Mancunian airman Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 I know very little about the markings on American aircraft. On some aircraft I have seen serial numbers on their tails, is the the manufacturers serial ? For example, on the photo here can anybody identify the P38 model and which unit it was with ? There are no squadron codes, new aircraft perhaps ? anything to identify the model and unit would be appreciated Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorfinn Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 US a/c serial numbers were generally allotted by year and munufacturing blocks. A quick search of the serial no. in the photo---which would be (4)17617, with the construction contract allotted in 1941---shows the a/c was a P-38F-1-LO, which ultimately ended up with the 71st FS/1st FG, and was written off after a crash on landing at Goxhill UK on 19 August 1942. Since no unit markings are visible in the photo, it was probably a pre-acceptance or depot shot. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilHoff Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 (edited) Hello, The serial number on the tail is the USAAC/USAAF serial number, minus the first digit of the fiscal year. In your case, the complete serial number is 41-7617. With this serial number and a little ggogling, I found this: http://www.ww.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=165322 And that: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dougsheley/3232711621/ That makes your airplane a P-38F-1-LO, of the 71st Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group. Crashed during landing at Goxhill,England on August 19,1942. Philippe Edited December 13, 2017 by PhilHoff Damn, thorfinn was faster than me 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossiant Oliver Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 Most tail markings are manufacturer's serial numbers. In the beginning of the US's war involvement, most aircraft used a number identification system. When the US started to bomb German targets via England, they adopted the RAF identification system, with two letters to identify a squadron and a third letter to identify the aircraft. This was later adopted for most aircraft in Europe, though in the Pacific they mostly still used the number system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck1945 Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 20 minutes ago, Crossiant Oliver said: Most tail markings are manufacturer's serial numbers... Not quite. As PhilHoff explained, the tail number on USAAC/USAAF aircraft is the service serial number, not the manufacturer's construction number (although the serial number was usually applied by the manufacturer when the a/c was built). USN aircraft usually carried the Bureau of Aeronautics number on the tail in small numbers that are not always visible in photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mancunian airman Posted December 13, 2017 Author Share Posted December 13, 2017 Thanks alot of info from just a serial number . . . What about this one . . . 17580 or 17837 is there a database or have you guys got some reference books ?? thanks again. Long live BRITMODELLER Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorfinn Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 Here's a good place to start: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/usafserials.html Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 To add to the above, during WWII the USAAF were the recipients of reverse Lend-Lease aircraft. Here is a restored Spitfire PR.II painted accordingly. http://imgproc.airliners.net/photos/airliners/6/8/9/2616986.jpg?v=v40 In such circumstances those aircraft and those American built ones intended for the UK but repossessed retained their British allocated serial numbers albeit in some cases presented as above in an ‘American’ style. Here is a repossessed Lockheed Hudson. http://c8.alamy.com/comp/E44P5K/lockheed-pbo1-flt-E44P5K.jpg Trevor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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