Warbird Information Exchange

For addition to the WIX survivor page, lets try and get data and several photos of each B-23 that was built. This was generally cut from the Baugher site and then added with pictures from the net. There are great B-23 shots from a Stoltzfus picture album that wont cut and paste. Enjoy.

I guess the pictures did not come along, so how to do that?

39-27/64 Douglas B-23 Dragon


c/n 2713/2750
27 (c/n 2713) prototype, ff July 27, 1939 Clover Field, Santa Monica. Evaluated by Material Division, Wright Field. Assigned to March Field 89th Recon squadron replacing the A-17A. Reported damaged on landing at Eglin Field, Fl Feb 2, 1941. SOC Apr 9, 1942. Did the vertical tail go to the B-24ST project?

28 (c/n 2714) used in glider pickup testing as well as fitted for remote control turret tests.

To RFC Apr 5,1945. To Starling Airports as NX54584, later NC54584. To National Distillers Products as N100P in 1954. To Green Bay Packaging Inc as N58091. Off registry by Feb 1980. Landings database has this plane registered to Lorenair, Inc of Miami, FL. FlyingHigher.net has some good photos of this one. Mike Stoltzfus is a part of its history, and the pictures do not save!

29 (c/n 2715) redesignated UC-67 Jan 1, 1943. SOC Jun 8, 1943.

30 (c/n 2716) to RFC at McKellar Dec 14, 1944. To Pan Am as NR48909 in 1945. To General Tire and Rubber Co as N1G. Off registry by Jan 1964.

31 (c/n 2717) redesignated UC-67 Dec 4, 1941. To RFC at McKellar Field Sep 2, 1944. To Pan Am as N4000W in 1947. May have been re-registered as N4000U. To Cia Ecuatoriana de Aviacion as HC-APV in Dec 1968. Preserved in Ecuadorian Air Museum, Quito, Ecuador as HC-APV

32 (c/n 2718) used by Pratt & Whitney for trials of R-2800 in support of XB-26 and XB-28 programs. To RFC at Patterson Field Jun 2, 1945. Subsequent fate unknown, presumably sold for scrap.

33 (c/n 2719) to RFC at McKellar Field Dec 2, 1944. To Howard Hughes as NC49548 6/2/1945. To Gar Wood Industries 12/15/1945 as NC747. Later re-registered as N747M. To Rexall Drug Co in 1951, Food Machinery Corp in 1954, To Monarch Aviation as N747M in 1966. To Douglas B-23 of Montery Inc May 1978. Sale reported July 1988. Mike Bouge OAK



34 (c/n 2720) redesignated UC-67 Jan 6, 1942. To instructional airframe at Gravely Point, WA Jun 20, 1943. Subsequent fate unknown, presumably scrapped.

35 (c/n 2721) converted to UC-67 Jan 6, 1942. To RFC at Bush Field Nov 18, 1944. Subsequent fate unknown, presumably sold for scrap.

36 (c/n 2722) redesignated UC-67 Jul 23, 1944. To RFC at Bush Field Sep 8, 1944. To Paul Mantz Air Services as NC52327 in 1945. To California Oil Co as N52327 in 1947. To Westernair in 1970, Data Flight, Inc in 1971, Spurling Aviation, Ltd in 1977, to Puget Sound Helicopters Jan 1981, Univ of WA Nov 1982. To McChord Air Museum, WA Dec 11, 1985, where it is now on display.





37 (c/n 2723) to RFC at Bush Field Jan 24, 1945. to John Galbreath as NR41821 1947. To Union Oil Co of CA as N41821 in 1945, to Westinghouse Co 1955. To A. J. Dewitt as N80N in 1964. To Medical Electronics, Inc in 1966, to J. H. Logsdon, Ptnrs in 1968, to Robert P. Schaefli in 197 to J. Pl Boy in 1981. Now at USAF Museum, OH undergoing restoration.
7



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38 (c/n 2724) to RFC at Bush Field May 11, 1945. To Henry J. Kaiser Co as NR56249 in 1947. To Standard Oil of California as NC56249, later N56249, later N62G in 1964. Sold to Confederate Air Force in 1973. No longer flyable, by 2003 on static display at Midland AP, TX.








39 (c/n 2725) redesignated UC-67 Dec 9, 1941. To RFC at Patterson Field Jul 2, 1944. Subsequent history unknown, presumably sold for scrap.

40 (c/n 2726) relegated to instructiional airframe Sep 17, 1942. Further history unknown.

41 (c/n 2727) converted to UC-67 Feb 19, 1943. To RFC Bush Field, GA 6/7/45. In 1946 NR61666 General Motors Corp.; reregistered NC61666 in 1947. In 1954 N61666 D. D. Feldman. In 1964 General Electric Corp. July 1966 Airlease Inc. 1968 R. L. York. 1969 Harris Trust & Savings Bank Corp. Cancelled by July 1971.

42 (c/n 2728) wrecked near Beaumont CA Oct 1941 and SOC.

43 (c/n 2729) redesignated UC-67 Dec 27, 1941. Crashed near Flomaton, AL Jan 26, 1943. 10 killed

44 (c/n 2730) redesignated UC-67 Dec 4, 1941. To RFC Bush Field, GA Jan 20, 1945. To Hueghes Tool Co as NR49811 in 1945, later NC49811 and N49811. In March 1949 (or 1954?) to National Supply Co. In 1964 Madden & Smith Aircraft Corp as N777X. In 1966 to Capital Reserve Corp as N744Q. In 1970 to Wm Dixie Stores as N141W. Cancelled by February 1980.

45 (c/n 2731) designated as instructional airframe May 8, 1942. SOC Jul 24, 1942. This plane represented at Castle Air Museum, CA. Incorrect?

46 (c/n 2732) to RFC Ontario, CA May 1, 1945. In 1945 to Gar Wood Industries Inc as NR53253. In 1954 to Tennessee Gas Transmission Co as N53253. In 1964 to Ammann Division Inc. In 1966 to Gulf & Western. Cancelled 1971 but sale reported by February 1980. Landings database has this plane being sold to an owner in Oklahoma City, OK. Some sources have this plane being registered to Howard Hughes as NR53253



47 c/n 2733 Reg NR45361 Rexall Drug. In 1954 to General Electric Co as N45361. Later to L. B. Smith as N8650E. In 1964 to Interpublic Inc as N409ME. In 1968 to Laboratory for Electronics, Inc. Reregistered as N880L by 1968. In 1970 to Jenney Flight Engineering Inc as N880L. To M. Jones in 1977. To Leroy W. Richards in 1981. To Castle AFB where it is now on display. The registration N45531 has also been associated with this aircraft.






48 (c/n 2734) to RFC at McKellar Nov 7, 1944. To Pacific Lumber Co as NC67000 (some sources have Howard Hughes as being associated with this plane). Reregistered as N67000 in 1954. Crashed prior to Jan 1964.

49 (c/n 2735) relegated to instructional airframe Nov 26, 1942. Subsequent history unknown.

50 (c/n 2736) loaned to General Electric Feb 20, 1942, then to American Airlines Nov 12, 1942. Condemned Feb 19, 1944 and may have been disposed of through RFC.

51 (c/n 2737) to RFC at McKellar Field, TN Nov 7, 1944. To Roscoe Turner in 1947 as NX61Y. To Celanese Corp of America in 1954 as N61Y. Subsequently to Pittsburg Constr Co as N34C. To Consolidated Coal Co as N534C as 1964. To Ohio State University in 1966. To Founders Investment Corp as N534J in 1968. To Airlease Inc in 1969. Now on display at Pima Air and Space Museum, Tucson, AZ.




52 (c/n 2738) crashed McCall, Idaho Jan 29, 1943. Crew recovered some time after Feb 13. Remains still there, and a hiking destination? Aircraft is known as the Loon Lake B-23. See the Tighar site for a detailed story on the damage and parts removal done on the wreck by the USAFM. A very interesting read.







53 (c/n 2739) converted to RB-23. Photo at Muroc? Yes, used as a drone controller for the Culver PQ-8 drone, conversion to UC-67?


To RFC/scrap, Patterson Field 5/31/45. 1To Lehman Bros as NR58092 in 1947. To H. K. Porter Co as N58092 in 1954. To Monarch Aviation Inc in 1966. To Trans Aero Systems Inc in 1969. Cancelled by July 1971.

54 (c/n 2740) redesignated UC-67. Designated as instructional airframe Aug 31, 1943. Subsequent history unknown.

55 (c/n 2741) redesignated UC-67 Nov 24, 1942. Crashed Washington DC Jan 22, 1943 after engine failure. To CL-26 at Bolling Field Feb 9, 1943

56 (c/n 2742) RFC Patterson Field, Savanna GA 6/5/45

57 (c/n 2743) redesignated UC-67 Dec 24, 1941. To RFC at McKellar Field, TN Sep 4, 1944. To Pan Am as NR33309 in 1945, later to Hearst Corp. To E. W. Scripps Co of Cincinnati as N4000B in 1954. To Purdue University in 1969. To Dennis Sherman in 1970. To P&M Supply Co in 1977. To T. M. Page in May 1978. To Kermit Weeks in May 1984. Now at Weeks Air Museum, Miami, FL, now moved to Fantasy of Flight museum at Polk City.




58 (c/n 2744) redesignated UC-67 Dec 23, 1941. To RFC at Grenier Field, NH Jul 6, 1945. To Hugh McL. Fenwick as NR69333 in 1947. Off registry by Jan 1964.

59 (c/n 2745) redesignated UC-67 Jan 8, 1943. Loaned to Boeing Apr 9, 1943. To RFC at McKellar Field, TN Dec 14, 1944. To PanAm as NR49981 in 1945.To Esso Shipping Co as N4989W in 1954. To John W. Mecom 1964 as N86E. Abandoned at Athens (GA?)Airport 1969, scrapped in the 1970’s




60 (c/n 2746) to RFC at MCKellar Field Feb 15, 1944. to Howard Hughes as NC44890 5/23/1945. Crashed on a dirt strip south of Mount Shasta, CA Oct 20, 1951. Pilot, copilot, and two passengers uninjured, but aircraft destroyed by fire.

61 (c/n 2747) to RFC at McKellar Field, TN. To DPC as NR18647 in 1946. To PanAm later that year as NNC18647.To Corning Glass Works in 1947. To National Steel Corp as N18647 in 1954. Off registry by 1964.

62 (c/n 2748) to RFC at McKellar Field, TN Oct 11, 1944. To PanAm as NR33310 in 1945, later reregistered as NC33310. In 1947 to C&R Turner as N33310. To General Electric Co in 1954. To Palm Beach Yacht Sales in 1966. To Sharmex SA of Mexico Aug 1966 as XB-PUR, registration cancelled Nov 1967. To P. T. Sharples as N1755 in 1968. To Omni Investment Corp in 1969. To Transport Leasing Corp in 1970. Withdrawn from use in Panama, off registry by Feb 1980. Was abandoned at Panama and impounded for non-payment of parking dues. Derelict at Panama City, Canal Zone by Jun 1973. Broken up in 1978.

63 (c/n 2749) redesignated UC-67. To Standard Oil Co of New Jersey as NR47994 in 1947. To Esso Shipping Co as N47994 in 1954. To Le Tourneau Westinghouse as N777L and later N777LW. To Appliance Buyers Credit Corp in 1964. To B. McCreary and partner in Jan 1969. Still on registry to Robert Schlaeffli of Moses Lake, WA.








Possibly 39-063




64 (c/n 2750) redsignated UC-67 Dec 23, 1941. To PanAM Aug 3, 1943. To RFC at McKellar Field, TN 9/3/44. to Pan Am as NR33311 in 1945. Later reregistered as NX33311. To General Electric Co as N33311 in 1954. To Los Angeles Board of Education in 1964. Off registry by Jul 1966. Burned in Los Angeles Ciry College? riots during 1967-68?

Great information! Thanks for posting.

Gary

How do I get the pictures I have saved on the Word Document to go along with the post? Can I email it to someone to get them to do it?

Here is the dragon at Castle. I don't think its in the registry. So here are some photos Scott

I took this picture from inside of Gene Fisher’s B-25 at an airshow in 1979.

Sorry, but I don’t recall who owned it at the time.

EDIT: Anyone can use this picture for any non-commercial project they have.

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I like the big curvy gear doors. When open it looks like it's wearing huge wheel pants.
That's an unusual tail gun display. Did it normally open up like that or was that done for display?
For that matter, what was the armament and arrangement of a B-23?
Yeah, I'm full of questions but I know I can get the straight scoop here.

Keep it coming,
Canso42

My late father was very familiar with the B-23. After I hiked in with two friends on October 1, 1988 to see the Loon Lake, Idaho wreckage, he told me in some detail about one he saw crash with multiple fatalities at Blythe, CA in late 1942 or early 1943. Unfortunately I didn't take notes and now after almost 19 years, I cannot recall details. I know he said the B-23 was attempting a glider tow or glider pickup and crashed in front of many witnesses. There must be record of that on the web somewhere.

His B-17 crew was in the 2nd Air Force phase training starting with a train trip to Blythe from Ephrata, Washington on December 12, 1942 for Phase 1. Their Phase 2 was with guidance from men who had just returned from combat in the South Pacific at Pyote, Texas. Phase 3 (final phase) was at Casper, Wyoming. Then they were staged in Salina, Kansas and given a B-17 of their own. They went from there in a new B-17 to the big modification depot at Macon, Georgia where long-range fuel tanks were installed. Then to Morrison Field, West Palm Beach, Florida...

I don't know the dates of these post-Blythe training stations and stop-overs, but I suspect they were not at Blythe a long time. He was flying combat missions out of North Africa by July 1943.

Judging from the above list it must have been

39-40 (c/n 2726); 39-49 (c/n 2735); or 39-53 (c/n 2739), with a remote chance of being 39-50 (c/n 2736).

If anyone finds anything on this I'd love to know.

I'm not sure if it's the same incident, but some details of your dads story fit
with a significant glider crash at March Field, Calif. on September 11, 1943.
In April 1943, Richard C. du Pont resigned as president of All American Aviation
in order to assume his new role overseeing the army's glider program as special
assistant to Hap Arnold. All American had been working with the army modifying AAA's
mail pickup system to suit various Air Corp requirements. The M-80 Glider
Pickup System, human pickup, and a device for B-24's to tow extra fuel with them being most notable.

Du Pont reported for duty in June and proceeded to North Africa and Sicily to observe
glider operations in those campaigns. He returned to the US to March Field and
was a passenger aboard a XCG-16A glider when disaster struck. The pickup
went well, but shortly after release from the tow aircraft at 3000 feet, the glider
fell into a spin from which it didn't recover. Du Pont bailed-out with 2 others, but his chute fouled
and he plunged to his death. Three others, including Col. Earnest P. Gable,
deputy director of the army's glider program, weren't able to escape from the
glider and perished when the craft impacted a plowed field SE of the base.
(Excerted from the book, "The Airway to Everywhere: A History of All American
Aviation, 1939-1953", Lewis and Trimble, 1988.)

RC du Pont was a remarkable young man and it's truly tragic he died at such
a young age
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Chichester_du_Pont

_________________
He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

[quote I took this picture from inside of Gene Fisher’s B-25 at an airshow in 1979.]

Looks like Kermit Weeks in the yellow tee shirt. I believe he has one.

_________________
Avoid that sinking feeling -- Check the hull plugs on your pre-flight.

That tail gun was it's claim to fame.
It was the first glazed tail gun position in an American bomber.
Standard weapons package for the B-23 was 4000 lbs of bombs, with three .30 cal machine guns in the nose, waist/dorsal and ventral positions plus a .50 cal in the tail.

_________________
Avoid that sinking feeling -- Check the hull plugs on your pre-flight.

Does anybody know what became of this B-23 after 1972?
Serial #: 39-0028
Construction #: 2714
Civil Registration:
NC54584
N100P
N58091
http://www.sedonalegendhelenfrye.com/files/DouglasB23ConversionB.jpg

According to http://www.johnweeks.com/b23/index.html this may have been one of the most recently active Dragons, being operated by Lorenair.

Photos would also be appreciated.

Serial #: 39-0038
Construction #: 2724

Is now owned and under restoration (initially static, possibly airworthy later) by the 1941 Historical Aircraft Group based in Geneseo NY

http://1941hag.org/files_restorations/b-23.html

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Wish I had a plane to put here... anyone got any leads on a (prewar) J3 Cub?

1952 Ford F6 Howe Fire Truck
1951 Ford F5
1949 Ford F6 Dump Truck
1978 Ford Mustang II
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle
1949 Ford 8N; 1948, 1949 & 1950 Baird Beavers

Thanks for the reply, but I think we made the mistake of swapping the ex-CAF's 39-0038 with the one that I mentioned:
Serial #: 39-0028
Construction #: 2714

It appears that this is the Dragon that was used to pick up gliders.

http://warbirdregistry.org/b23registry/b23-390028.html

About the 1941 HAG B-23 - Once they piece the Dragon together, do they plan on hangaring it? It would be a crying shame if the B-23 and the B-17 there spend most of their time getting rained on.