Attached is a photo taken by an FP-80 of the 12th Tactical reconnaissance Squadron, based at March Field, sometime in 1947. It’s significant for one very special reason; but it would also be interesting to identify all aircraft seen on the ground.
Over to you.
By: lindoug - 12th September 2008 at 17:00
The photo is dated 6th November 1947. First flight was, I think, the 23rd November. It’s good to read the responses. Thanks.
By: J Boyle - 12th September 2008 at 01:45
Look at the shadows, the “Lib” has two fins. The top Douglas (by the Convair)is a R4D8 and amongst the “lights appears to be a Cessna Airmaster.
John
No, they’re not R4D8s unless the photo is drastically misdated. The prototype DC-3S (R4D-8, C-117D, YC-129) wasn’t flown until June of 1949.
The shadows make the wings look more swept than they are.
Also, after checking a book, I’ll correct my earlier post and say the Lib variant could be a twin-tailed PB4Y-1 (the USN kept a few until 1951…who would have thought that) , but I think the shadow of the tail you pointed out is a ramp stain. I don’t see a corresponding shadow for the other side…if were’re looking at the same aircraft.
Also, while the other plane you mention could certainly be a Cessna Airmaster, I think the odds are more likely that it is a Cessna 190/195. They were brand new in 1947 and more likely to be found at a major airport than the “antique” pre-war Airmaster. The plane to the right of it looks like it could be a Cessna T-50 twin as it seems to have a wide cabin.
I believe the airport is San Diego’s Lindbergh Field, home of Convair.
That would explain the large hangar, any facility large enough to dwarf the XC-99 would have been very rare at that time….and since the XC-99 didn’t fly until November of ’47, if the date of the photo is correct, the plane probably hadn’t flown at that time.
By: John Aeroclub - 11th September 2008 at 22:20
Look at the shadows, the “Lib” has two fins. The top Douglas (by the Convair)is a R4D8 and amongst the “lights appears to be a Cessna Airmaster.
John
By: J Boyle - 11th September 2008 at 22:02
By then the only Liberator variants in service should have been the single-tail PB4Y-2 Privateers.
Based on the photo I can’t tell if they are single tail or not. but it does seem to be painted like a Navy plane.
Anyone with better eyes?
By: Ant.H - 11th September 2008 at 21:09
The big stuff- two R4D/C-47 Skytrains, a PB4Y Privateer (or possibly a Liberator?), a Convair CV-240 (or a similar model) and last but by no means least the one and only XC-99.
Any chance of a higher res version? It’s hard to ID the smaller stuff at this resolution. Looks like there might be two Corsairs(?) toward the bottom of the picture parked by the edge of the apron.
Sign In
September 11, 2008 at 8:14 pm