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On a regular basis people sent me photos, to share their enthusiasm for vintage airliners or to illustrate a question. These photos have been lingering in a scrapbook or a discarded box somewhere and/or probably wouldn't find their way to Online-use or publication. To prevent them from getting lost, with permission of the sender, I like to share them on this page. Photos already online (personal websites, airliners.net, jetphotos.net, etc) are not meant to be included here. With the ever growing popularity of Social Media (Flickr, Facebook, Instagram) the barrier has become much lower for people to share their photographs or scans of slides; imperfection to post aviation images is no longer an issue. I noticed a decline in requests for publication on my website (a decline I welcome, as I struggle with the workflow) on my 'Guest Pages', so now some of these images shared below will be copied from Facebook & Flickr by me. For preservation of their historic value as I see it; always with proper credit to the photographer, of course! Btw, while I am on social media, picking up on aviation news, I use it mainly for other interests while my website remains my main focus to share my interest in vintage aviation. |
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Latest addition to my C-119 Dossier (page 3) is a historic photo sent to me by Gordon Tatro.
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At some point it seems there were 2 different DC-6s having worn (though only one probably was officially registered) Colombia's registration HK-1776. Which was which and what happened to them? One, the original (c/n 45499), is thought to have moved to Mexico (impounded in the early 1990s) and ended with La Fuerza Aérea Mexicana (FAM) as ETP-10025 and put to good use. The other one, HK-1776(2) is more elusive in terms of pictures, was decorated with tailnumber HK-1776W or HK-1766-W and the 'W' suffix had probably been removed when it made test flights in 1999 and subsequently crashed (damaged beyond repair).  The contributions on my Tangled Histories of HK-1776 and HK-1776W seems to lead to the conclusion that #1 was DC-6 c/n 45499 and #2 crashed in Colombia in 1999 was DC-6 c/n 45220 (ex/N95BL, which was last seen in 1991 and 'vanished'...). |
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Olivier van Gorp sent me these photos of a Lisunov Li-2, taken on 18Jun2011 at Belgrade airport, Serbia.
The Lisunov Li-2, originally designated PS-84, was a license-built version of the Douglas DC-3. It was produced by Factory #84 in Moscow-Khimki and, after evacuation in 1941, at TAPO in Tashkent. [-Wikipedia] But this aircraft is often referred to as an Li-3, for the Yugoslav Air Force modified the Li-2 with Pratt & Whitney R-1830 engines; however 'Li-2' was never an official designation. And while this YugAF 7011 has been confirmed of having P&W powerplants, some 'Li-3' aircraft were seen equipped with Wright Cyclone engines. Here is a link to an image on Airliners.net in 2003 and in 2014. The airframe seems to have been repainted at some point for a film shoot. Time and weather brought up a confusing amount of markings as Olivier's photo clearly shows. I looked up the location and this is probably now part of the 'Belgrade Aeronautical Museum'; here is a 30Jan2017 screendump from Google Earth: |
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Neville Webb sent me this nice B&W version of this photo, depicting the remains of Convair RB-36H-25-CF Peacemaker
51-13721; details can be found here NEVILLE WEBB |
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Graham Robson followed up on a thread about the identity of these DC-3 remains on a trailer..
See for more on C-117D N9663N my gallery Searching for Identities... Graham also sent a series of images of C-123s 54-0661 & 54-0706; see his Gallery on this website for more pics.  C-123 40661 |
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Received news from Vancouver Island; Dirk Septer wrote me some big DHC-3 parts were noted of an Ethiopian AF Otter. Other stuff may be in that big blue container...  Updates will appear in due course on Dirk's gallery on this website. |
The news of C-119 48-0352 being moved recently for preservation from Edwards AFB to the Dover AFB Museum prompted Del Mitchell to send some images he has taken over the years, while 48-0352 was in Edwards' desert storage.
 C-119 80352 basking in a glorious sunset at Edwards AFB. For more on this vintage military transport, as well as a few more photos by Del, visit my C-119 Dossier, page 3. |
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Phil Brooks did me the leasure of sending these vintage aviation, a sequence of images documenting the arrival of DC-3 'American Flagship' NC17335.
Phil wrote me: "A friend just gave me these photos, received from the wife of a deceased friend of his. His friend didn’t take the pictures, so the photographer is unknown. Based on the fact that other photos in this group were at Indianapolis International Airport, and of course visual clues, I can say with some confidence that’s where these three were taken. This aircraft was delivered in 1937, and damaged beyond repair in 1948, so there’s the date range! Accident details on h aviation-safety.net. I will also put them on the Indiana Aviation History Facebook page." |
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Wayne Stadler published a few months ago a video on YouTube about hiking a trail near Tofino on Vancouver,Island,B.C. to a wrecked Canso Bomber...
I don't know about you, but I find that inspirational, might do that hike myself one day! More details of this aircraft and the event that lead to this crash can be found on my page Abandoned Wrecks of the North |
John H. 'Beechbuzz' posted (jan.2017) on the Beech 18 Yahoo forum the happy news that he was the new owner of N7179C; he
attached this image a.o.
I checked FAA's N-inquiry page for this Beech AT-11 'Kansan' and found its registry had expired; here is some of the data still there: This website http://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=31378 showed more of its history: |
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Gordon Macadie sent me this in the opening days of 2017, he wrote: "I took these images of BuNo. at Prestwick and I hope they are of interest to you. It was certainly in beautiful condition then and so sad to see it now (see further down this page -Webmaster)."
"The night shot of the flight deck shows the leather bound control yoke, and something that may not be immediately obvious: the column is actually carpeted!" Further down this page you'll see an item on 'N427D', the present situation of this C-118, remains survive at Marion-Zuehl airfield, Texas. |
In the dec.2016 issue of Scramble magazine I noticed an interesting news bit, and found the mystery very appealing!
 Screendump from wiki.scramble.nl/index.php/File:Xiaotangshan_sep16_C-47.jpg Mid-2016 this as yet unidentified ex/ Zimbabwe AF C-47 arrived at the Xiaotangshan Air Museum Alexandre Avrane offered:"This appears to be in the original Zimbabwe camouflage. Each C-47 was painted differently so all is needed is a pictures gallery for comparison..."
Found on www.dc-3.co.za/dc-3-in-africa/zimbabwe.html remarked "Seven ex Air Force of Zimbabwe C-47 Dakotas were put up for auction in September 2011. On 20Oct2017 I received a jubilent email sent by John Austin-Williams! |
 In the Dec.2016 issue of Scramble magazine I read that here at Aosta (Italy) airport (N45.73960 E7.35765) a resident (dismantled) DC-6 will be restored in a role of restaurant! I post this GE image as a reminder for periodic checks! The DC-6 concerned would be ex/ Italian AF mm61922 (c/n 43216, line nbr 165) and the person behind this initiative is a local gasstation owner. I hope it works out! |
On 01Jan17, on Google Maps, I came aross a 'DC-3 sighting' at Mallards Landing,GA.
Aad van der Voet, Roger Botting and Roy Blewett all chipped in with information: Latest location, Jan.2017 as per Google Earth data, of C-47 N514AC ('45-927/EN').
Btw, since Jan.2017 another vintage plane has found a new home at Mallards Landing: Beech E18S N380 (c/n BA-42). Update (Dec.2019) on my Photos by Friends & Guests #59 on location and owner. |
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Dirk Septer sent me this photograph in Oct.2016 but for the date of the image we have to go back decades, I am assuming something to do with the Biafran Airlift, an international humanitarian relief effort during the period 1967-1970.
Other vintage airliner images by Dirk Septer, HERE.. Ron Mak sent me the scan of his image from the original negative to proof he was the original photographer of More of Ron Mak's vintage propliners on my website see HERE.. |
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Mario Richard sent me this photo, he wrote: "During my holidays at Gran Canaria this year I saw this fine DC-7C parked at El Berriel Aerodrome (GCLB). This photo was taken on 01Oct2016. The aircraft has a long history. It was first delivered to Swissair as HB-IBP in 1958. It is the last built DC-7! Sold to SAS on 06Jan1962 as SE-CCH. Afterwards went to JAL as JA6306 and later to Spantax as EC-BBT. Now in the colors of Binter (sadly..)."
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Jacques Hemet did me the great pleasure of sharing this historic print of a French Ju-52, somewhere in Africa.
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Dirk Septer sent me this image recently; he wrote: "It's not too often (any more) that you can get seven DC-3/C-47 aircraft in one shot. Here is a photograph I took at SJU (Luis Munoz International Airport, San Juan, Puerto Rico) on 12Apr13. It shows seven of former Four Star Air Cargo Dakotas waiting disposal after this operator went bankrupt in 2009. I'm wondering where they all ended up?"
I scanned the fleet information of JP Airline Fleets 2006/07 (the last printed edition I have, my collection dates back to the 1980s though I really don't know why I hang on top them..?). While the information offers 6 DC-3's and the photo shows 7, I think it is a good start. I compared the above tailnumbers with data on ATDB.aero online database and (..) is info from my own database. Since N132FS may have been elsewhere at the time of Dirk's photo, we have another candidate for the above grounded Gooney Birds: N783T cn4219: derelict at SJU-The Luis Muñoz Marín IAP. Airliners.net has a 2015 image. And no.7 is probably N87T cn6148: scrapped @SJU, cockpit section purchased 3-2015 by Mark Bruce and shipped to Berlin,MA. An image of N87T in 2008 is published on Dirk Septer's page. Michael Prophet published on his website an update which includes images of DC-3 cockpits for Mark Bruce. Btw, who is Mark R. Bruce and why is he so interested in DC-3s? EMAIL See also www.warhistoryonline.com/guest-bloggers/hans-wiesman-wwii-built-dc-3-fleet-in-puerto-rico-soon-to-be-trashed-for-making-soda-cans.html
Dirk Septer's gallery on my website HERE.. and HERE.. See Photos by Friends & Guests #54 for a photo update by Gerben Groothuis of N138FS operating with/for |
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Best to keep memorials within own borders where we know the dead will be respected. |
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It is always very gratifying in my opinion when I get response to pages made many years ago! Bob Anderson wrote me (15Nov16):"I took a picture of a B-17 at Tulare,CA when I was training in KC-135s at Castle AFB, in December 1966. My wife took this photo of me and Boeing B-17 'Preston’s Pride' when we were on our way to L.A., on Christmas leave that month. As you can see, at that time 'Preston’s Pride' was surrounded by a chain link fence, very likely the same one mentioned by 'Ron' on your website, USA 2008. I am glad to learn that, after nearly fifty years the old B-17 still survives."  |
While browsing my database (16Nov16) for random updates I came across, while googling, images that served as an update for a
Douglas DC-3 (C-47D 43-49403, c/n 26664/15219) wreck near Gustavus, Glacier Bay in Alaska.  The plane crash was on the 23Nov1957, four people died, seven survived. Crash report on Aviation Safety Network. Interested in more wrecks scattered in the Arctic North? Visit my Abandoned Wrecks of the North |
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Chris Spear published this on Facebook, on the WIX page. That is he published an image of this C-118 and another
single engine plane, both without identification of type, owner, or location. As is my objection to most items published on social media. But I was fascinated by the C-118 and started a search on the internet... 
Joe Baugher's website showed a nice detailed history: This website has besides the history also a 2015 'walk through' of the interior, which is quite remarkable: There is probably another, complete, DC-6 there- N578AS (DC-6A c/n 43681): "Seen @Oakland 06Aug95 for shows in old United c/s still owned by Nighthawk Radial Reminiscence Preservation Group; during early'98 intended for film but restoration stopped by then (lack of funding); in
Jan97 mix up with 44650 seen Stinson Field,TX; reported
05Mar05 as mostly bare metal in service with Nighthawk (repo as operator);
27Jan07 noted as parked at Marion Zuehl AP,TX." Nighthawk Air Systems also operated N444SQ (DC-6B c/n 45320), of which I have an image on Bill Hill propliners gallery, as SU-ANO of United Arab Airlines. The front section has been preserved in California, see my visit to Western Aerospace Museum in 2008. The Facebook thread what got this all started mentioned & identified several other aircraft located at Marion-Zuehl airfield, e.g. Robert Chandler wrote: "I am the former owner of the 1944 Howard DGA-15P , N5553N. I flew it for 25 years. I sold it in 2015 to the owner of NIGHTHAWK, an excellent guy." While googling I came across this post of 128427 in better days: Further up this page you will see several images taken and shared by Gordon Macadie, also of visits to PIK - Prestwick. |
Brian Murray noticed the C-119 dossier on my website and contributed this image.  C-119 234 during 1950s somewhere in Germany Brian wrote:"Hi, thought you might be interested in this photo, taken somewhere in Germany late 1950s friend named Lee used to work on maintenance crew on this aircraft." |
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Someone steered me to this website, proclaiming a DC-3 was 'recently' found in Siberia with hopes of recovery and perhaps even restoration. But I had seen it before, it dates from 2012. As an afterthought I decided to add it here anyway, with a link to the website, as the many images are excellent and this wreck is easily overlooked and even forgotten! And then Michael Prophet (Vintage Aviation Pictures) updated me that this C-47 had indeed been airlifted out this year! The website provided the following details on its history: "Using the tail number 232892, 'Live Journal' user 'nordroden' was able to dig up some information on the history of this airframe. This Douglas C-47-DL, serial number 42-32892, factory (msn or c/n) 9118 was delivered to the US Air Force on 24Feb1943. It was then handed to the Russian's Air Force on 12Mar1943 under the lend-lease programme, where it was given the ID 'USSR-H-328'. It was sent to the 7th Arctic Aviation Regiment of the 1st Air Division. According to order number OK/071 of 16Apr1943 it was enlisted by the Office of Polar Aviation to conduct ice reconnaissance. From 22Oct1943 01Nov1943 it explored the Kara Sea under the command of the pilot, MA Titlova. From 3th June to 24Jul1944 it made further sorties from bases in Anderme for further reconnaissance of the Kara Sea. In 1945 it was sent to the Chukotka Polar Air Arm where it was given the number A-3072. In Vadim Denisov's book 'Неведомый Норильск' (The Unknown Norilsk), he describes the final fate of this aircraft: Emergency, Saturday April 13th, 1947 in the area of the river Dudypty, North of the village Volochanka. Failure of the left engine. Successfully made a landing and sat for around twenty days, until discovered by the crew of F. Shatrova. 28 people survives, some with minor frostbite on their hands and face (mostly children). Commander Tyuikov, airborne radio operator Smirnov and seven passengers were missing - they had gone in search of help in the snowy tundra and never returned..."
See also siberiantimes.com/other/others/features/f0248-if-i-can-touch-this-plane-then-my-life-is-not-lived-in-vain/ and even CNN reported on this - how could I have missed! - Michael added that he noted American Glen Moss, son of living-propliner-legend, in the photos, playing a role in this rather unique recovery and bringing some expert know-how to the scene. A fine job! |
Juha Kostermaa wrote me in Oct.2016 requesting help in identification and fate of a C-47 on a postcard.
 Juha wrote: "I found a postcard showing C-47 on three poles. The card has been published by the Victory Memorial Museum at Arlon, Belgium." Soon followed by: "Meanwhile I found some pieces of information about the C-47 that was mowed to The Wings of Liberation Museum because of terminated operation of The Victory Memoria Museum on 1998. I think it must be C-47B, c/n 16371/33119, found from your website!" And yes it is. Karl E. Hayes wrote an article on C-47s found at Wings of Liberation Museum, remembering a flight he was on flying one-day-old chickens from France to Marocco on F-BAIF as the above C-47 was then registered. My page DC-3s at Best has an extensive history on F-BAIF a.k.a. 'L4/B 2100847' with links to other webpages both on and off my website. So while it was damaged and in pieces during roadtransport from the museum to Valkenburg and for 3 years had a function more or less as a 'garden ornament', how did it end up? See images by Rob Dragt on www.airnieuws.nl/phregister/488/luchtvaartnieuws.html
From aviationbookreviews.com/103rd-review-broken-dreams-story-unique-dakota-told-old-lady-suzanne-van-leendert-barry-mccabe on 'Broken Dreams' The restoration of the cockpit section is being done by Dutch Dakota Airlines (DDA) and Paul van den Berg provided a status update (03Nov2016): Coert Munk advised me of the website of the firm (Multi Pilot Simulations is located in Groenekan,NL) that has the simulator in use: www.mps.aero/dc_3/recent_posts |
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Finding DC-3 N84KB for sale...
Below screendump, made 03Nov2016, is from Kevin Armstrong's www.neidsproducts.com/page3  Details on a rather unique DC-3 The location is Corvallis,OR but more exact details can be found on my page Photos by Friends & Guests (42) |
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Phil Brooks forwarded me this KLM vintage flight coupon made 'Animal Attendant Ticket'; see his remark below. It is clearly a vintage document as these days an animal attendant will need some form of company identity to be included on ship's documents (e.g. gen dec), a pre-clearance to be allowed to ride the flight (e.g. for APIS), a briefing on flight safety and other procedures on board and some official form of identification to pass though customs and immigrations at all stations, etc. Life was much simpler way back when...
Animal Attendants ride to this day of socalled 'Full Freighters' (cargo only aircraft) and Combis (a dying breed, half cargo and half passengers). The shipment can concern one-day-old chickens, full grown chickens, horses, alpacas, a rhino, pandas or an orca - to name but a few. The animal attendent is there for the well-being of the animals but also to take (possibly drastic) action if an animal cause a danger to the flight. More memories, here shared by Art, whom Phil copied in his message: |
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From time to time I dip in the bulk of images sent to me by Richard Nash, images by him but mostly by Bill Hill. Here are two but the 27Oct16 update saw 11 images and can be found HERE..
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Terry Fletcher shared some of his images of his 2016 Down Under trip: "Two images from my visit on 19th March 2016 to Air Force Museum of New Zealand , Wigram , Christchurch (New Zealand)".
Terry also visited the 'Warbirds over Wanaka' event, which this year was held on 25th, 26th & 27th of March. From Catalina to Ag Cat...
"In reference to the article by the late Gil White (DC3 ZK-CAW-history), a couple of updated shots (external and internal) of the aircraft
as we visited Taupo , North Island , NZ (10Mar2016)!"
After enjoying my ice-cream at the McDonalds C-47 at Taupo - we paid a brief visit to Taupo airfield,  GAF Nomad 22C ZK-SNZ (c/n 104; ex/ VH-SNZ) |
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Norman Smith sent me a few 'mystery planes' in Oct.2016, taken June this year at the storage area of Winnipeg's Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada which is at nearby St.Andrews airfield.; some of these mystery planes are shared on #46, some here... Hope you can help out! EMAIL
On the subject of the Bristol 149 Bolingbroke IV, you may want to check out my visit to a rather unique location near Brandon,Man in 2007: HERE.. www.royalaviationmuseum.com a.k.a. Western Canada Aviation Museum (WCAM) X marks the spot of the storage yard; Norman advised the map coördinates as: Lat 50.055057; Lon -97.050601
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The Uiver Memorial Community Trust published this on their Facebook page. "The DC-2 was towed out of the restoration hangar briefly this week to move stuff inside the hangar & also to re-position the plane when it went back in the hangar after these photos." The posting was done on 20Oct2016, no mention of the name of the photographer.  I visited Albury in Australia in 2005 and did a write up about it: HERE... Glad positive action is going on regarding the preservation of this vintage airliner! |
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In Oct.2016 I learned that the 'Cosmic Muffin' had changed owner and location, from Ft.Lauderdale to Lakeland,Florida. www.planeboats.com My search for an update on this unique 'planeboat' brought a find on eBay and a latest sighting in 2012: "Cosmic Muffin's "Stratospheric Price! Howard Hughes' 1939 Boeing 307 Stratoliner Private Yacht, once owned by Jimmy Buffett is on Ebay for $9,000,000.00 --- (This ebay auction ended on 25Feb05) Posting on 04Jul2012 at 6:33 am "We saw it yesterday from the Jungle Queen-boat tour in Fort Lauderdale in a side canal from the New River." It's Ft.Lauderdale location, kindly provided by Roy Blewett, was: "..off SW 17th Street in the River Oaks suburb. It's visible in the latest Google Earth images of the area (dated Jan16) at co-ordinates 26.099917 -80.159517."  The above images are a compilation of screendumps of a video made by Albert W. Starkweather featuring the ... 'Cosmic Muffin'!
More from another, more extensive video on YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg4WjlPBcFc Dave Drimmer wrote me on 17Oct2016: "The wood hull of the planeboat has been comprimised by termites and wood rot.
Text
from Planeboats.com: Also from Planeboats.com: In 1938, Hughes shattered the around-the-world flight record in a twin-engined Lockheed 14 for which he received a tumultuous hero’s recognition. In an apparent effort to beat his own record he prepared the 307 with extra fuel tanks, but was forced to cancel the attempt with war in Europe. After denying use of the plane to the military, in 1948 Hughes had a new interior built by industrial design pioneer Raymond Loewy, with decor suggestions from Rita Hayworth to become one of the first conversions of a commercial airliner into a plush executive transport. The Model 307 Stratoliner was the world’s first high-altitude commercial transport and the first four-engine airliner in scheduled domestic service. With names like Rainbow, Comet, Flying Cloud, and Apache, the Stratoliner set new standards for speed and comfort. Now this unique planeboat has move to a new home! Thanks to Roger Soupart (RIP) for sending me the link: The museum wrote: "The Cosmic Muffin, a boat recycled from Howard Hughes Boeing B-307, joined the unique collection of memorabilia at Aerospace Discovery at the Florida Air Museum this morning. The plane-boat was purchased in 1981 by Dave Drimmer, and he lived in the boat until 2000. The plane now rests with Howard Hughes’ Personal Aviation Collection, another facet of Aerospace Discovery at the Florida Air Museum. Drimmer donated the plane-boat to Aerospace Discovery at the Florida Air Museum and knows his piece of history will be well taken care of in Lakeland,FL." More Muffin... Glenn McCarthy (1907-1988, see wikipedia) was the prototype for the hard-drinking, barroom-brawling Texas oilman. He discovered 11 oil fields and expanded others. In 1949 he built the $21 million Shamrock Hotel in Houston, spending $1 million for the gaudy party when it opened, but in 1955 lost it to the Hilton chain. Apparently destined for the scrap heap, the 307 was rescued by Fort Lauderdale realtor and pilot Kenneth W. London in 1969.
The boat was bought by Dave Drimmer in 1981 as a 'liveaboard' and extensively remodeled and rebuilt after he discovered the original hull was barely keeping the plane fuselage afloat. He later named it the Cosmic Muffin after publication of Jimmy Buffett’s novel Where is Joe Merchant? In 1994 Dave Drimmer created Plane Boats, Inc. (PBI) to develop and operate the vessel as an historic/educational attraction that is available for charter and corporate sponsorship as an advertising and promotional medium. With a completely rebuilt hull, interior, new motors and restored cockpit, the plane boatis ready for a new life. The vessel has been featured in many local, national and international publications and television shows that include Oprah, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox, Associated Press, HGTV’s Extreme Homes, Motor Boating & Sailing and Wings, among many others.
PlanePictures.net has images by Daniel R. Camiero (dated 21Jun2005) 'The Stratoliner was the first of several Boeing aircraft to use the strato prefix in its name. Strato is derived from the second-from-the-surface of the earth’s atmospheric layers, the stratosphere, which begins at around 30,000 feet of altitude. TWA highflying model SA-307B’s were shy by about 4,000 feet of being able to reach that height. Some early 707 turbojet airliner models were for a time also named Stratoliner -- they cruised comfortably in the stratosphere.' UPDATE (Feb.2024), another move.. |
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On 02Jan1961 A Dutch Dakota (079) crashed in the sea in New-Guinea. All five occupants perished.
(A.o.) Avro 626, NZ203 / ZK-APC 
