Warbird Information Exchange

Hi everyone,

I just thought of a good question to test out the WIX brain trust.

What was the last biplane used in military service anywhere in the world? I'm assuming the AN-2, but let's make the question a little more interesting.

What was the last serving biplanes in all the militaries around the world and what year were they removed from service?

With the RCAF I'd assume the last biplane was either the Tiger Moth, or the Fleet Finch, and I'll assume they were replaced by the Cornell in 1944, or 1945?

How about in the US? Was it the Stearman? And what year?

How about in Germany? England? Australia? Sweden? Poland? Etc? Etc? What was their last biplane?

Peace,

David

AN-2, agreed.

The Royal Navy were using Tigers until very late, IIRC.

The RAAF Museum (part of the RAAF) currently operate a Sopwith Pup replica and a Tiger Moth...

For a guess: Germany, April 1945 - Bucker Jungmann, or Focke-Wulf Fw 44.

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James K

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Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

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Come on N3N Jeff. Know it was the Peril but don't know the exact date. 1962?

What was the last biplane in U.S. military service. I have a $20 bet you can't guess it.

16th SOW with their AN-2??

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Zane Adams
There I was at 20,000 ft, upside down and out of ammunition.
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Both the Tiger Moth and Swordfish were still in service with the Royal Canadian Navy after the war. A handful of Swordfish were flown at Dartmouth by 743 Sqn until late 1948. A single Tiger Moth, now preserved by the EAA at Oshkosh, flew as a hack with the RCN until 1957.

In the RCAF, the Stranraer was operated until 1946. (Most were disposed of in 1945, but the last, #949, was struck off 1/20/46.) Probably there were still a number of Tiger Moths still active at that time as well.

August

The N3N was last used by the U.S. Navy Military Academy, in 1961. The Chilian air force still had one in 1981.

I believe that the U. S. Army OpFor opporated the AN-2 as well.

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Cheers!

Lance Jones

The Historical Flight of the Portuguese Air Force is working in it's Tiger to bring it up to flight status.

greets,

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rreis

If you want pictures, see rreis@flickr

The Swiss F+W C35 flew operationally as night attack aircraft until 1954 :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EKW_C-35

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Switzerl ... 1011502/L/

And the last Bücker Jungmann, used for basic training, were retired only in 1971.

There were still two Fw 44J "on strenght" with the Swedish AF in 1965! Both were used as glider tugs at Ljungbyhed AB and one of them is now preserved at the SwAF museum. The other one is still a flyer, nowdays as SE-EGT.

There were at least a couple of An-2's given USAF serial numbers; 90-0074 and 91-6555. 74 was damged in a takeoff incident in 2003 and 55 was hauling army jumpers at Nellis AFB as late as 2005.
Second place may be the FW-44's used by some military flying clubs in South America at least as late as the 1980's.

The Greek Air Force still uses Ag Cats for fire fighting.


Steve G

The N3N was removed from flight status at Annapolis in 1959. They sat through 1960 until put on barges and taken across the river to Norfolk where they were sold as surplus in 1961.

The Chilian Airforce does have a VERY RARE N3N-1 and its in the Museum and as far as I know, its still active and flown from time to time.

I am still looking for a contact in that museum!!!! I would love some detailed pics of that airplane!!!!

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Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
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The Historic Flight of the Central Flying School, Royal New Zealand Air Force, still operates a de Havilland DH82a Tiger Moth in its fleet. The RNZAF retired its Tiger Moths from training duties in 1959, but re-introduced the type to the Historic Flight in about 1987 and it has flown since as both a display aircraft and a trainer for tail dragger types.

The last front line operational biplane type of the RNZAF on the other hand was the Vickers Vincent, which was finally relegated to training duties in 1943

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