Stearman at War

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 27, 2008 1:34 pm

Matt's the closest so far, except I don't think it was DDT.

Where?

Ryan

DB2 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 27, 2008 1:36 pm

My guess is DDT spraying in either southern Italy or North Africa...

http://history.amedd.army.mil/booksdocs ... apterV.htm

marine air · **Posted:** Wed Feb 27, 2008 1:43 pm

I've seen a couple of photos of Pt-17's in wartime use with a small spray hopper installed spreading DDT for mosquito/ malaria control. One photo was in Sicily and the other in the Pacific theatre.
Does anyone know if it was a factory mod or done in the field, and how many Stearmans were used in WW II as crop dusters?

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Wed Feb 27, 2008 2:35 pm

RyanShort1 wrote:

Matt's the closest so far, except I don't think it was DDT.

Where?

Ryan

I knew it was for a airshow, you know those GI s, they love to show off

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 27, 2008 6:26 pm

DB2 wrote:

My guess is DDT spraying in either southern Italy or North Africa...

http://history.amedd.army.mil/booksdocs ... apterV.htm

Very good, except I still don't think that they're spraying DDT.

Hope to post more photos in the morning.

Ryan

DB2 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 27, 2008 7:00 pm

Check these out:

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Wed Feb 27, 2008 7:17 pm

oh great.............a stearman thread :shock:

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:35 pm

I'd post more photos tonight, but am on dial up - less than 56k...

Ryan

Dan Jones · **Posted:** Wed Feb 27, 2008 10:00 pm

It's a PT-13B being used to spray for mosquitos in Italy.

(unless of course, it's not.)

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 28, 2008 8:38 am

Ok, here are the rest of the pictures.

First, the best shot of the PT-17 (according to the captions)

Then the C-61.

Then some shots of their brethren - Modified A-20s.

According to the captions on the photos they were dusting with 25% Paris Green and 75% Fullers Earth near Leghorn, Italy in an anti-malarial campaign. The C-61s and PT-17s were used for tight spots, and the A-20s for larger applications.

Ryan

JDK · **Posted:** Thu Feb 28, 2008 9:23 am

Minor point of naming - The 'C-61', the Fairchild 24, in RAF service (as here) was actually called a Fairchild Argus, and the US designation didn't apply.

Fascinating item. I'd come across Westland Lysanders used as ad-hoc anti-malarial sprayers on Sicily in 1943, but not A-20s, or these!

Thanks Ryan.

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 28, 2008 9:32 am

JDK,

Thanks for the clarification. I was just using the "official" captions on the photos. I've noticed some other captions are off as well - especially a few of the Doolittle raiders photos!

Ryan

JDK · **Posted:** Thu Feb 28, 2008 9:33 am

RyanShort1 wrote:

Thanks for the clarification. I was just using the "official" captions on the photos. I've noticed some other captions are off as well - especially a few of the Doolittle raiders photos!

No problem. It wasn't an intended criticism!

From your info, was it a 'borrowed' aircraft used by a US crew, or was there a RAF pilot working with them?

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 28, 2008 9:38 am

I don't know yet - found a bunch of the photos scattered throughout a section of Footnote. Thought it was interesting, so I posted them here hoping I'd learn more!

Ryan

Dan Jones · **Posted:** Thu Feb 28, 2008 9:43 am

According to my records the PT-17 USAAF 42-16657 would be Boeing A75N1 c/n 75-4820.

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