Fairchild Argus – KK502

The frame of Argus KK502 is now at Pilzen Line- Dobrany in Czech Republic.  Photo taken there on 3/9/19.

Many thanks all for the information provided, especially to Tony for his information on the RAF history , much appreciated.

a photo exists of CN-TZV dismantled in a hanger alongside DH.89A CN-TTO said to be in Germany(undated)

dh83

Interesting and much in common regarding Rapide CN-TTO – this if from “The de Havilland Dragon/Rapide Family” John Hamlin, Air-Britain…

C/no. 6940 RAF serial RL958, regd. G-AKRP 26.1.48…
…regn F-DAFS reserved for Ste Agricolavia, but NTU;
regn CN-TTO 13.2.59 to SA Agricolavia, Rabat;
regd 1965 to H. Carton, Casablanca (Tit Mellil);
regd 1967 to Parachute Club de maroc, Cassblanc, (Tit Mellil);
WFU 1972;
sold to French collector 1974, but remained at Casablanca in deteriorating cndition;
sold 1979 to U.S. syndicate and shipped to Bemerhaven docks, Germany, but owing to dispute over harbour dues was detained in open storage;
sold 1980 to Bob Wirth and stored in a barn in north Germany;
sold 8.8.94 to R.H. Ford, t/a as Fordaire, and moved to Little Gransden for rebuild, 1995.
taxying trials 1.10.98;
regd G-AKRP 15.10.99 to RH Ford of Fordaire Ltd., Sywell, named Nottinghamshire Rose, reflown 6.4.2000 and CoA renewed 27.6.2000;
extant
Tony Broadhurst.

a photo exists of CN-TZV dismantled in a hanger alongside DH.89A CN-TTO said to be in Germany(undated)

dh83

…. which suggests that it expired somewhere in North Africa in the late sixties or early seventies.

Fairchild Argus KK502

Starting with the USAAF Individual Aircraft Record Card..
UC-61K 44-83159 Fairchild, Hagerstown, Md.
Contract No. AC-1679 Final dest. in US: Norfolk, VA.
Britain Pri 1-12 Oct 26, 1944.
Location Organization Recipient Next dest. Date
Hagerstown Fairchild Accepted 9-28 (1944)
Hampton P.E. Delivered 10-13
Norfolk POE Britain Arrived 10-17
” Dep. U.S. 10-23.
P.E. and POE = Port of Embarkation

From KK502’s AM Form 78.
As with most Lend-Lease aircraft used outside the UK the history card details are brief….

ARGUS Mk.III KK502
Ex USA. Shipped in “SS. Loch Dee”
for Algiers for 351 MU. 27.10.44
21.6.45 MAAF Census
USA FLC @ Payne Field 29.8.46 Ser.3/ME. Recaptured.

“SS Loch Dee” departed Hampton Roads on Ocober 22, 1944, as part of Convoy UGS.58 which was bound for Port Said. Departing the convoy “SS Loch Dee” arrived at Algiers on November 11th. (ConvoyWeb.org.uk)

No.351 Maintenance Unit was based at Hussein Dey, Algiers. (“RAF Flying Training and Support Units since 1912”, Sturtivan & Hamiln, Air-Britain.)

MAAF = Mediterranean Allied Air Forces.

USA Foreign Liquidation Corporation handled the sale of surlpus U.S. and Lend-Lease aircraft and equipment.

Payne Field was a US Army Air Field in Eygpt where many Lend-Lease Middle East based aircraft were sold from. I understand it became Cairo’s main airport.

KK502 does not feature in any RAF Form 1180’s (accident reports). Further details of KK502’s service might be found in 351 MU’s Operations Record Books (at Kew) or from a personal log book.

From my database…
C/n. 1120, 44-83159, KK502.
F-OAFY – 30May1950, canx 13Feb1965
CN-TZV – June 1965, CofA exp Dec 1968.
Withdrawn from use at Tit Melli.
N8023E – canx as not taken up 1979
D-ERTY, beleived also NTU and that the aircraft became derelict in Morocco.

I hope this helps and that someone can add something to it.
Tony Broadhurst

I’ve failed to find anything regarding its RAF history. However it is recorded as being returned to the USAAF in 1946. Its subsequent history is recorded as:

F-OAFY 1950-65
CN-TZV 1965-79
N8023E 1979-2011

Its US registration was cancelled in 2011 and it was allocated the marks D-ERTY but did not take these up. Maybe it’s still lurking somewhere in the USA?

Ask the RAF Museum for its record card in RAF service. I recently did this for another Argus and got it within a reasonable delay. It shows the units it served with, although it may not be complete.

I am especially interested in its RAF history please!

I am especially keen to know its RAF history if this is traceable please!!