Warbird Information Exchange

A friend and I recently purchased a beautifully restored PT 23A from an individual in Illinois. My friend has owned 2 PT 19's,and several Stearmans but I was new to this kind of flying.
We flew commercial to Rockford Ill to fly home with it where I was not expecting the reaction I was about to experience.
After serving 31 years as an airline pilot and only being around big jets, I had only a mild interest in general aviation. However military history has always fascinated me.
So when the hangar doors opened and I had the first real sight of the aircraft my eyes almost watered.
We then spent 3 days flying it home to central Florida which was enough time for me to absolutely fall in love. [With the PT23, not my friend.]
While droning along enroute I thought about all the unknown WW2 heroes who might have sat in those 2 seats.How many died for our country and how many survived the war?
I fly it at least twice a week and feel honored every flight. [/img][/b][/i]

Welcome to the WIX. It sounds like you have something very special with that airplane. It would be interesting to know the history of the aircraft and where it served. It might help you figure out just who might have flown it.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Thanks Mustangdriver.
Yes, I have done all the research on the PT23 and thanks to the National Aerospace Museum I have the complete military history.
It served at the 68th Training Command in Decator Al. [ Mil ser# 42-49972.] However there no records that I can find that names the pilots who trained there in 1944.
If anyone can steer me to any military records that might help, I would greatly appreciate it.

You might want to try Maxwell AFB. THey have helped me out with a lot of researching in the warbirds I have dealt with. They were able to trace my friend's Stearman back to Tuskegee in the war years.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Sagebrush,

If that's 60418, I used to fly with my Dad in it in the earlies '70's. A friend of ours owned it but was afraid of taildraggers so my Dad flew it all the time. I think he paid $6000 for it, may have sold it for $14,000. It graced the cover of Trade-a-Plane some time later, still in the blue & yellow/stars & bars scheme. If you'll check your logbook, you'll find where Art Scholl welded a crack in the motor mount. He used to do airshows at the Bristol Speedway (landed on the dragstrip), and happened to stop by while we were trying to figure out what to do about the mount. I have great childhood memories in the back seat of that ship.
Nothing like flying in old planes with your Dad. Take good care of her.

Steve G

Yes Steve, that's her.
I did see the item in the log book. It is still in the Navy colors. [Beautiful, but incorrect.]
Thanks for the info.
Will post a picture when I figure out how.
Tom

Great story sagebrush. I look forward to seeing the pics of your PT-23

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Share your story: Rutgers Oral History Archive http://oralhistory.rutgers.edu/

Hello Sagebrush,

Welcome aboard, nice write up there, and Congrat's!

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David
1953 M38A1 jeep owner
& Student Pilot soloed 09/09/06
USAF 1984-1986

Yup, welcome Sagebrush. I think you'll find quite a few Phairchild Phanatics hang out here.

Here's to wooden spars and round motors!

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

Phairchild Phanatics ? Talk about your bald faced plagarism !

Rick
Phantom Phixer

Guilty as charged.

Welcome aboard Sagebrush. The previous owner of your fine airplane and I spoke last at Oshkosh this year. Good to see that she has found a new home with an adoring owner.

If you ever find yourself in need of parts,........ I know a guy who has a barnful of spares stashed away.

Steve Dennis
PT-19A N59585
PT-17 N69763

I think I got it. Hope this works.
I took this photo at a grass strip near La Salle Ill. which was our first stop on the way home from Rockford Ill.

Beautiful -- congrats!

Beautiful aircraft!

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"Keep 'em Flying!"

Very nice!! Welcome aboard!

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Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly!!

http://www.390th.org/
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Trae