This scene provoked me into a 'vintage makeover'.. Truth be told, that is the only hangardoor in such a state,
renovations and improvements continue on the hangar as well and that hangardoor will be taken care of too some day.
Clearly another Harvard with a South Africian past! This is N7678Z, a North American AT-6C with c/n
889156
on FAA's N-inquiry page; it also mentions a secondary type identification: SNJ-4. Manufactured in 1942.
N7678Z was reg'd to Thomas M. Lang (Lakeway,TX) on 09Oct2012.
I hope those South African Air Force markings will be retained!
A solid bunch of Harvards here! Another North American AT-6C, N211RF was reg'd on 17Apr06 to Richard F.
Furguson (Trustee), Canyon Lake,TX.
From the www.cafcentex.com website I learned the following on N211RF:
'Ole Yeller' is a Navy SNJ-4 (but since in Texas, a Texan T-6C!) with Navy colors. It was built in 1942,
configured with swivel back seat and a camera port in the belly. It did not have a hook for carrier landings,
but has a later model tail wheel steering modification to allow steering with tail wheel locked. Most of the
plane is authentic 1950s configurations that the Navy installed. My father, Richard B Ferguson, bought it
from North Island NAS, San Diego,CA, in 1961, and did little to modify further through the years. He created
and painted the 'N211RF' serialnumber incorporating his initials: 'RF'. He flew the plane with a number of other
T-6s his buddies in Civil Air Patrol purchased at the same time, forming the 'National City Air Force', flying out
of National City Airport adjacent to San Diego,CA. They flew formation, aerobatics, and simulated dog fights
at local air shows, local events, and veterans ceremonies, much as we do in the CAF.
This B-25 Mitchell WW2 bomber was a pleasant surprise, as I had failed to note in my Air-Britain reference book
the presence a warbird of this size residing here (As Nigel Hitchman pointed out later: "..it is listed seperately &
elsewhere under 'CAF Yellow Rose squadron' in Bob Ogden's book; but also here at San Marcos!").
I found North American B-25J (TB-25N) 'Yellow Rose'
N25YR reg'd to the American Airpower Heritage
Flying Museum since 10Sep1991. Bob Ogden has its previous identities as: 43-27868, N9077Z.
The
www.cafcentex.com website offered the following: 'Yellow Rose', the christened name of this vintage B-25J
Mitchell WWII bomber, is once again touring the American skies. The bomber is completely restored to its
wartime capabilities and is operated by the Central Texas Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). It is one of
the flying museum pieces belonging to the organization's 'Ghost Squadron' aircraft collection. After four years,
the aircraft was lovingly restored to WWII condition by members of the Central Texas Wing and donated to the
CAF in 1981. Literally thousands of man hours were donated over the four year period by the members of the
Yellow Rose Squadron in order to bring the Rose back into full operational readiness.
'Yellow Rose' visits an average of 25 cities and towns, across the United States, each year as a patriotic and
education exhibit dedicated to those who gave their all for world freedom during WWII.
The website has more details on its history, including its WWII record: www.cafcentex.com/aircraft/B25.php
I could find no details of this 'Blue Angels' A-4(?).
Photos © R.Leeuw
