Vigiliant at War

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Sun Dec 14, 2008 8:52 pm

Vultee L-1 s/n 41-18952 #17 on Ftr 2 on Guadalcanal June 1943. Assigned to the 13th AF it was used during the campaign on Munda to fly seriously wounded GIs to New Calidonia. Available pilots from the 18th FG were the usually pilots and Cy Gladen of the 44th FS flew 25 such flights taking ground fire on at least half.

The Inspector · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 1:37 am

Theres one operating off Lake Spenard in ANC on the biggest pontoons this side of the ones on the DC-3.
That is one big a$$ed airplane buddy!

Obergrafeter · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 7:32 am

Is it camoflouged? If so I think it is the one we had here in San Antonio. Only one flying in the world at the time and I guess now (Kermits still being restored) Had a chance to buy it cheap but passed.......what an idiot. Thought I wanted something more dashing. Still don't have that either.

Nathan · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 7:47 am

Also known as the O-49. Several where at Bellows on December 7th.

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 8:32 am

The Inspector wrote:

Theres one operating off Lake Spenard in ANC on the biggest pontoons this side of the ones on the DC-3.
That is one big a$$ed airplane buddy!

Really? I thought there were only two left. If true that would make at least three...

Ryan

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 8:42 am

Obergrafeter wrote:

Is it camoflouged? If so I think it is the one we had here in San Antonio. Only one flying in the world at the time and I guess now (Kermits still being restored) Had a chance to buy it cheap but passed.......what an idiot. Thought I wanted something more dashing. Still don't have that either.

Ober,

I'm pretty sure that aircraft was bought by a doctor and is now residing in an Alaskan museum. Some friends of mine up there saw it a month or two back. Wish you had it... or we still did. Here are two pictures from the "glory" days of the ALS when we had every major L-series aircraft of WWII in hand.

Ryan

FYI, those are squadron pics, not mine, but I have permission to use them and the scans are my copy.

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 8:49 am

And two more wartime shots:

Vigilant of 9th Troop Carrier Command lands at Remagen to pick up wounded. May 1945

Speaking of L-1s on floats...

10th Liaison Squadron L-1 picks up a wounded soldier from motor boat. Burma

Ryan

Oscar Duck · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 8:50 am

This has to be one of the most unique aircraft operated by the RAAF during WWII. Only three aircraft were flown by 33 Sqn and despite having an RAAF serial number allocated the aircraft retained their American national markings and radio call numbers.

Ztex · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 9:17 am

Saw same one in Ryan's pics at the Denton CAF show one time...quite the machine

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 9:28 am

I'm pretty sure the yellow Cub in that last picture is the Cub we still fly. It's silver now with "Flitfire" markings.

Ryan

Wheels up · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 3:50 pm

Jack Cook wrote:

Anybody know what propeller this is? Looks odd with the cuffs. Doesn't look like the ordinary 2B20 for sure. Makes for a very agressive tapering chord...at least looking.

Obergrafeter · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 6:48 pm

Don't remember the number on the prop, do remember it was a constant speed that was constant all right ......................constantly broke. Kind of like a Cessna 182, not much difference one way or the other. The 300 Lycoming was alright , been better with a Prat 985. Thats the first time I have seen it with two Storchs, have a picture of it in the slow race with our Storch years later.

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 7:19 pm

Quote:

Anybody know what propeller this is?

My guess is Erco wood compreg 2B20
BTW my friend Cy said the red cross on the only good has a
target for the Japanese :shock:

Obergrafeter · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 9:39 pm

The one we had (always acting up) was a Ham Stand of some configuration.

Wheels up · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 11:19 pm

I just didn't see the counterweights that clearly. Thought perhaps that since it was a Cord engine (he owned Lyc) that it might be a Smith. Jack might be right in that respect...likely a "composite " blade.
I have a Spencer Wickwire prop that somewhat resembles this prop but the "cuffed" shank is not that broad. That Wickwire is a strange bird and haven't found an application yet...still searching.

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