Boeing Stearman Model 75, part four. The Stearman in America, part one. South American users.

 

The Boeing Stearman Model 75 is an American two-seater biplane trainer of the 1930s that was employed by many countries all around the world, among them, the following ones:

• Argentina: In 1936 the Argentine Navy acquired sixteen new Stearman Model 76D, powered by the 320 hp Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior. They were assigned to the Naval Aviation School and served until 1949 whe, according to some historians, were donated to various flying clubs, however, there were not Model 76s registered in Argentine civil aviation.
  Many years later, in 1947, the Argentine Navy bought thirty Boeing-Stearman Model 75 (AKA PT-17/N2S Kaydet), with thirty additional machines two years later, in 1949. These sixty machines were ex-American machines equipped with radial engines such as the Continental R-670-4 or R-670-5 yielding up to 220 hp of power. They were mainly assigned to the Naval Aviation School, with a detachment to Comandante Espora Naval Air Base (Province of Buenos Aires). From the mid-1950s onwards they were employed for general purposes and, since they were ageing considerably, they were gradually replaced by the North American Texan from 1954 until 1962 when the last Model 75 was sold to private owners.
  One of the Model 76, equipped with floats and registered as 1-E-41, became famous for being the first Argentine aircraft to fly to the Antarctica on 6th February 1942. 
  This flight took off from the ship ARA 1º de Mayo (an old modified steam ship) and was performed by Frigate Lieutenant Eduardo Lanusse at the controls and Corporals Erik Blomquist, Antonio Silva and Mario Pappe as mechanics, radio operator and photographers. This was seen as a national milestone but, unfortunately, in April 1942 both Lanusse and Blomquist died in a fatal accident while piloting 1-E-41.
  
  
• Brazil: During the second half of the 1930s the Brazilian Army Aviation sought to modernize their Military Aviation School, so in May 1937 the first machines of the Stearman Model A76C3 (attack variant equipped with bomb gear and a defensive machine gun were shipped to Rio do Janeiro. By early 1938 all thirty of them were assembled and assigned to the Army Aeronautics School, where they served as basic trainers. 
  However, as they were equipped with bombing gear and a defensive machine gun, they were also employed in the bombing trainer role, ground attack and aerial photography.
  Not all of the Brazilian Model 76s were employed by the Aeronautics Schools, some were also employed by the Training Squadron of the 7th Aviation Regiment, in Belem, and some others with the 4th Aviation Regiment, at Belo Horizonte, however, their presence there was brief and were reassigned back to the Aviation School. 
  Some years later, in October 1940 the Brazilian Army Aviation was transitioning to become an independent branch (the Brazilian Air Force), so many North American NA-72 trainers were ordered and, with the creation of the Ministry of Aeronautics, on 20th January 1941, the Stearmans were passed on to the Brazilian Air Force (BAF).
  With the BAF served a total of twenty Stearmans A-75 and twenty-seven A-76 which, as stated, had previously served with the Brazilian Army Aviation. 
  These machines served until 1948 and 1950 as they were employed as basic trainers by the Aeronautics School. In 1942 the Model A-75-L3s were replaced by the newly-acquired Fairchild PT-19, while one year later, in 1943, th A-76C3s were replaced by the Vultee BT-15 and, finally in 1944, the A-76C3 were definitely replaced by the T-6 Texan and the Stearmans were withdrawn to secondary administrative roles, being definitely written off in 1950.
  
  
• Bolivia: In 1942 Bolivia acquired around twenty PT-17s which served for a long period of time, until 1963. It is known that they acquired six PT-17s from Argentina. 

Sources:

1st https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing-Stearman_Model_75

2nd https://issuu.com/federacionargentinadecamarasagroaer/docs/revista_37_opt/s/15636721 (translated)

3rd https://www.marambio.aq/primervueloargentino.html (translated)

4th Aeronaves Militares Brasileiras 1916-2015 (translated)

5th https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anexo:Aeronaves_militares_históricas_de_Bolivia

Morane-Saulnier Ms.230, foreign users, part one.

 

The Morane-Saulnier Ms.230 was a French military elementary trainer aircraft that was used by France, but by another countries too:

• Belgium: During the early years of the Belgian Aéronautique Militaire (Military Aeronautics), they saw themselves in the need of an advanced aeronautic basic trainer. That's why they bought 5 or 6 (numbers change depending on the source) Ms.230 from France, back in 1931.
  As the type satisfied Belgian authorities, they ordered additional 19 machines, this time powered by a single Armstrong Whitworth Lynx 4C radial engine which yielded 215 hp of power. This engine was slightly less powerful than the original Salmson 9AB with its 230 hp. 
  These new machines were branded as Morane-Saulnier Ms.236 and were manufactured by SABCA in Brussels. The engine switch was chosen for communality as the Lynx was already powering other Aéronautique Militaire airplanes such as the SV.22, SV.26, RSV 22/215, Avro 626 Prefect and, the Avro 504N, albeit it had a less powerful version. Most Ms.230 and 236 were employed by piloting school at Wevelgem, and by 1937 all every Ms.230 had been withdrawn from service. The remaining Ms.236 were kept active until the eve of the World War 2. However, many of them were used as communications aircraft in 1939-1940. 
• Brazil: Apparently Brazil had an unknown number of Ms.230. Some sources claim it was nine of them. However, we couldn't find graphical info, nor textual one, so the drawing shown below should be considered as speculative.
• Czechoslovakia: After World War 2, many ex-Luftwaffe (which acquired them as was prizes) Ms.230 were employed by private aeroclubs in Czechoslovakia, one of them was Medlánky Aeroclub, located in the city of Brno. They used the type from 1948 until 1957. Nowadays there's one Ms.230 shown at the Prague's Aviation museum painted in French colours.
• Germany: During the late 1930s some private German owners owned at least 5 Ms.230 as their private airplanes. After the fall of France, many Ms.230 were captured by the Germans, which pushed them into service in their elementary flying schools. Apparently they were used during the whole World War 2.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morane-Saulnier_MS.230

2. https://www.belgian-wings.be/morane-ms230-ms236

3.http://www.airhistory.org.uk/gy/reg_D-a16.html

4.http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_morane_saulnier_MS230.html

5. https://alchetron.com/Morane-Saulnier-MS.230

6. http://www.cs-letectvi.cz/imatrikulace/morane-saulnier-ms-230-ok-qhl-id-b4271 (translated)

Junkers Ju.52, various American users

 

Preliminary note: This post will be the last one before our mid-winter break. See you back in March!

The Junkers Ju.52 is a German cargo plane that was designed by Ernst Zindel and manufactured by aviation company Junkers. 

It was in production between 1931 and 1952 and, with more than 4.000 aircraft manufactured, the type was exported to various countries all around the globe, among them, the following ones:

• Brazil: The Brazilian airline, "Viaçao Aerea Rio Grandese" (Aerial Aviation of Rio Grande) bought one Ju.52/3m in 1937 which arrived in 1938. It was named "Mauá" and was restricted to aerial routes inside the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, although the aircraft had capacity for longer routes. This was done because it only flew when the airplane was fully booked. This machine, registered as "PP-VAL" had its capacity increased from 17 to 21 passengers. After a tragic accident close to the city of Porto Alegre where 6 people died on 28th February 1942, the aircraft was declared beyond repair and was written off.
  Another Brazilian operators of the type were :
• Aeronorte: An airline located in Sao Luis, at the state of Maranhao, North-Eastern Brazil which operated one Ju.52/3m rented from VASP -Viaçao Aerea Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo Aerial Aviation- from 1950 until 1951.
• Syndicato Condor/Cruzeiro do Sul: The main Brazilian operator of the Ju.52. Being a subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa for South America, this airline had 16 Ju.52/3m bought between 1934 and 1939. The Ju.52/3m was the main workhorse of the company until 1943 when it was converted into Cruzeiro do Sul and the Ju.52/3m were gradually replaced by American Douglas DC-3 transport planes. However, the Ju.52/3m were still serving some routes in 1945 as some of them were equipped with floats in the Amazonian region. 
  They all were either sold to other companies or countries (like Argentina) or scrapped.
• Viaçao Aerea Sao Paulo: This Sao-Paulo based airline had at least two Ju.52/3m in service during the early 1940s. Further details about them are unknown, however one of them was rented to Aeronorte in 1950.
• Canada: Canadian Airways bought the sixth Ju.52 built. This machine, unlike most of the other Ju.52/3m, was powered by a single four-propelled engine, a Rolls Royce Buzzard. It was bought in 1931 and that time it was the largest aircraft present in Canada and could operate on either floats or skis.
  Nicknamed as "The Flying Boxcar" it proved to be an excellent cargo airplane as it could carry loads no other aircraft of the time could thanks, partially to its large roof hatch. 
  In 1942 Canadian Pacific Airlines took over all of Canadian Airways flying stock and in 1947 it was commissioned out of service and sold to a junk dealer which tore it piece by piece with its fuselage ending as a child's playhouse in Winnipeg. Thankfully it was recovered and it's nowadays exposed at the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada.
• Colombia: In 1932 the Colombian Army was in war against Peru over the Leticia Region of the Amazon region. It was then when, in order to reinforce the Colombian Military Aviation with bombers that, the Sociedad Colombo-Alemana de Transporte Aéreo (SCADTA - Colombo-German Air Transport Society) bought three which were assigned to commercial flights in the newly created company. When the Leticia Incident (AKA the Colombo-Peruvian War) was waged in September 1932, the three Ju.52/3mde (an ad-hoc version equipped with floats and additional defensive dorsal machine gun hatches) of SCADTA were requisitioned by the Military Aviation which were employed as bombers operating from rivers and lakes as the Colombian Amazon jungle lacked suitable airfields. This became the first operational use of the Ju.52 as a bomber. 
  Shortly after the war, additional three Ju.52/3m were acquired which arrived by ship on 5th July 1933 and were sent straight to the Military Aviation. 
  After the conflict, in 1933, the Junkers were based in the town of Puerto Salgar, at the district of Cundinamarca. One Ju.52/3m registered with the number of "625" was assigned as the personal transport of Colombian president Enrique Olaya Herrera and, on 24th October 1933, it was employed by General Luis Acevedo to fly to Manaus, in Brazil, to sign peace with Peru. 
  One of them crashed on 14th January 1936 killing all its passengers, making this unfortunate event the only fatal accident of a Colombian Ju.52. 
  The Ju.52 was employed as the main transport of the Colombian Military Aviation and, just like Argentina, it was the first aircraft that Colombian paratroopers used for their first airdrops during a manoeuvres that took place at the Base Aérea in Madrid, in Cundinamarca district, on 13th May 1947. Three years after, as more advanced and modern types were bought, the Ju.52 was written off and, given its historical importance, one is exhibited nowadays at the Colombian Air Force's Museum.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junkers_Ju_52

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Airways

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeronorte

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VASP

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serviços_Aéreos_Cruzeiro_do_Sul

6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varig

7.https://www.varig-airlines.com/en/junkersju52.htm

8. https://royalaviationmuseum.com/junkers-ju-52-cf-arm/

9. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19420228-1

10. https://www.fac.mil.co/museo/el-veterano-junkers-ju-52-primer-avion-presidencial-de-colombia-1 (translated)

Messerschmitt Bf.108, part three

The Messerschmitt Bf.108 was a German single-engine sports and touring aircraft that was used by many countries all around the globe. Among many users, it was also used by the next ones:

• Brazil: At least one was used by Viaçao Aerea Rio-Grandese (VARIG) airline during the 1930s and was most probably used as a VIP transport.
• Chile: One Bf.108 was purchased directly to Messerschmitt by the Chilean senator Carlos del Campo in the mid-to-late 1930s. After a brief period of using it as his personal transport, he sold it to LAN (Linea Aérea Nacional - National Airline) who operated the aircraft as a VIP transport and was painted with the colours depicted below. With the outbreak of World War 2, as spare parts became a problem, it was sold again to another unknown customer who kept it left to rot in a barn. In the mid 1960s some Chilean air enthusiasts tried to buy the plane but the owner sold it to some North American customer. It was then when the trace of this Bf.108 vanished. According to some people it was sent to the USA where it was repainted and restored to flying condition, while some other claim that it was repainted and shown in a museum. However, the real fate of the aircraft is still a mystery.
• Czechoslovakia: The Czechoslovak Air Force operated some ex-German exemplars after the War. They were renamed as K-70 and served with the Transport Squadron based at Prague's Kbely airbase.
• Japan: The Imperial Japanese Army Air Service bought some few Bf.108 for testing purposes. They were assigned to the Army Aviation Experimental Centre in Japan, where they were tested during the 1930s. After testing they decided to not order them and they were passed on to Manchukuo, their main puppet state in Asia.
• Manchukuo: From 1936 until 1940 the Manchukuo National Airways (MKKK) (which in spite of its name was a paramilitary organisation) used some Bf.108 ceded from Japan for light transport and reconnaissance duties. 
• Norway: It seems that some few ex-German machines were used by the Royal Norwegian Air Force during the post-war period. As we couldn't find graphical evidence, the colours should be considered speculative.
• Poland: The Polish Central Staff for the Aviation League operated some ex-German Bf.108 during the post-war period. It was also used by the Polish Internal Security Corps which was the Polish counterpart of the Soviet NKVD.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Bf_108

2. http://www.warbirdalley.com/bf108.htm

3. Wydawnictwo Militaria 149 - Messerschmitt Bf-108 Taifun

4. https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=347