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Unidentified Texan

Mon Aug 16, 2004 9:57 pm

While looking through my photo collection to respond to Scott's Texan Challenge I ran across this T-6/SNJ/Harvard I have no identity for. This photo was taken on August 4, 2001 at South St. Paul Flemming Field during the Minnesota Wing's anual show. Any help with the ID would be appreciated.

Image

Another One

Mon Aug 16, 2004 10:42 pm

Here's another unidentified Texan. This one is on display at the Minnesota Air National Guard Musem at Minneapols/St. Paul International airport.

Image

Mon Aug 16, 2004 11:24 pm

Dan,

I snagged 7721 a few years ago at Oshkosh, and it was registered as N7721Z, an AT-6G with South African AF s/n SA-068.

Tue Aug 17, 2004 6:39 am

Hi Dan,

I'm pretty sure I have both of these Texan's I.D.'d, but I will have to check tonight and get back to you with the numbers. Roger has "7721" pegged, but I will make sure I have the same info.

Talk to you later.....

Steve :D

Tue Aug 17, 2004 7:40 am

That second T-6 has an Otter engine, check the elongated crank case.

:wink:

Tue Aug 17, 2004 7:41 am

WD4 to the rescue!

"7721"...
-> built as one of the early AT-6 variants
-> SAAF ordered 30 T-6s (including this one) remanufactured to T-G standard via a US dealer
-> this one was assigned c/n SA068
-> 7721 SAAF
-> N26PW (1994/7/13)
-> N7721Z (1995/6/28)

Minn. ANG: There were/are a few different Minneapolis machines but this is the most likely candidate...
-> c/n 59-1948
-> AT-6 40-2122 USAAF
-> NC63625 (1946)
-> N63625 (by 1963)
-> to USMC Museum at Quantico MCAF VA (by 1986)
-> to Minneapolis ANGB in Minneapolis MN on loan (by 1986)
-> displayed as "BC-1 USAAC 798"

I have a few Texans that I have been trying to ID as well. One is at the Reilly facilty as a restoration in progress. Chuck Gardner checked it out and could not find a data plate. Perhaps someone here knows something about it. Also I photographed another Texan at a small airshow at the Tillsonburg Airport in 1993. I wasn't into noting C/Rs until a few years later, and the ID of the Texan I photographed still illudes me. Perhaps posters and lurkers alike could check out the pics and let me know if they have any tips. The pics can be found at...

http://community.webshots.com/album/123261802lGxsiI

TIA

Mike

Tue Aug 17, 2004 9:16 am

Well there you are Dan! Mike has beat me to it, and has confirmed Roger's info too, so it look's like your mysteries are solved.

Like Mike, I too am trying to figure out the I.D. of that Texan under rebuild with Tom Reilly. I have not received any responses to my e-mails to them after I visited them a year or so ago, so unless someone happens to know the story behind that one, I guess we'll have to wait until it's completed to see what identity it ends up with. (I have a feeling it's NOT a top priority on their restoration list though.)

And with this nasty storm clean-up happening now, I think everything gets pushed to the back burner for a while. I sure am sorry to hear about Warbird Adventures' fleet. :cry:

Wishing the best for everyone that has been affected by the storm......

Steve :wink:

Tue Aug 17, 2004 11:49 am

Thanks guys.

Ollie, I too noticed the long nose case, I've only seen that used with the three-bladed prop before.

Also, note that the controls don't appear to be connected in the MN ANG bird, as both ailerons are down.

Tue Aug 17, 2004 9:48 pm

Dan, is that a P-40 parked behind 7721? Any Idea who's?

Tue Aug 17, 2004 9:52 pm

Good eye Don! That would be P-40E AK753/N4420K then with Gerry Beck, oficially the owner at that point was "Dakota Warhawk LLP". This P-40 is now back with Ron Fagen in Granite Falls, MN.

Tue Aug 17, 2004 10:01 pm

That Curtiss retraction system sticks out every time! Thanks for the link! She's a pretty one! 8)

Mike's mystery Webshots T-6

Tue Aug 17, 2004 10:03 pm

Mike--

Your Tillsonburg T-6 looked familiar and so it proved to be. This is C-GTEX, one of two Texans owned in the early 90s by the Springer family in Sault Ste-Marie ON. I have a side view of her at the '94 Muirkirk show, unfortunately with a canopy cover installed. Nice looking machine, in 1942 style AAC markings with rudder striping and the red and white cowl (which was a genuine school marking), side codes X-512 and the tail serial "132961" (41-32961?). The Springers' other Six was C-GTXN, in a yellow postwar USAF livery. No idea where those two are now.

Cheers

S.

Re: Mike's mystery Webshots T-6

Wed Aug 18, 2004 6:06 am

Steve T wrote:Your Tillsonburg T-6 looked familiar and so it proved to be. This is C-GTEX, one of two Texans owned in the early 90s by the Springer family in Sault Ste-Marie ON. I have a side view of her at the '94 Muirkirk show, unfortunately with a canopy cover installed. Nice looking machine, in 1942 style AAC markings with rudder striping and the red and white cowl (which was a genuine school marking), side codes X-512 and the tail serial "132961" (41-32961?). The Springers' other Six was C-GTXN, in a yellow postwar USAF livery. No idea where those two are now.


You are my hero today Steve! Many thanks!

Mike
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