Warbirds in Civies - Post your finds

yakdriver · **Joined:** Mon May 17, 2004 11:58 am **Posts:** 127

jdvoss wrote:

Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina photographed at Orange County Airport (CA) circa 1958. Actually there were a number of PBY's (~ 10) freshly brought in from surplus purchases. The two in the foreground had fresh paint applied where the balance still had the original but faded paint of the Naval Air Reserve. The various base names on the tails were still evident (e.g. Key West, New York, Atlanta, et.al.). Why didn't I take more photos?? Oh yes, I rememnber now the sole security guard kept chasing me out of the area.

General Motors- built Grumman TBM Grumman Avenger photographed at Orange County Airport (CA) circa 1958.

That's a TBF-1. I think it is the one at the Yanks museum now.

Ztex · **Posted:** Sat Feb 04, 2012 12:48 am

CAPFlyer...is it this one?

Here's a whirlybird...I think this one is now in the USMC Museum @ Quantico?

Ztex · **Posted:** Sat Feb 04, 2012 12:50 am

One more...ugh

CAPFlyer · **Posted:** Sat Feb 04, 2012 1:48 am

Yep Zane, that's the one. He used to take that plane everywhere. Just imagine being able to fly from Lancaster to Chicago (for the Chicago Airshow) non-stop, sit in a hold for several hours and still have enough fuel to come back to Lancaster with several hours left onboard at landing. Mind you, you'll have been in the air for almost 24 hours by the time it's all said and done, but still...

jdvoss · **Posted:** Sat Feb 04, 2012 10:34 am

Stinson L-1 Vigilant

Photographed at Orange County Airport circa 1958-59. At one point in time I did see this same aircraft on amphibious floats.

WallyB · **Posted:** Sat Feb 04, 2012 10:53 am

jdvoss wrote:

Photographed at Orange County Airport circa 1958-59. At one point in time I did see this same aircraft on amphibious floats.

What's that contraption on the wing for ?

jdvoss · **Posted:** Sat Feb 04, 2012 11:05 am

RE: L-1 Vigilant

Conceiveably, the contraption under the wing "may" have been for crop spraying. That's my best guess.

jdvoss · **Posted:** Sat Feb 04, 2012 11:08 am

de Havilland Vampire and is believed to be ex-RCAF. Note 2nd Vampire in near distance. Photographed at Orange County Airport (CA) circa 1958-59

jdvoss · **Posted:** Sat Feb 04, 2012 11:15 am

Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer. Note civil registration N7683C. Does anyone have info on its ultimate fate? No doubt destined to become a borate bomber. Note on extreme RH side of photo the tail of a Vampire jet fighter. Photographed at Orange County Airport (CA) circa 1958-59

jdvoss · **Posted:** Sat Feb 04, 2012 11:25 am

Short Sunderland Mk.V(?) Patrol Bomber converted to an airliner and renamed as a "Sandringham" in its civil role. Aircraft was operated by Ansett Airlines and was used for flights to Lord Howe Island off the E.coast of Australia. Ultimate fate?? Photographed at Sydney Harbor, Australia 1964.

WallyB · **Posted:** Sat Feb 04, 2012 12:22 pm

jdvoss wrote:

Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer. Note civil registration N7683C. Does anyone have info on its ultimate fate? No doubt destined to become a borate bomber. Note on extreme RH side of photo the tail of a Vampire jet fighter. Photographed at Orange County Airport (CA) circa 1958-59

N7683C ex BuNo 59742 sold to Honduras AF 12/1956 as 792 then to civil HR-195-P in 1973. It was used as a transport.
Since the LAAHS website is now defunct the trail ends there, but it was undoubtedly scrapped.

Vampire N6885D is supposedly msn 42380 ex-RCAF (VP751 ntu) 17062 although a couple of Canadian sites claims this was was sold as N701NA. Dismantled and taken to Mojave 1974, last heard of in 1981. Another dead end.

The Sunderland appears to be VH-BRF in which case it's Kermit Weeks' at Polk City.

jdvoss · **Posted:** Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:00 pm

WallyB:
Thank you so much for your critique of my photos. I believe that the L-1 Vigilant may also be in the possession of Kermit Weeks as well. Also, interesting history on the PB4Y Privateer. However, if the Honduran AF purchased it in 1956 and I photographed in 1958-59 and it was still in faded USN markings I have to surmise that they didn't take delivery immediately upon purchase.

As you and others may have noticed the majority of my photos submitted on this thread were taken at Orange County (CA) airport now renamed "John Wayne Airport". I have now submitted ALL of my ex-warbird photos taken there. Yes, I should have taken more photos but I'm glad to have what I have!!! The sole security guard there (who handled the entire airport !) was on the constant lookout for me but he drove around the tarmac area in his own sedan so he was easy to spot. Ah, those were the days!!!

sledge39 · **Joined:** Thu Jun 29, 2006 1:01 pm **Posts:** 262

yakdriver wrote:

General Motors- built Grumman TBM Grumman Avenger photographed at Orange County Airport (CA) circa 1958.

That's a TBF-1. I think it is the one at the Yanks museum now.[/quote]

N9394H was TBF-1C bu# 46122 registered in 1954 to Paul Mantz Air Services
...used in fireboming experiments at Camp Pendleton, California...
...and later made two operational drops on a fire near Lake Elsinore, CA on September 1, 1954.
...The first TBF/M used on a actual fire in US.
...destroyed in a crash in 1958 on a fire mission...load failed to drop....hit trees....

sledge39 · **Joined:** Thu Jun 29, 2006 1:01 pm **Posts:** 262

jdvoss wrote:

RE: L-1 Vigilant
Conceiveably, the contraption under the wing "may" have been for crop spraying. That's my best guess.

...camera mounts...

...Paul Mantz used various configurations of cameras and mounts as well as amphibious floats on N63230

...it's now with Weeks...

sledge39 · **Joined:** Thu Jun 29, 2006 1:01 pm **Posts:** 262

...yes this Lockheed 12 was a warbird...

...it was Lockheeds 212 prototype (cn 212-13) bomber (or maybe bomber trainer) with bomb racks for eight 100-lb. bombs,

gun turret atop aft fuselage with one .303 machine gun, one forward-firing .303 under fuselage.

...the bulge in the upper fuselage ahead of the rotating beacon is where the turret was located...

...seen at Paul Mantz's place at Santa Ana (SNA) 1958.

...Mantz bought it in 1946...applied for and got Amelia Earharts N16020 in 1958.

...was destroyed in a crash in 1961 after Mantz sold it.

...Paul Mantz' cross-country racer P-51C NX1204 at Santa Ana (SNA) 1958.

...now with Weeks...

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