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Bamboo Fleet


Pauly Boy

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 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

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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

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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

51676548989_71094e0e4b_b.jpg

 

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 by JWM
mispelling corrections
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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:

 

3-in-Baguio-MANILA-Philippine-Aerial-Tax

So it looks dark navy blue fuselage and orange wings and tail. Here it is different, blue is light and orange turns red:

patco36w.jpg

 

The WACO machine in Philippines owned by L.R.Nielsen.

Laurie-Nielson.jpg

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

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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...

Kindley-Field-Corregidor-Bright.jpg?w=80

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

 

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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

 

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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

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