Warbird Information Exchange

Hi all,

I haven't been on here in ages. I hope everyone is well.

I've been doing some research into a specific Howard DGA and have a question that I was hoping the WIX brain-trust could help with.

I'm researching Howard DGA-15 serial #896. It is currently registered in Canada as C-FNWK. With a bit of digging, I also found that it was previously registered in the USA as N1212M.

In my research, I also found that it had a US military serial: 44925

I'm trying to piece together the most complete history possible for this airplane, but it's proving rather tricky.

MY QUESTION:

Is anyone aware of resources online that could tell me whether this DGA was built for the US military, or whether it was built and delivered to a civilian owner, and then later pressed into military service?

And, regardless of the answer to the above question, I'd also like to know if there are resources I could search to find out more about the airframe's history while it was in military service. For instance, where it was stationed, and what its main role was? I understand that the military used DGA's for personnel transport, instrument training, and air ambulance, etc. and would love to know how this specific DGA was used.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

David McIntosh
Vancouver, BC

First problem I stumble into... On Joe Barger's website http://www.joebaugher.com/ there is no 44925 as in:

41-44925
42-44925
43-44925
44-44925 (or 44-925)

C2j

That's because it's a Navy BuNo

44925 is listed as an NH-1, thus designated as an instrument trainer.

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

44923/44934 Howard NH-1 Nightingale
Howard DGA-15P MSN 894/905 acquired by Navy
49923 (MSN 894) registration as N1886 cancelled Mar 8, 1971
49924 (MSN 895) currrent as N1202M
44925 (MSN 896) to civil registry as N1212M, then to CF-NWK in 1961. Changed to C-FNWK in 2002, current
44927 (MSN 898) to C-GYWF Apr 1977, cancelled Nov 22, 1982. Current as N68189.
44928 (MSN 899) registration as N67801 cancelled Sep 5, 2012.
44929 (MSN 900) (Instrument Flight Instructor's School) w/o in landing accident at NAS Atlanta, GA Jun 5, 1945
44930 (MSN 901) registration of n9684H cancelled Sep 18, 2009.
44931 (MSN 902) registration as N97893 cancelled Sep 12, 2012
44932 (MSN 903) registration of N1328M cancelled.

Brilliant! Thank you so much everyone!

Thank you C2J, thank you Dan K, and thank you Snake45.

This information is very helpful!

Cheers,

David McIntosh
Vancouver, BC

So close.....
I believe that your NH-1 was built specifically for the US Navy during the war.

http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contribut ... s/3318.htm


https://www.sedonalegendhelenfrye.com/1954.html


You can request a copy of an Aircraft History Card from NASM for free. It used to take only a couple of weeks to receive. Covid may have stopped or slowed things down for now.
https://airandspace.si.edu/collections/ ... tory-cards
Simply type in your request here,
https://airandspace.si.edu/archives-research-request (As simple as this "Requesting a copy of the Aircraft History Card for US Navy Howard NH-1 BuNo 44925.")

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45-47=-2

You can also get the records from its time in the civilian world in the US from FAA.gov, the CD is I believe $10 US. Last US owner was in Minnesota:
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquir ... rTxt=1212M
(Scroll down to "Deregistered Aircraft")



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http://www.biplanerides1.com/

I found the negative for this shot in the trash at an estate sale many years ago; from the rest of the stuff I found it was taken in southern California, probably in the late '60s. Anyone recognize it?

ETA: Found a shot that seems to match; N5553N/msn 978:
http://www.flugzeuginfo.net/acimages/ho ... ying12.jpg

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

Thank you again folks! Those photos are great Mike Furline!

And, Baldeagle, I've also dug up what I could on the FAA N-number registry, but is it possible to dig deeper to see if there is anything beyond Don Ness owning it? Did the airframe have other owners before being exported to Canada?

And Chris Brame, thank you for the colour photo of the NH-1. It's quite the striking paint scheme.

Thanks all!

Cheers,

David McIntosh
Vancouver, BC

http://aircraft.faa.gov/e.gov/ND



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http://www.biplanerides1.com/

The CD baldeagle is talking about will give you all registration and certificate of airworthiness info ever submitted on that registration. I think it was $25 when I got the one for my airplane, it was only registered in the us in 1955-56, still interesting.

Good luck