Recent content by NNAM

But this is a USN aircraft. And, there is no "KK" in the fuselage code document.

I think you may be right. So we're back to square one ... what squadron, CASU, Naval District, ATU, OTU, or Station is this a/c assigned to?

Looks like an Arriflex 35 mm camera

The SB2C remained in active postwar service in active duty US Navy squadrons until 1947 and in Naval Reserve aviation units until 1950. With the camera in rear cockpit, could this be a photo squadron?

True, but the "KK" was not assigned to CV-31 until 8 January 1946, and used until December 1946. So if the above a/c - KK16 - came off CV-31, the photo had to have been taken between 8 January 1946 and December 1946, when there were no Curtiss SB2Cs on board CV-31.

As best I can tell, the Bon Homme Richard's air group, CVG (N)-91, did not fly SB2Cs at the end of Sept 1945. They went to San Francisco, regrouped, and went to the east coast, disestablished in 1946. For a few weeks, thru Oct. 1945, CVG (N)-52 was also aboard - they didn't have SB2Cs either...

"CV 31 left San Francisco October 29, 1945 and steamed to Pearl Harbor to undergo conversion for troop transport duty. From November 8, 1945 to January 16, 1946 she made trans-Pacific voyages, returning servicemen to the United States. Bon Homme Richard then reported to Puget Sound Naval...

Can anyone ID the squadron of this aircraft?

Thanks - I'll keep looking for an explanation. The drawings, etc. certainly look like the right one!

According to the Pilot's Manual, the props on K ships K-3 thru K-8 were 9' diameter. Any idea why the discrepancy? Power Plants K-3 to K-8: Engines (2) Wright, Model R-975-28, Direct Drive-Horsepower, each 420 H.P. at 2200 RPM Propellers (2) - Three Blades - 9' on Diameter.

Thanks so much! Guess I'll have to join AirCorps Library so I can read it - History and Heritage Command probably can't find it for me.

Here are the side photos, which somehow disappeared from the above.

I am a volunteer researcher at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Fl. We recently had an inquiry about a propeller root, cut in two to make bookends, and presented to Governor Joseph B. Poindexter, Territory of Hawaii. Gov. Poindexter served in Hawaii from 1934 through 1942. I have...