Pauly Boy Posted November 12, 2021 Share Posted November 12, 2021 Early 1942, Japanese invasion of the Philippines. There was an air wing know as the "Bamboo Fleet". Civilian aircraft and crews I believe that flew various missions throughout the islands. One of the aircraft was a Bellanca Pacemaker. Would anyone have any info on this aircraft? Colours, markings, etc. The other 2 aircraft were a "Staggerwing" and a "Waco". Very obscure interest, I know, but an interest none the less Thanks for any help. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWM Posted November 12, 2021 Share Posted November 12, 2021 If you google for a while you may find those things https://www.jstor.org/stable/26276176 https://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/on-a-wing-and-a-prayer-the-“bamboo-fleet”-shuttle-service-to-corregidor/ The actual photo of Bellanca is there, but the quality is really poor... I am also very interested to do Bellanca in such WW2 colors... Regards J-W 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWM Posted November 12, 2021 Share Posted November 12, 2021 After further googling - here is a photo (?!) said to be the right machine https://www.metrocdo.com/2020/10/25/filipino-cinchona-a-key-to-allied-victory-in-the-pacific-during-world-war-ii/ J-W 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalea Posted November 12, 2021 Share Posted November 12, 2021 Interesting article that this photo is sourced from. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alt-92 Posted November 12, 2021 Share Posted November 12, 2021 I'm already going through the footnotes and sources /historygeek 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWM Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 (edited) The Bellanca is said to be named "old number nine". If the photo from my previous post really show THAT airplane it could be interesting what markings (civil registration?) she wear. I magnified the tail Is it "NR 79" ? Or "NA 79"? Two more characters should be there as for registration. Is it "nine" because of "79"? Or it is just a photo of one Ballanca, not THAT one... Perhaps @dora and @Ed Russell (as specialists on Bellanca and Far East WW2, respectively) has any knowledge or only suggestions, on this, pls? What color it was - overall orange??? Regards J-W Edited November 13, 2021 by JWM mispelling corrections 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWM Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 This discussion started some time ago here: @Roger Holden gave the information, that Bellanca belonged before war to Philippines Aerial Taxi Co. So perhaps the colors were like here: So it looks dark navy blue fuselage and orange wings and tail. Here it is different, blue is light and orange turns red: The WACO machine in Philippines owned by L.R.Nielsen. Here is the story https://airlinehistory.co.uk/airline/patco-philippine-aerial-transport-co/ , so the Beech was produced before 1931, suggesting early variant with fixed u/c, as shown on photos in articles quoted previously. Here is adverisement of this TAXI company https://secureservercdn.net/50.62.90.29/44d.353.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Patco-Marketing-Brochure.pdf giving registration NPC-24, black on wing and white on tail with white "Bellanca" below it. There is another photo of Bellanca airplane on page 4 of this brochure but the quality is very poor again. Thats is what I have googled so far... Regards J-W 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vesa Jussila Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 @JWM now you got my brains working. I think not military plane for me, but same plane in taxi service would fit in my collection. Need to start research. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Russell Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 I can't add anything much - between this thread and the BM thread quoted above it seems to be covered. This site has a really poor photo of the PATCO Bellance in the top LH corner. PATCO seems to be one of the ancestors of PAL. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWM Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 15 hours ago, Ed Russell said: I can't add anything much Ed, thanks for fast reply. So the only one photo right from the time (1942) is still that one below, and no other verbal descriptions found so far... If we look at this photo the shapes of machine are disturbed by dark spots. Are they an obstacles between us and her? Or errors on film? Or camo spots? The surface of machine shines, so maybe it retains civil paintings? Regards J-W 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hornet133 Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 I suspect that due to the circumstances (very hastily impressed civil machines in a war emergency) that the machines of the bamboo fleet would have indeed retained their original civil schemes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pauly Boy Posted November 15, 2021 Author Share Posted November 15, 2021 All wonderful info!! Thanks everyone so much! Been looking at this project for some time now(years) and I think now may be the time. In the book "Doom at the Start", it implies the aircraft code was "NPC-9" ? May have to go with best guess on this, markings and paint scheme, and move forward. Thanks again everyone! Paul 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pauly Boy Posted November 15, 2021 Author Share Posted November 15, 2021 One more question. I don't usually do civil aircraft so my question is would I use the Dora Wings Pacemaker or the Sky Rocket kit? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWM Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 From what was said it was skyrocket 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pauly Boy Posted November 17, 2021 Author Share Posted November 17, 2021 One of my favorite topics is the early WWII Pacific campaign. The Philippine invasion in particular. The idea of civil aircraft caught in a war environment is quit interesting. I think to pursue this idea further I may also try a twin engine Beechcraft of PAL. Apparently all red in colour. And I've looked before(without success) for a Ford Tri Motor that may have flown in the Philippines somewhere. Oh well, the search is on. Thanks again to everyone for the help! Paul 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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