c/n 344
51-16547 • N766
N4747S (2)
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• 51-16547 USAF #1153. L-20A No: 154. Command AF-1. Delivered 08-Sep-1952. Built as L-20A and re-designated U-6A in 1962.
• 51-16547 Stored at MASDC., Davis Monthan AFB., AZ. Arrival date unknown. Departed 27-Oct-1964.
• N766 US Department of Interior, Anchorage, AK. Regd Apr-1965
Airworthiness Date: 31-May-1967.
• N766 US Department of Interior, Bureau of Sport Fisheries & Wildlife, Fairbanks, AK. Dates unknown.
Accident: McCarthy, AK. 17-Aug-1980. Landing from a go-around on park strip, aircraft ground looped, swerved and hit trees. Substantial damage to aircraft. Pilot and four passengers, minor/uninjured. ANC80FA085
• N4747S (2) James B. Hayton, Sedro Woolley, WA. Regd 03-Mar-1986. Canx 29-Nov-2005.
• N4747S (2) Douglas M. Hektner, Girdwood, AK. Regd 24-Jan-2006.
USAF History
51-16547 was made available on 19-Aug-1952 and, accepted on 22-Aug-1952 by the 6600th Air Depot AMO (Air Material Overseas Unit), at Downsview, Ontario after which it was delivered to the Alaskan Air Command at Elmendorf, Anchorage, AK on 17-Sep-1952. Initially it was attached to the 39th Air Depot Wing. It suffered category 2 damage (minor/medium) in a takeoff accident at Fire Island Airstrip, Nr Anchorage, on 24-Oct-1952. Pilot Gerald Edward Graf. It remained with the unit until 01-Mar-1953 and then passed to the 5039th Air Transport Group until 13-Apr-1953; then to the 5039th Air base Wing until 26-Apr-1953.
It was still at Elmendorf when it transferred to the 5th Liaison Squadron, the first of three allocations. This one lasted until just two days after which it passed to the 5039th Maintenance Group until 11-May-1953. Back to the 5th until 26-Aug-1953 but this allocation was cut short as the aircraft suffered an accident 18 mi. N of Naknek, Alaska. 25-Aug-1953 that caused category 3 damage (medium/serious) following a takeoff that was affected by the weather. The pilot was Ralph R Shuetz. On 26-Aug-1953 the aircraft was with the 5025th Maintenance Group for repair and remained until 11-Feb-1954. It returned to active service for its third time with the 5th Liaison Squadron until 01-Jun-1954 after which it passed to the 5039th Air Base Wing. A two year stay took it through to 04-Aug-1958. It then was attached to the AACCM. The full meaning of the acronym is currently unknown apart from Alaskan Air Command. On 01-Oct 1957 the units at Elmendorf were re designated and the aircraft was now allocated to the 5040th Operations Flight until 12-Feb-1958 and then to the 5040th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Group but only for ten days until 22-Feb-1958.
Leaving the Alaskan Air Command behind it was now assigned to the Air Defence Command at Sioux City, ND joining the 53rd Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance (CLM) Squadron staying until 15-Sep-1958. It then moved to Scott AFB, Illinois and was attached to the 85th Fighter Interceptor Squadron until 14-Oct-1958. Staying with the ADC in had another short stay, this time at Richards AFB, Kansas City, Missouri. It was attached to the 328th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron until 31-Oct-1958. These three locations and units were re visited as follows. Scott AFB and 85th FI Sqd 31-Oct-1958 to 25-Nov-1958; Sioux City AFB and 53rd CLM, 25-Nov-1958 to 29-Dec-1958 and Richards AFB and 328th CLM until 25-Aug-1959.
Emblem of 85th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
A new location was next on the agenda. This was Grand Forks AFB and the unit concerned was the 478th Fighter Group. This was later re designated as the 478th Fighter Wing on 01-Feb-1961. The aircraft remained with this unit until 01-Jul-1963 when remaining at Grand Forks it was re assigned to the Strategic Air Command and the 319th Heavy Bombardment (BH) Wing.
Its further USAF history is to be researched.
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