diamant Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 Hi Thanks to @Carl V we have a very nice selection of photos of the Cessna Crane used by RCAF during WWII. We are thinking about doing this series shortly. We are trying to do some series of less known aircraft. During my research, I came across this site: BCATP Station Claresholm (bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca) At the middle page appears the following photo: It looks like the cowlings were painted in red. Am I right? If so, is there any possibility to trace the serial number? The only information is that belongs to No. 15 EFTS and the photo reads. ..."23/8/43" Thank you very much in advance Kind regards Santiago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoffrey Sinclair Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 https://caspir.warplane.com/asrc/acn/200000445/ RCAF Cessna Crane, according to the RCAF, 644 Mark I (Jacobs L-4MB) serials 1300, 4000, 7657 to 7836, 7843 to 8202, 8651 to 8750, 9000, 9500 (1300, 4000, 9000, 9500 built from parts). 100 Mark IA (Jacobs L-4MB-1A) 8751 to 8850 but 8797 not delivered. 82 Mark IA (Jacobs L-6MB) FJ200 to 239, FJ248 to 289. 640 T-50 produced in US December 1940 to January 1942 Mark IA were USAAF AT-17A, USAAF Engine designation Jacobs R-775-9 built January to July 1942, RAF serials FJ100 to 289 but FJ240 to 247 to USAAF/Pan American, FJ100 to 199 became RCAF 8751 to 8850, with FJ146/8797 crashed in the US. The original British/Canadian order is reported as 550 aircraft, accepted as 190 AT-17A for Lend Lease, 60 AT-17C, 33 AT-17A and 267 UC-78C for USAAF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brewerjerry Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 (edited) Hi with my old eyes i can make out 15sfts = 15 Service Flying Training School and bottom right serial is marked FJ 127 ? FJ121 ? ( or maybe FJ128 ) cheers jerry ps there is one linked top of reply with same cowlings same unit source https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=x-raw-image%3A%2F%2F%2F83dcf4cc7a40151dcd9c5509632e8eaa418bca8acdbf1a957d6cf319f5a06fde&tbnid=HRVAesz03INMGM&vet=1&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.warplane.com%2Fdocuments%2FFlightlines-September-2017.pdf&docid=V2zBU9HBT6QJWM&w=950&h=628&itg=1&source=sh%2Fx%2Fim%2Fm4%2F2&kgs=21f96e13185eb86f&shem=trie#imgrc=QgEmn9-a7NtW3M&imgdii=HRVAesz03INMGM Edited March 4 by brewerjerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diamant Posted March 4 Author Share Posted March 4 Hi Geoffrey Thank you very much for the link. It is great. !!! 17 minutes ago, brewerjerry said: 15sfts = 15 Service Flying Training School Yes, agree. 3 hours ago, diamant said: The date looks reads 23-8-42 (not 43) and the serial number should end in 0, 2, 3, 8 or 9 (as per the photo I posted). 19 minutes ago, brewerjerry said: Great photo. Thanks!!. I will try to figure out the serial of the one I posted, if not I will go for this one. Cheers Santiago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diamant Posted March 4 Author Share Posted March 4 I have checked all the accidents of the 15 Service Flying Training School which appears on the site. I selected the 15 SFTS with a serial number ending in 0, 2, 3, 8 or 9 with an accident like the ones that appear on the photo). Unfortunately, the date does not match. The options so far are these: https://caspir.warplane.com/crashcards_pdf/0010/00000001.pdf https://caspir.warplane.com/crashcards_pdf/0013/00000166.pdf https://caspir.warplane.com/crashcards_pdf/0020/00000190.pdf https://caspir.warplane.com/crashcards_pdf/0010/00000012.pdf https://caspir.warplane.com/crashcards_pdf/0020/00000199.pdf I will check more carefully again Cheers Santiago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brewerjerry Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 (edited) Hi 23-08-42 FJ 122 cat B 3 miles west of airfield, 1mile south of stavely at 15:35 hrs Sgt W Campey captain, other occ Sgt C.B.Bean A/C struck an aerial while low flying, attempted to return on one engine, but were unable to maintain height and crashed, no one was injured from claresholm 15SFTS diary online at bomber command museum of Canada archives cheers jerry Edited March 4 by brewerjerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diamant Posted March 4 Author Share Posted March 4 Hi Jerry That is awesome!!!. So, If the date on the photo is 23-8-42 (not 100% sure since my vision is not very good) then we have a winner.. Thank you very very much!!! The last thing is to know the serial number apart from the FJ122. I mean the big numbers on the fuselage since the FJ122 should have been applied smaller. Cheers Santiago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brewerjerry Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 (edited) Hi might be painted like this one ? link to page with diary https://www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca/bcatpalberta.html cheers jerry Edited March 4 by brewerjerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diamant Posted March 4 Author Share Posted March 4 I just found what you mentioned here: https://www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca/bcatpalbertaschooldiaries/diary_claresholm_15sfts.pdf 23-8-42 #15 S.F.T.S. possible flying time12 hours 1300 Flying commenced until 1730 hours Visibility limited by bush fire smoke until 1600 hours #2 F.I.S. possible flying time 12 hours 1330 Flying commenced until 1730 hours Accident: Category "B"; site: 3 miles West, 1 mile south of Stavely, Alta., time: 1535 Hours. Aircraft: Crane FJ.122 - Port Engine, Mfg. No. 11165, R.C.A.F. No. 23944 Starboard Engine, Mfg. No. 11166, R.C.A.F. No. 23945 GB1147945 Sergeant Campey,W., was captain of A/C FJ.122. Other occupant was R.122343 Sergeant Bean C.B. The A/C struck an aerial while low flying. They attempted to return to base on one engine, but were unable to maintain height and crashed. No one was injured. Airframe and both engines seriously damaged At the beginning I thought that it could not be this aircraft since the photo didn´t look "seriously damaged" but then I realized that the second engine couldn´t be seen. The only way you can see it from that angle is if it was broken. So, I think that you are right. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelldoc Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 It's an easy build: https://www.flickr.com/photos/21603181@N08/50870607731/in/dateposted/ modelldoc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 BrewerJerry's picture has a serial RCAF 8719., rather than an RAF serial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brewerjerry Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 (edited) Hi As in post #2 by geoffrey the crane aircraft either carried rcaf numbers or raf serials depending on when they were delivered as an extra, i was once told the cowling colour indicated the type of internal fit of the aircraft for example radio trainer had one colour, nav trainer another, etc, i am not sure how correct that is/was tho cheers jerry Edited March 4 by brewerjerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
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 accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now