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Welcome to the site. Do you have the tail number?
Yeah,but the one thing is i am not sure if the previous guy who recovered it changed the number or not. I got a feeling it changed given this list of serial numbers for a L-3 does not list it, (although they may never have received it in the first place). i am more so wondering where a data plate would be installed for a aircraft like this (If it even has one) we are just wanting to find the manufacturer serial number to confirm it is the actual serial number.According to the pic there - 16645.
National D-Day Memorial Honors World War II Forces, by Travel Writers
Yeah, this was something we had in mind. we won't know 100% until we find the data plate. thank you for this information though.I don't think that is a proper military tail number. When I looked it up I got the following:
41-6645 was assigned to a P-47C
41-16645 - AT-6A
42-16645 - PT-17
43-16645 - Cancelled C-60
44-16645 - Cancelled A-30
45-16645 - Cancelled CG-4A
I can check with my instructors about paperwork, as for a FCC liscense I am unsure, as there was not one in the aircraft and the L-3C's seemed to be more so trainers rather then actually used for recon.Is there any paperwork from when the aircraft was donated? Did it have a FCC radio license onboard?
Just a small note: the serial number (s/n) shows the FISCAL year in which the a/c was ordered by the government. Since the US fiscal years start on July 01 and end on June 30 (next year) it is possible that airplanes with s/n starting with let say 41- were in fact built in 1942 etc.The tail number started with the year of assembling or getting into service as memo serves....
Thanks for info. Good news is we are recovering the wings, so we will try and make sure we position the insignia correctly.Just a small note: the serial number (s/n) shows the FISCAL year in which the a/c was ordered by the government. Since the US fiscal years start on July 01 and end on June 30 (next year) it is possible that airplanes with s/n starting with let say 41- were in fact built in 1942 etc.
I have seen photos of this particular a/c in the last 5-6 years and the number on the tail was always the same - IMHO this is a bogus serial. It could be a c/n (construction number) given by the manufacturer and wrongly used as a s/n but I doubt this as well. BTW one of the photos of the same a/c I've seen is very awkward - the national insignia under the right wing is wrongly positioned (or attached if it's a sticker):
View attachment 511317
This photo is 10 years old and things might have changed today.
All possible L-3 serials can be found on Joe Baugher's site:
USAF Serial Number Search Results
Your aircraft may have been NORDO for sure, but remember a big part of being an A&P is sleuthing the paperwork. This is a good opportunity for a real world logbook review if it's available.I can check with my instructors about paperwork, as for a FCC liscense I am unsure, as there was not one in the aircraft and the L-3C's seemed to be more so trainers rather then actually used for recon.