B-23 Project

[Warbird Kid]

The hangar in Geneseo is large enough to hold all the aircraft currently there (aside from the MARC C-47 and C-119 on outside display) and when assembled should be hangared. I believe there are also plans to build a second hangar so yes, she's indoors now and I'm sure will stay indoors.

[T J Johansen]

I have a feeling this aircraft is no longer around. There has been no reports nor photos of it for the last 30+ years, which leads me to wonder what information John Weeks has to warrant his note it is supposedly the last B-23 operating. We know N747M flew in the 1990s, and N777LW was airworthy about the same timeframe. The last action by the FAA on N58091 was in 01/77 when it was most likely revoked due to an undeliverable triannual. Lorenair is a company not active for years, so until any evidence is forthcoming I'd say this is a case of an aircraft still lingering on the USCAR.

There is a member here named Robinson whose father was involved with warbirds out of Miami's corrosion corner. He might know of some old Miami hands who can shed light on this plane if it ever was in the greater Miami area. That's if he reads this thread!

T J

[Chris Brame]

39-34 (c/n 2720) redesignated UC-67 Jan 6, 1942. To instructional airframe at Gravely Point, WA Jun 20, 1943. Subsequent fate unknown, presumably scrapped.

It must have been at Kirtland Field at some point; it can be briefly seen in the 1943 movie Bombardier (filmed at Kirtland) as fire trucks pass it during the B-18A crash landing scene.

[airnutz]

I have a feeling this aircraft is no longer around. There has been no reports nor photos of it for the last 30+ years, which leads me to wonder what information John Weeks has to warrant his note it is supposedly the last B-23 operating.

It's pretty certain that bird is long gone. The only thing recent with the linked John Weeks info is the Dec. 2012 date at the heading of the page. This is an old list with info that has passed on over the years.(Joe Baugher and he notes a "Landings" reference...both have been there at least a decade.)

Several years ago, a little earlier than the beginning of this thread, I found an online reference to LorenAir. They were a medical service with air ambulance capability based out of Brazil and southern Caribbean. Despite my search, I could never find that they were the same outfit or a B-23 attached to them. Doing a websearch for them nowadays, I get nothing for LorenAir but hits for plumbing accesories. Like you noted TJ, she probably melted away in "corrosion corner" over the years.

Edit

[mike furline]

For addition to the WIX survivor page, lets try and get data and several photos of each B-23 that was built. This was generally cut from the Baugher site and then added with pictures from the net. There are great B-23 shots from a Stoltzfus picture album that wont cut and paste. Enjoy.

64 (c/n 2750) redsignated UC-67 Dec 23, 1941. To PanAM Aug 3, 1943. To RFC at McKellar Field, TN 9/3/44. to Pan Am as NR33311 in 1945. Later reregistered as NX33311. To General Electric Co as N33311 in 1954. To Los Angeles Board of Education in 1964. Off registry by Jul 1966. Burned in Los Angeles Ciry College? riots during 1967-68?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/142209609 ... 067210740/

[mike furline]

For addition to the WIX survivor page, lets try and get data and several photos of each B-23 that was built. This was generally cut from the Baugher site and then added with pictures from the net. There are great B-23 shots from a Stoltzfus picture album that wont cut and paste. Enjoy.


44 (c/n 2730) redesignated UC-67 Dec 4, 1941. To RFC Bush Field, GA Jan 20, 1945. To Hueghes Tool Co as NR49811 in 1945, later NC49811 and N49811. In March 1949 (or 1954?) to National Supply Co. In 1964 Madden & Smith Aircraft Corp as N777X. In 1966 to Capital Reserve Corp as N744Q. In 1970 to Wm Dixie Stores as N141W. Cancelled by February 1980.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/142209609 ... 067210740/

[Chris Brame]

39-34 (c/n 2720) redesignated UC-67 Jan 6, 1942. To instructional airframe at Gravely Point, WA Jun 20, 1943. Subsequent fate unknown, presumably scrapped.

It must have been at Kirtland Field at some point; it can be briefly seen in the 1943 movie Bombardier (filmed at Kirtland) as fire trucks pass it during the B-18A crash landing scene.

Still frame from Bombardier: