenn Borek's coulours there.

See photos c/n 19560 on Airliners.net

Here is my personal report on a visit to Red Deer, in June 2006.
This is the link to Kenn Borek Air and profile on Wikipedia.

On 19Dec07 C-FMKB was involved in an accident at Antarctica:
Accident Occurrence Date: 2007/12/19
Occurrence Time: 0900z - Day Or Night: night-time
Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0
Occurrence Location: Anartica South 78.184N 114.58W
Aircraft Category: Aeroplane Country of Registration: CANADA
Make: DOUGLAS Model: DC3CS1C3G
Year Built: 1942 - Engine Make: PRATT & WHITNEY-CAN Engine Model: PT6A-67R
Engine Type: Turbo prop Gear Type: Land
Phase of Flight: Takeoff Damage: Substantial
Owner: KENN BOREK AIR LTD Operator: KENN BOREK AIR (2273)
Narrative: On take-off, aircraft collided with drifted snow and ice and sustained major damages. Four crew and six passengers were on- board. No injuries. Minister's Observer has been appointed.

This narrative appeared on 24Dec07 at www.stuff.co.nz:
'A passenger on an aircraft which crashed while taking off from a remote research site in west Antarctica has told of the plane tumbling over the ice.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) charter aircraft sustained heavy damage on Thursday after one side failed to lift off, catching the ice and sending the passengers and equipment spinning.
NSF officials refused to release any details to The Press. However, an unidentified passenger has revealed details of the accident in an online report.
"My seat came unbolted from the floor with me still strapped into the seatbelt," the passenger said.
"When we finally came to a halt, we were all in big pile in the corner of the plane with all of the equipment. We got shaken up pretty bad, but there were no major injuries other than some minor cuts and bruises."
The Canadian-owned charter plane, returning from fieldwork dropping global positioning system units and seismic sensors, was severely damaged.
"The wings, props, and tail all got bent up pretty bad, " the passenger said. "The landing gear, skis, and hydraulic system all were ripped from the plane and strewn about the ice."
The 10 passengers were marooned on the west Antarctic ice sheet for 20 hours before two Twin Otter aircraft from the United States McMurdo Station completed a rescue.'

During Dec.2006 I received the following interesting email:

"I am a Italian avionics technician and I am sending you this photo of Dakota 7100th, which was taken after a WWII.
This DC-3 / C-47 was revisioned at Siai Marchetti Factory site in North Italy.
I found this photo in a drawer of the my father's desk (1917-1993).
Thank you for the website",
Attilio

Ron Mak sent me these interesting photos.

This is ET-AJG, Douglas DC-3C c/n 13576, and taken during Ron's 3rd visit to Ethiopia, in 2005. He described ET-AJG as in a sorry state, languishing at Addis Ababa's Bole Int'l Airport.
Next to it ET-AHS was parked too (see below).
Here is another (2005) photo on Airliners.net

This is ET-AHS, c/n 16784/33532.
Ron added that both DC-3s retained their "Relief & Rehabilitation Commision" -titles.
This one is ex/ USAAF 44-77200, Portugese Air Force 6171, was reregistered N9983Q for use in the motion picture "A Bridge Too Far", reregistered again to SE-GUL and found its way to Ethiopia. It has been stored here for many years and reported being in derelict condition since early-1990s.

This is ET-T-1 which Ron photographed on that same visit; it has c/n 9628 and is preserved near the headquarters of Ethiopian Airlines at Bole Int'l.
Here is another photo on Airliners.net

This is the CL-44 Guppy RP-C8023, until recently registered as 9G-LCA.
More can be read on my page dedicated to this unique plane, the CL-44 Swingtail Guppy

To email me, click on the image and write the correct adress as given below
(replace -AT- by the @ symbol).

Sorry for the inconvenience, but this is because spam has increasingly become a problem.

Vintage Transports, photos by Friends & Guests

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