Lockheed C60 Lodestar 42-56065 -What is the history?

[carlisle1926]

42-56065 What I believe to be the original serial number of the junk C60 fuselage that I have. I have found this number stenciled on several parts on the plane. But when I looked up the numer18-2565, the number currently on the data tag, it shows that this plane was once 42-56072 and not 42-56065. I know in 1946 it was converted for civilian use with a new serial number of 18-2565. What was the military history of the plane? What in the world do I have here?

Last edited by carlisle1926 on Thu Jan 26, 2012 5:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[The Inspector]

This is getting harder than Martian Algebra-according to Baugher, your airframe went to BECHTEL Corp as N 7013V under USAAF s/n 42-56065 BUT! it also lists the msn as 18-2558 which is in a gap in the Lockheed list of msn's for model 18's. It is, however a C-60-A-5 LO
Quick, reach in that blender and grab that Fr0g!

[carlisle1926]

I'm starting to think that this airframe is actually 42-56072 and it just happens to have several parts on it off of 42-56065. The data plate most certainly reads 18-2565. If it is 42-56072, then what is the military history of it?

[carlisle1926]

This was the plane years ago when it was out behind the Lone Star Flight Museum. N43WT

[The Inspector]

Back to Baugher, 42-56072 shows msn 18-2565. To BELL AIRCRAFT as NC 66076 then re-registered as ZS-DAZ. Supposed to go to SAUDI ARABIAN AIRLINES as SA-AAH but instead to J.C. Dozier as N 17A. Then re registered again 10/89 to Can Am Capital of Ville Platte, LA. then 3/99 to Texas Aviation Hall of Fame in Galveston, are we having fun yet?

[carlisle1926]

Then this plane is 42-56072 for sure. I know that it was in Louisiana before it came to Texas. How do I find out about what it did during the war?

[The Inspector]

As a stateside transport (just a guess) about the best you can do is contact Maxwell AFB records and see if they have anything on it in the aircraft history cards since they were pretty much the anonymous 18 ft flying box vans of the day. OR, make up lurid, wild skies battle history for it

[Craig59]

If you order the history from Maxwell AFB, you might consider spending a couple extra bucks and ordering them for BOTH 42-56072 and 42-56065. You may find 065 suffered an accident resulting in the airframe being w/o and slated for salvage which may indeed explain your discovery of parts marked as such.

[The Inspector]

Heck of an idea! Then you could do a nose art piece when done as 'Half -n- Half' or 'Mild-n-Bitter' or 'Mac-n-Jack' (beer drinkers will know):wink:

[cooper9411]

If you order the history from Maxwell AFB, you might consider spending a couple extra bucks and ordering them for BOTH 42-56072 and 42-56065. You may find 065 suffered an accident resulting in the airframe being w/o and slated for salvage which may indeed explain your discovery of parts marked as such.

You can order both from Maxwell at no cost. Just include "FOIA" in your request. Once you request them, it will probably take anywhere from 2-5 weeks to receive them.

[Steve Nelson]

Just curious..why was this aircraft scrapped?

SN

[carlisle1926]

Just curious..why was this aircraft scrapped?

SN

Hurricane Ike did a number on it. Corrosion sealed the deal. I posted it on here when I first hauled it home last week. Look up the other threads and you will see the photos of why it is now junk.
Jason

[Steve Nelson]

That's too bad. I figured it was likely storm damager or corrosion..sounds like she actually suffered a double-whammy. At least some of her is going to good use, and not just being turned into beer cans. Have you found out if the RCAF Museum in Trenton might be able to use some bits of her for their Hudson project?

SN

[carlisle1926]

That's too bad. I figured it was likely storm damager or corrosion..sounds like she actually suffered a double-whammy. At least some of her is going to good use, and not just being turned into beer cans. Have you found out if the RCAF Museum in Trenton might be able to use some bits of her for their Hudson project?

SN

I spoke to them last week and they seemed to have all that they needed when I spoke to them. I donated the landing gear and a few other parts to the CAF C60 Lodestar in Houston, TX.

[carlisle1926]

I noticed today that the fuselage has two patches in the roof were astrodomes had once been. One was near the front and one near the rear door. I wonder what that signifies?