Jump to content

Looking for details of American aircraft


Mancunian airman

Recommended Posts

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 ?

 

39035318071_123dd1179f.jpg

 

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

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

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 by PhilHoff
Damn, thorfinn was faster than me
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

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

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

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...