During WWII, at least 120 U. S. civilian Beech Staggerwing owners had their aircraft “impressed” into military service as UC-43s (which, I must admit, puts me in mind of American merchant seamen being impressed into the RN during the 18th century).
Does anybody know how this worked? Were the owners paid per hour flown for the use of their aircraft? Was their any kind of guarantee that these military utility aircraft would be returned to civil service in anything resembling their original condition? Or was this just an aviation equivalent of what we call “Eminent Domain”?
By: J Boyle - 2nd April 2016 at 01:12
As I understand it, private aircraft types were essentially bought…no doubt aided by the seller knowing he wouldn’t be flying for the duration. And not all were impressed, a friend had prewar Staggerwing (as opposed to one built to a military order) that had no military history.
As far as being paid by the hour, that might have happened with commercial aircraft.
However, in the very limited amount I’ve been able to read on this subject, well known historian and author Peter M. Bowers wrote that at the end of the war, an airline with right-side boarding procedures (sounds like a DC-3) received left side door aircraft. He also reported that airlines might have given-up P&W powered a.c. (again, it sounds like a DC-3) only to get Wright-powered a.c. back.
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April 1, 2016 at 11:21 pm