What's the difference?

[Alex Smart]

Hi,
What's the difference between a Norseman C-64A and a UC-64A ?
Was it mechanical, or type of duty it was used for ?

I came across one recently that was listed as a C-64A in 1944 but as a UC-64A in 1945.
So just curious about the difference.
Thanks
Alex

 

[GTX]

From what I understand there was no difference other than just a change in designation.

 

[ThomasP]

Hey Alex Smart,

The original designation was UC-64A or UC-64B. These designations were changed to C-64A and C-64B subsequent to June 1944. I do not know the reasoning, but the same was done to designations of other aircraft types with a UC prefix, though not necessarily at the same time as for the UC/C-64.

 

[Geoffrey Sinclair]

The USAAF delivery logs reports the UC-64A was redesignated C-64A on 5 June 1944. The RC-301 production reports call the Norseman the UC-64 from start of production in January 1943 to April 1944, no report available for May and June, C-64 in July 1944 report.

The detail,

Contract AC-21632 for 6 then 7 Norseman, serials 42-5044 to 5049 accepted October to December 1941, and 43-13602 accepted March 1942. The delivery logs give the model as C-64 with a hand written Y in front of the C. The RCAF says the first 6 became RCAF 3532 to 3537 on 26 January 1942, as repayment for loan.

C-64B 41-53520 and 53521 manufacturer's numbers 59 (crossed out) and 76, from RCAF, not supplied because of excessive hours, as of 28 May 1942 they were reported at the factory being fitted with outboard tanks and radio equipment. C-64B 43-5105 to 5108 (ex RCAF 496 to 499) received from RCAF October and November 1942, to be replaced from contract AC-28393, reference Noorduyn wire 29 October 1942, the first delivered to Seattle, the other 3 to the US Engineers at Edminton (Edmonton).

Contract AC-28393 for 300 then 420 Norseman, serials 43-5109 to 5402 and 43-7203 to 7208, 43-35326 to 35445, accepted January 1943 to June 1944, technically 43-35442 and 35444 accepted as C-64A the rest as UC-64A.

Contract AC-1072 for 500 Norseman, 44-70255 to 70554 and 45-41736 to 41935? (delivery logs have the serials ending at 45-41885) but 45-41764 was the last accepted, in September 1945, making 329 built from this order. Technically 44-70255, 70257 and 70258 were accepted as UC-64A, the rest as C-64A.

USAAF Delivery logs, marked

For Australia, 43-5188 to 5191, 5258 to 5261 (5257 was Australia but redirected to USA), 5268 (originally for USA), 5278 to 5282 ADF Serials - Norseman

For Britain, 43-5137, 5138, 43-5386, 5387 (the second two became RCAF 2495 and 6, all stayed in Canada)

For Brazil, 43-35398 to 35401, 44-70324 to 70327, 70397 to 70400, 70475 to 70479

For Other (civil use on Canada except possibly 43-35395), 43-35362 to 35365 (Canadian Pacific Airlines), 35381 and 35382 (C II M+S?), 35395 ("For Serv"), 35403 to 35406 (CDMS), 44-70322 (DMNS)

For Canada, 43-5145 to 5150 (RCAF 787 to 92), 5243 to 5246 (RCAF 361 to 4), 5262 to 5265 (Canadian Pacific Airlines), 5283 to 5286 (RCAF 365 to 8), 43-5335, 5336 (RCAF 369, 370), 43-35358, 35359 (RCAF 371, 372), 45-41741 (Canada Civil use), the RCAF considered them to be mark VI.

For Norway 44-70543 to 70550 Norseman — The National Norwegian Aviation Museum

44-70481 and 70488 accepted in November 1944, diverted to USN 6 June 1945. The USN reports it had 3 JA-1 Norseman Bureau Numbers 57992 to 57994.

Production for RCAF/Canadian Government during the war, 70 Norseman IV January 1940 to October 1942, including 1 for the RCMP (CF-MPF). RCAF 491 to 499, 678 to 681, 691 to 3, 698, 2455 to 2492, 3522 to 3531, 3538 and 3539

RCAF 694 to 7 and 2493, 4 impressed aircraft.

 

[Alex Smart]

Hello Gentlemen,
Many thanks for you response. Also a special thank you to Geoffrey for the serial number history, very informative, thank you.
So there were no mechanical differences or specific operational differences .
Thank you
Alex

 

[MiTasol]

Greetings all

This should solve the problem. From a photocopy I have that took too long to find. I did not OCR because it is so short.