Fairchild Argus I-MARC

I guess we shall never know the whole truth, but I am prepared to accept the history of I-MARC as I described it above, and VH-JCG as given. I think there were 2 parallel cn series for the different variants. As to I-MARK, I have not heard of it. I-MARK was an SF-260 from 1969. http://www.siai-marchetti.nl/sf260/2-35.html

Hi Laurence. My info is from Aviation Databases Global, which is usually very reliable, but Argus identities are a real minefield! The Australian F24 (currently VH-JCG) does also have c/n 416, but it’s a series R-9. It was impressed into the RAAF in 1939, and never served with the USAAC. 43-14452 c/n W41A-416, was a series UC-61A. 43-14451 was c/n W41A-415. I wonder if there is also confusion between I-MARK, and I-MARC?

Tony

So, anyone with news of VH-JCG?

Still under restoration by John and Chris Gallagher (and hence the rego) who have 4 Fairchild projects in their collection.

Where did you find those data flyingant? I saw on Joe Baugher’s site that he has 43-14478 as being FS535, but I can’t see it becoming I-MARK. He also has cn 416 as 43-14452-VH-ACV-A36-1-VH-BVF. I wrote to Joe about I-MARC and he couldn’t help further. ADF Serials give cn R9-416 43-14451 as the Australian one which later became VH-JCG. Worldmilitary have 43-14478 as cn 442, FS561. So there is a lot of confusion with Argus identities, but for I-MARC I have a copy of the Italian registration certificate, as I said above.

I think there’s a problem here. 43-14452 c/n W41A-416 was scrapped. 43-14478 c/n W41A-442 became FS535 with the RAF, and then I-MARK in 1949.

He prefers to wait until he finishes the restoration, hopefully later this year, before publishing photos. I can say, though, that the restoration looks beautiful.

I am just checking with the owner if I can post photos of his restoration.

Phantastic news Laurence!

Great news Gary, sorry Laurence! Happy you could get a result for your questions and the news is good. Will be looking for a photo in the distant future!

For those who helped with my identification of Argus I-MARC a few weeks ago, I have some news. I am in contact with its new owner who is restoring it in Italy. He just sent me copies of the “Certificato di navigabilità” which clearly states c/n 416, and previous identity of MM 43-14452. A note has been added to the certificate to state ex USAAC 43-14452 and FS535. There is also a letter dated 2010 from the Department of the Air Force with the record card that the aircraft was received on 13.2.1943, sent to Newark, NJ on 27.3.1943, thence by sea to North Africa where it served with the Twelfth Air Force there and in Italy. Surplus on 11.12.1945. I wonder if FS535 was allotted but not taken up, as it seems to have next gone to the Italian Air force, and then to I-MARC. The first entry on the inspection sheet is 28.3.1957, in Venice.

Thank you, Tony. I believe that my colleague has gone down the Trait d’Union road and that already he has more information on this Gull than appears in David Gearing’s book (or any of the other Percival Aircraft tomes). Do you know of a researcher who is a regular habitué of the Wichita museum?

avion ancien,
I am sorry, my resources relate only to Fairchild registrations and came from a private collection.

I have heard of the Kansas archive to which you refer but have had no dealings with it.

Occasionally when I apply to the FAA for the records of a long cancelled PT-19, or whatever, the reply I receive from Oklahoma City states the records I require are “missing” or typically, “were part of a batch destroyed in 1962”.

Possibly, the best option would be to find a researcher who visits the Kansas archive himself. What you describe is typical of the staffing problems of many archives today. If the documents are not on-line, you only have have the option of either hiring a your own researcher or going yourself. There is I understand a French equivalent of Air-Britain, Trait d’Union, which might be able to help.

Air-Britain published “On the Wings of A Gull” by David Gearing recently. I believe it includes a complete Percival production list though I do not know whether that may contain the information your colleague needs.
Tony Broadhurst

As far as possible the identities used were extracted from original UK and US registration records

Tony, can you say where these US registration records are now located and how easy it is to access them? A colleague is trying to trace information regarding a Percival Gull that is supposed to have been registered in the USA c.1952. He tells me that the FAA do not now retain records going back this far; that in 2004 their historic records were transferred to a museum in Wichita, Kansas; and the museum, due to an imbalance between human resources and demands for information, currently are unable to supply information from such records. It occurs to me that records for US registered Arguses (Argi?) probably date to around the same time and so your experience might assist my colleague.

All: wouldn’t it be great if my wife could be reunited with the Argus she flew in in 1954?! She must have been inspired by that first flight, as we still fly together.

It would be absolutely fantastic! Very best of luck 🙂

Tony: thanks for those details. I am hoping that I-MARC still exists in the hands of Sandro Pagliarin. I might be able to go and see it even!

Mothminor: yes, I hope it bears fruit.

All: wouldn’t it be great if my wife could be reunited with the Argus she flew in in 1954?! She must have been inspired by that first flight, as we still fly together. I think her next flight in a light aircraft was with me in a Chipmunk.

I’m rebuilding an UC-61A nc 416 s/n 43-14452… Thank you Sandro Pagliarin”[/I] Nov 15, 2005

That’s really good news!

Laurence,
With the reply from wieesso you now have the correct answer. However as I was about to answer your query myself I would like to add the following:

24W-41A/UC-61A, c/no. 416, 43-14452 had no RAF serial no. allotted and it was assigned to the 12th Air Force. When 43-14452 was delivered the 12th A.F. was probably still based in Tunisia, moving to Italy in December 1943. The USAAF record card shows it declared “Excess” on 11th May 1946.

There has been much confusion over the identities of Fairchild Argus for many years and the listings used on the Baugher site, and elsewhere, reflect this. The fundamental problem was that it was originally assumed the RAF deliveries began with c/no. 208 whereas in fact “earliest” was c/no. 210. Additionally there been some confusion with which UC-61/61As were allotted RAF serials. There are also some examples of pre-war and post-war civil Model 24s that have been incorrectly described as Argus.

For those interested the Fairchild Argus the July edition of AMCAR Quarterly included details of the civil registrations of Military Surplus Argus. This listings reflects the current understanding of Argus history. I should add here that I played a part in compiling the AMCAR list and that our data is still not complete. As far as possible the identities used were extracted from original UK and US registration records. Many previously published civil registers and a number of on-line historical registers included conflicts of identity and date – some of which remain unresolved.
Tony Broadhurst

No I hadn’t seen that, Wieesso! I’ll contact him.
Thanks for the PM!

Laurence,
have you already noted this:
“Ciao, I’m rebuilding an UC-61A nc 416 s/n 43-14452 and I must change same CS-2170 ball bearings of the ailerons, elevators, ect.. Where I can buy these or equivalents bearings? If the size of bearing weren’t available, can suggest the solution or indicate same p/n for replace it?
Thank you Sandro Pagliarin” Nov 15, 2005
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/fairchildclub/conversations/topics/4259

PM sent!

edit1. Sandro Pagliarin is member of “Rarae Alae – flying museum” at Grosseto

Good idea, Mothminor. So, anyone with news of VH-JCG?

I am also checking to see if I-MARC is still around. Galliate is not THAT far from where I live!