Fairchild Cornell - RCAF markings

[Vingtor]

This photo is taken at Muskoka airport in Ontario some time between December 1941 and February 1943. Three aircraft in the middle have different roundels and fin markings than the rest, and also 5 digit serial numbers. The others seem to have MAP serial numbers (two letters and three digits). Can anybody explain why the difference?

 

Nils

 

[brewerjerry]

Hi

     maybe something to do with the norwegians ? 

   cheers

      jerry 

Edited March 17, 2023 by brewerjerry
typo etc edit

[Vingtor]

3 hours ago, brewerjerry said:

     maybe something to do with the norwegians ?

 

That was my thought. But the Norwegian Cornells had blue fuselages and Norwegian markings. Possibly some of the aircraft here (the ones with small roundels?) were Norwegian prior to repaint.

 

Norwegian Cornells delivered from late summer 1942 did all have MAP serial numbers. What is the reason for the two types of serial numbers on Canadian aircraft?

 

Nils

[Tail-Dragon]

The aircraft with the smaller roundels have the later style fin flash, so I would assume they are later acquisitions with the later (post 07.42) C1 markings, as opposed to the earlier (pre 07.42) A1 markings.

[RJP]

We are seeing products of two different manufacturers.  The FHxxx and FJxxx serials were built by Fairchild in Hagerstown Maryland USA, the numerically-only serialled machines came from Fleet Aircraft at Fort Erie Ontario, ie on our side of the border.  Those with letter prefixes were to UK contracts, I suppose under Lend-Lease.  The numeral-only serial numbers were supplied under Canadian contracts.

 

The differing sources ought to explain the varied marking standards, roundels and fin flashes.

 

The topic of RCAF serials gets muddy.  Early in the war, many UK-built machines (eg Ansons and Battles) found their way to Canada (after being taken on charge by the RAF and sometimes operational service) for use as trainers.  Many (most?) were re-serialled when they were taken on RCAF charge.

Edited March 17, 2023 by RJP
Sigh, typos.

[Carl V]

 

1.         This is a very interesting picture. It is the first that I have seen to show the RCAF Cornells that were directly transferred to the Norwegians.

2.         To condense a long story to rudimentary proportions, the RCAF during WW II received a total of 1555 Cornells. Of these, 917 were manufactured in Canada by Fleet and were designated Cornell II’s. They were allotted RCAF serial numbers in blocks within the 10,500-10,907 and the 15,001 – 16,050 serial ranges. These were all built to RCAF contracts. The other 648, designated Cornell I's, were built by Fairchild in the US. These were built as lend lease aircraft for the RAF, but as they were RAF contributions to the BCATP, upon delivery they became RCAF aircraft, although, in common with most such RAF contributions, they retained their RAF serials. They were given serials in the EW to FZ range. The above numbers and details may be somewhat in error – sources differ, and the Cornell is not an aircraft that I have investigated in even a casual manner. Indeed, despite being used in such comparatively large numbers, neither the aircraft nor its RCAF service has been given a great deal of attention. Certainly, there were a number of differences between the two major models.

3.         At some time, I believe fairly early in the production run, the RCAF transferred twenty Cornells of both models to the Norwegians. I presume it was simply to replace attrition of the original Fairchild PT-19's. This photo, which I would suspect was taken during the early winter of 1942-43, probably shows these aircraft soon after or, possibly, immediately after delivery. Whether they were subsequently repainted in the distinctive Norwegian blue and yellow I cannot say.

4.         The difference in markings is undoubtedly due to the different specifications issued by the contractors/recipients, i.e. the RCAF and the RAF. From a survey of my comparatively small photo collection, the RCAF retained the earlier i.e. A-type insignia for most of the aircraft's service, although some were definitely repainted.

5.         As a matter of fact, Cornell colour schemes and markings are remarkably consistent during their service. This is in striking contrast to most other BCATP types whose only claim to this type of consistency is that they are consistently inconsistent.

6.         For anybody interested, I have a half dozen or more photos of Norwegian Fairchilds to which you are welcome.

Carl

 

[Vingtor]

Thanks for interesting information!

 

I must correct the date for the photo above. It must have been taken in 1943. The RNAF Training Camp signed the contract with Muskoka Airport in January and by end of March all activities had moved. Furthermore the last Curtiss Hawks were disposed of in June.

 

Between September 1940 and November 1941 the RNAF had received 40 Fairchild M62As (similar to PT-19). These were all Norwegian contracts directly with Fairchild and the aircraft had no Canadian or British (or US) serial numbers. They would presumably have been painted blue and yellow at the factory, although this is not confirmed.

 

The first batch of Lend/Lease Cornells were 10 Fairchild-built PT-26-FAs delivered in August/September 1942. They were thus delivered to Island Airport in Toronto (before the move to Muskoka), and would probably have been repainted there. These had British serials in the FHxxx series.

 

The next Lend/Lease batch was 20 Fleet-build PT-26B-FEs delivered in August/September 1943 - too late for this photo. They had British serials in the FZxxx series. In 1944 another 30 aircraft were delivered. These being a mix of Fairchild and Fleet manufactured.

 

This photo above show aircraft in a mix of markings, and a mix of British/Canadian serial numbers, making it difficult to believe they are from the same production batch. I can count 11 Cornells (10 in one line, and one behind). There might have been more outside the photo.

 

I have found one photo from Toronto showing two yellow Cornells. The serial numbers are unfortunately not visible. They have early (type A) roundels, but in the "British" positions on the wings.

 

Another photo of a repainted aircraft clearly shows signs of the British serial number (FH770) and the type A roundel on the lower wing surfaces.

 

I am starting to believe that the yellow Cornells are not Norwegian after all. There is too much that does not fit in.

 

Nils

[Geoffrey Sinclair]

Probable model designations

PT-19     Ranger L-440-2, lower power engine

PT-19A  Ranger L-440-5, higher powered engine

PT-19B  Ranger L-440-5, higher powered engine, blind flying

PT-23     Continental R-670

PT-23A  Continental R-670, blind flying

PT-26     PT-19 for Lend Lease, higher power engine

PT-26A  Fleet built PT-19A

PT-26B  Fleet built PT-19B

Cornell I RAF/RCAF designation for Fairchild built PT-26.

Cornell II RAF/RCAF designation for Fleet built models

 

Aeronica 477 PT-19A (8 in May/June 1943, then September 1943 to April 1944), 143 PT-19B (June to October 1943), 375 PT-23 (October 1942 to September 1943), total 995

 

St. Louis 44 PT-19A (November 1943 to February 1944), 200 PT-23 (December 1942 to October 1943), 106 PT-23A (October 1943 to February 1944), total 250

 

Howard 200 PT-23, (December 1942 to September 1943 then the final 3 in December), 150 PT-23A (September 1943 to January 1944), total 350.  However PT-23 42-49261 crashed on a test flight and was omitted from production reports and contract listing, making the official total 199 PT-23, overall 349.

 

Fairchild, 40 M-62A (36 for Norway August 1940 to November 1941, 4 for Ecuador in December 1941), 25 M-62B (for Chile April to July 1941), 270 PT-19 (April 1940 to March 1941), 3,176 PT-19A (2,699 February 1941 to April 1943, 212 October and November 1943, 265 February to April 1944), 774 PT-19B (April to October 1943), 1 XPT-23 (June 1942), 2 PT-23 (October 1942), 670 PT-26 (400 April 1942 to April 1943, 270 December 1943 to February 1944), total 4,958.  An additional 5 aircraft with serials 42-14708 to 14712 are reported as PT-19A gifted to the USAAF by Fairchild, they have blank USAAF Delivery Log entries and do not appear in the production reports.

 

Fleet 586 Cornell II (251 built July 1942 to July 1943 [only 9 to end October 1942], RCAF 10524 crashed before delivery and is omitted from the production reports, 335 (listed as cancelled PT-26A by the USAAF) January to June 1944) financed by Canada, remainder of production US Financed, 93 PT-23 (December 1942 to April 1943), 807 PT-26A (March 1943 to January 1944), 250 PT-26B (July says Canada, August says US to February 1944), total 1,736 counting RCAF 10524.

 

The above means the earliest the photograph was taken is mid 1942.

 

The first batch of Fairchild built PT-26 were 42-14299 to 14498 = FH651 to FH850, 42-15330 to 15478 = FH851 to FH999 and 42-15479 to 15529 = FJ650 to FJ700, the second batch were 44-19288 to 19557 = EW341 to EW610, making production in USAAF but not RAF serial order.

 

Production from Fleet could have RAF serial only, RCAF serial only, a USAAF serial only, an RAF and a USAAF serial, an RAF, an RCAF and a USAAF serial.  The USAAF allocated 1,750 serials of which 500 were cancelled, the RAF 1,757 serials of which 365 were cancelled, the RCAF 1,165 serials of which 918 were used.  The RCAF also operated 498 RAF serial versions, giving a total of 1,566 counting RCAF 10524 and 1,565 if it is omitted.

 

RCAF serials used, 251 aircraft from 10500 to 10750, 30 aircraft from 10766 to 10795, 107 aircraft from 10801 to 10907, 290 aircraft from 14381 to 14670, 65 aircraft from 15001 to 15065, 25 aircraft from 15141 to 15165, 25 aircraft from 15191 to 15215, 25 aircraft from 15241 to 15265, 25 aircraft from 15291 to 15315, 25 aircraft from 15341 to 15365, 50 aircraft from 16601 to 16650

 

Fleet production.  RCAF order, 251 Cornell II aircraft, RCAF 10500 to 10750.

USAAF Contract AC-30110

417 PT-26A aircraft, 42-65585 to 66001. RAF FV100 to FV516. RCAF 15001 to 15417. Built Mar 43 to Jan 44

218 PT-26A aircraft, 42-66002 to 66219, USAAF order cancelled but built as RAF FV517 to FV734. Built Mar 44 on?

165 PT-26A aircraft, 42-66220 to 66384. RAF FV735 to FV899. Cancelled

USAAF Contract AC-30109

93 PT-23 aircraft, 42-70864 to 70956. Built Dec 42 to Apr 43

290 PT-26A aircraft, 42-70957 to 71246. RAF FT542 to FT831. RCAF 14381 to 14670. Built May to Oct 43

50 PT-26A aircraft, 42-71247 to 71296. RAF FW881 to FW930. RCAF 16601 to 16650. Built in Nov 43

50 PT-26A aircraft, 42-71297 to 71346. RAF FW931 to FW980. Built in Dec 43

19 PT-26A aircraft, 42-71347 to 71365, USAAF order cancelled but built as RAF FW981 to FW999. Built Mar, Apr 44

98 PT-26A aircraft, 42-71366 to 71463, USAAF order cancelled but built as RAF FX100 to FX197. Built Apr to Jun 44

USAAF Contract AC-40057

157 PT-26B aircraft, 43-36248 to 36404. RAF FZ198 to FZ354. RCAF 10751 to 10907. Built May to Dec 43

73 PT-26B aircraft, 43-36405 to 36477. RAF FZ355 to FZ427. Built Dec 43 to Jan 44

20 PT-26B aircraft, 43-36478 to 36497. RAF FZ699 to FZ718. Built in Jan 44

100 PT-26B aircraft, 43-36498 to 36597. RAF FZ448 to FZ547. Cancelled

Unknown order number: 100 Cornell II aircraft, RAF FZ874 to FZ973. Cancelled

 

Fleet received 4 different orders and at times was delivering against all 4 orders while building each in its serial order.  However the PT-26A from AC-30110 were being delivered from start to finish of PT-26A production, with those from AC-30109 delivered from May 1943 to end of production in parallel with those from AC-30110, each month’s production was a mixture from both orders.  And this may have continued for the second Cornell II batch, comprising the 218 from AC-30110 and the 19+98 from AC-30109.

 

Little Norway transfers (PT-26 built by Fairchild, PT-26B by Fleet.)

10 PT-26 aircraft, 42-14358 to 62 and 42-14414 to 18 (USAAF Delivery Logs do not mention Norway in entries for the second group), FH710-14 direct, 766-70 via RCAF.  1st Group in August 1942, 2nd group accepted by US in September 1942, transferred from RCAF 1 October.

 

20 PT-26B aircraft, 43-36248 to 62, 36293 to 7, FZ198-212, 243-7, RCAF 10751 to 65, 10796 to 10800, first group in August, second in September 1943.

 

1 PT-26B aircraft, 43-36477, FZ427, via USAAF? Accepted 18 January 1944, “Britain to AAF, AAF to Little Norway 28 June 1944”

 

6 PT-26B aircraft, 43-36484, 86, 87, 91, 92, 97, FZ705, 07, 08, 12, 13, 18.  Accepted in January 1944, Little Norway 28 June 1944.

 

11 PT-26 aircraft 44-19288, 289, 290, 292, 295, 496, 504, 512, 516, 528, 534, EW341, 342, 343, 345, 348, 549, 557, 565, 569, 581, 587, accepted December 1943 and January 1944, first 5 via RCAF on 13 July 1944, no date of transfer for the others available, their RAF Serial Register entries are blank.

 

Fleet production of PT-26A by order each month.  PT-26A Orders cut from 507 on 30109 and 800 on 30110 to 390 and 417 respectively in Jan 1944.
Cont. No.    \    30109    \    30110
Mar-43    \    0    \    12
Apr-43    \    0    \    21
May-43    \    40    \    32
Jun-43    \    50    \    40
Jul-43    \    49    \    50
Aug-43    \    51    \    50
Sep-43    \    50    \    50
Oct-43    \    50    \    50
Nov-43    \    50    \    50
Dec-43    \    50    \    56
Jan-44    \    0    \    6
Total    \    390    \    417

Edited March 20, 2023 by Geoffrey Sinclair
Add PT-26A production by order number.

[RJP]

On 3/19/2023 at 8:26 AM, Vingtor said:

 

I have found one photo from Toronto showing two yellow Cornells. The serial numbers are unfortunately not visible. They have early (type A) roundels, but in the "British" positions on the wings.

 

I live in Toronto and that photograph of Island Airport really got to me. 🙂  Can you help settle a friendly argument?

 

I can positively identify every type in the picture, except one. The cabin biplane at lower right - is that the sole Waco SRE used by the Norwegians in Canada?  My sister-in-law says it isn't and I just can't let her get the better of me!

[Vingtor]

That is a lot of information Geoffrey. Thanks!

 

Nils

[Work In Progress]

9 hours ago, RJP said:

I live in Toronto and that photograph of Island Airport really got to me. 🙂  Can you help settle a friendly argument?

 

I can positively identify every type in the picture, except one. The cabin biplane at lower right - is that the sole Waco SRE used by the Norwegians in Canada?  My sister-in-law says it isn't and I just can't let her get the better of me!

 

That is without doubt an E series Waco, and therefore statistically very likely to be the P&W-engined SRE variant regardless of markings and owner. I don't know very much about the Norwegian AF, but if it is known Norway had only one E-series, and it is known that their sole example was an SRE, then that's an SRE. 

Edited March 21, 2023 by Work In Progress

[Vingtor]

7 hours ago, RJP said:

I can positively identify every type in the picture, except one. The cabin biplane at lower right - is that the sole Waco SRE used by the Norwegians in Canada?  My sister-in-law says it isn't and I just can't let her get the better of me!

 

This is definitely the Norwegian Waco SRE. Army Air Arm registration No. 501.

 

Nils

[RJP]

Thanks to both, this has been very helpful.

[Vingtor]

9 minutes ago, RJP said:

Thanks to both, this has been very helpful.

You can tell your sister-in-law that she is wrong... 🙂

 

Nils

[RJP]

I have been married to her sister for nearly half a century.  It is a moment to be cherished for it is unlikely to come again.  🙂