American Main/Tail wheel identification

The wheels were found around RAF Lichfield which had a hand in breaking up many thousands of aircraft. I suggested the B-17 as it was 1 of only 2 American types that I definitely know were broken up there. Having said that 51MU did handle all types for dispersal so perhaps their stores were sold during the same period? this could put in Boston/Martlet perhaps?

They also have 4 wheels that were used for trailers that in another thread have been identified as Oxford. 2 are quite bad and 2 are reasonable….

Grumman Martlet

B-17 tailwheel tyres are 26″ diameter.

Bendix catalogue shows Grumman Wildcat F4F, Martlet in UK service, as 26 X 6 Main Wheel size, and there is a PAIR….
but
The ebay picture is a visual match for Model G3 Smooth Contour Nose or Tail Wheel
so
It’s a Goodyear manufactured 26 inch standard wheel that could have been used on a Martlet or B-17 or a few other things, maybe….

Please note the catalogue states that is wheels have been stored for longer than 60 days new grease may be required.
I can send the lucky buyer a parts list for G3 type wheel.

There you go tb…:)

Definitely not Mustang. The main wheels on the Mustang were/are 27″ and the tail wheel 12 1/2″. The eBay wheels are 26″ SC (Smooth Contour), which is large for a tail wheel.
Possible candidate could be B-17 tail wheel, or how about Boston nosewheel?

B-17 tailwheel tyres are 26″ diameter.

I think you mean these wheels?

http://r.ebay.com/5JQmxR

Reason they suspect they may be Mustang is the 104 at the start of the part number which is common to later P-51B’s.

I dont actually have them but went to look. I was looking at some potential typhoon main wheels and didnt have the chance to look closely at these. They definitely look tail wheel over mains and the size of them leads me towards b-17, knowing the american types broken up on the airfield. Will see if I can get a pic but in the mean time anyone have a close up of b-17 tail wheel to hand?

Bendix wheels

Would anyone identify what aircraft wheels with the following serial number would be off?

Serial No: 38276
1042N1254

Fitted with BF Goodrich Tyres (no tread) and what looks like 8 ‘spokes’. They look more tail wheel than main. The only American aircraft I know were broken up on the local airfield were B-17 and B-24 (all RAF Lend Lease) so would this make any sense?

My understanding is that early in the piece, the loss of raw rubber supplies from Malaya generated a focus on standardizing parts, particularly wheels and tyres, across all aircraft. This was particularly taken up in the US, with the creation of the Army Navy (AN) coding system. Bendix wheels of similar type thus became common to Kittyhawks through the Mustangs, and no doubt Liberators to Invaders. It certainly made sense for battlefield maintenance.

Most Bendix wheels I have seen have a progressive series of serial numbers arranged on each spoke around the axle : drawing/design number, casting number (subcontractor), heat treatment number, so the manufacturing history of each wheel can be read. There should be a range of numbers on your wheel. Most cast wheels are 6 spoke or 9 spoke.

The size of the tyre should help to narrow down the application. I am still getting my head around the nomenclature of tyre sizing, if it is a UK manufactured tyre it is tyre (width : rim), if it is a US manufactured tyre, as no doubt a BF Goodrich tyre might be, it may be another dataset. A photo and the tyre dimensions will help.

I have at my left a Bendix parts catalogue printed for the US Navy, which will match some wheel codes with US naval aircraft. Whenever I go to an airshow, I always look at the wheels to try an decode US wheel logic, with the conclusion that the sensible approach outlined in paragraph 1 is the logic. Your wheel and tyre most likely fitted a number of types.

In honour of the Lend Lease scheme which saved the United Kingdom, the organisation of an alternative South American rubber supply through the United States, the convoys over the Cruel Sea, The Yankee matrilineal genius of Sir Winston Churchill and the 30% of gross revenue of the United States government which was diverted towards the Marshall Plan post war to ensure a lasting peace, I have chosen to spell american as American. God Bless the United States of America !