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Need Tora Kate ID Help...

Fri Dec 28, 2007 12:47 pm

I have these two photos of Kate replicas...any one know which ones these are?

Thanks again!

From 1978..Could this be N6438D (still flies as "301") or N6189C (reconfigured to original T-6)
Image

From 1983... I think this one is N2047 (now flies as "310")
Image
Last edited by Ztex on Sat Dec 29, 2007 6:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Fri Dec 28, 2007 3:44 pm

I see Martin, aka Swiss Mustangs, has a shot of this 301 airplane as well!
Cool!
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7186&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=tora+tora+tora&start=30#top

Image

Fri Dec 28, 2007 7:55 pm

I think Tora 301 is Pat McClures. If not I've got somebody elses' plane on a bunch of T shirts I made up. Painted overall green now, still with the bumble bee tail.

Fri Dec 28, 2007 9:40 pm

where were these airplanes based??????? i met a couple of old timers in the spring that used to mess around in a Kate in the early 70's. I cant remember their names but they were from the mid south. Either TN or Mississippi.

Fri Dec 28, 2007 11:10 pm

Zane,
Yes, Kate 110 is now marked 310. Other than the tail number it looks the same but now it flies with a big Nambu gun stuck out the back canopy.
Can you make out the N-number of #301 in your original photo?

Doug Ratchford 'Canso42'

Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:48 am

Here are some pics of N7062C
http://www.japanesebomber.com/12941.html

Sun Dec 30, 2007 10:24 pm

I think there may be two Kates with ____310 tail numbers. Same a/c number but two different sqn. or group markings. Hmmmm.
Can you CAF Tora guys straighten us out? I'd like to know.

Canso42

Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:51 pm

Jay Horecky used to fly one of the solid green Kates out of Clover Field here in Pearland. I believe it was sold to someone in Mississippi.

Ted Ruppel was flying one of the Kates when they had a mishap at Kingsville. The airplane was wrecked, but no one was hurt.

Another is maintained by Willy Bob Bonefas in Manvel, John Storey used to fly it quite a bit.

Mon Dec 31, 2007 8:37 am

Looks like the green one is the CAF Kate based with Centex Wing, San Marcos and looks like the PIC is Bill Powers in younger days.....JMHO
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