354

C-GCYM being worked on at the Tyee spit.

Photo: Rod Hall © 06 May 2014

C-GCYM at the Denny Island dock.

Photo: Peter Kovanda © 30 April 2009 - Aird Archives

C-GCYM Digby Island dock at Prince Rupert, her new base.

Photo: Steve Crerar © 05 May 2006

C-GCYM as she is now. My old friend, 38 years after we first met!

Photos Top: Neil Aird Lower: Bill Hann © 19 September 2004

C-GCYM with her new caring owners.

Awaiting the next batch of clients at Victoria's Inner Harbour.

Photos: Bill Hann © May 2003

C-GCYM at a foggy Victoria - CYYJ.

Photo: Neil Aird © 18 October 2002

C-GCYM with Cooper Air over Victoria, BC.

Photo: © Mick Egan

C-GCYM at Pat Bay.

Photo: Unknown photographer © c.2001 - Howard Valiant Collection - Aird Archives

C-GCYM at Victoria Harbour.

Photo: Ron Kosys © 30 August 1998

N63PS at American Lake, Washington.

Photo: Neil Aird © 13 September 1995

N63PS taking a moment to reflect.

Photo: John Racey © September 1993 - Aird Archives

N63PS visits Renton, WA.

Photo: John Kimberley © - via Lenn Bayliss Collection

N765ME at Renton, Washington.

Photo: Unknown photographer © Aird Archives

N765ME visiting CXH.

Photo: Glen Etchells © July 1986

C-GMLD at Vancouver.

Photo: © Doug Barry

N4796C in second CAP scheme.

Photo: via C. J. Mak © October 1971 - Aird Archives

N4796C my painting, inspired by 1966 Kotzebue visit.

N4796C operating at Kotzebue, Alaska.

Photos: Unknown photographer © Early 1960's - via Alvin Newlin

CAP Crew dressed for winter.

Left: John Cross. Right: Warren Thompson - early 1960's

53-4322 Vertol H-21B Workhorse helps out 51-16553

354

51-16533 • N4796C • C-GMLD • N765ME • N63PS

C-GCYM

• 51-16553 USAF #1162. L-20 No: 163. Command AF-1. Delivered 09-May-1952. Built as L-20A.

• N4796C Civil Air Patrol Inc., Maxwell AFB., Montgomery, AL. Regd. 28-Apr-1960 & Feb-1962. Canx 10-Mar-1981. Noted at Kotzebue, AK in 1966. *

• C-GMLD Imported to Canada in Jul-1981.

• C-GMLD Meadowlark Development Ltd., Vancouver, BC. Canx 27-May-1982.

• C-GMLD Windoak Air Services, Vancouver, BC. Canx 10-Sep-1982.

• C-GMLD Harbour Air, Vancouver, BC. Circa. 1982.

• C-GMLD Meadowlark Development Ltd., Vancouver, BC. Canx 22-Sep-1983.

• C-GMLD West Coast Mountain Safaris Ltd., Terrace, BC. Regd 16-Sep-1984. Canx 04-Mar-1985.

• C-GMLD Saltwater West Enterprises Ltd., Terrace, BC. Canx 10-Apr-1985.

• C-GMLD Terrace Air Ltd., Terrace, BC. Canx 18-Feb-1986 on export to USA.

• N765ME Robert D. McMahon, dba American Lake Aero, Tacoma, WA. Regd 28-Feb-1986 (P/E). On USCAR at 02-Mar-1990 & 29-Feb-1992.

• N63PS Operated by Puget Sound Seaplanes, American Lake, Tacoma, WA. (P/E in 1993 & Sep-1996).

Note: Probably also a McMahon company with the registration suffix reflecting the name of the operator.

• N63PS Robert D. McMahon / McMahon Enterprises, Tacoma, WA. Canx 02-Mar-1998. (Reported as de regd 19-Apr-1995). Canx 02-Mar-1998 on export to Canada.

• C-GCYM Cooper Air Inc., Sidney, Victoria, BC. Regd. 14-May-1998. Canx 08-Apr-2003.

Note: Attended de Havilland Canada - Out of Production meet at Victoria, BC 18-20-Oct-2002.

• C-GCYM Harbour Air Ltd., Vancouver, BC. Regd 08-Apr-2003. Canx 23-Apr-2013.

• C-GCYM Inland Air Charters, Prince Rupert, BC. Regd 23-Apr-2013.

• Current •

USAF History

51-16553 was made available on 27-Aug-1952 and accepted on 29-Aug-1952 by the 6600^th Air Depot AMO (Air Material Overseas Unit), at Downsview, Ontario after which it was delivered to the Tactical Air Command at Sewart AFB, TN where it was allocated to the 314^th Medium Troop Carrier (TCM) Wing on 05-Sep-1952. After just three days it moved across the base to join the 5^th Liaison Squadron before being assigned to the Air Material Command at McLellan AFB where it was attached to the Sacramento Air Depot (SARAR) until 26-Mar-1953 when it travelled to San Francisco and to AMC-SF Also designated as SF PE (San Francisco Air Port of Embarkation). It now went to Elmendorf AFB, Anchorage, Alaska and it is assumed it was transported by Globemaster II. The aircraft spent the whole of its USAF career in Alaska.

At Elmendorf it joined the 5^th Liaison Squadron for two weeks before moved to the 5039^th Maintenance Squadron and then on 22-May-1953. It is reported as having category 3 damage (medium/serious) in a low speed landing accident at Tatalina Air Strip, 13 mi. WSW of McGrath, Alaska on 24-Jun-1953. It then went to Fairbanks where it was attached to the 5064^th Cold Weather Material Testing Squadron at Ladd AFB. It stayed until 06-Sep-1953 when it returned to Elmendorf and the 5^th Liaison Sqd on 06-Sep-1953 until 23-Feb-1954 and then across to the 5025^th Maintenance Squadron until 08-Mar-1954. Another session at the 5^th Liaison Squadron took it to 30-Apr-1954 after which it returned to Ladd AFB at Fairbanks. Again it was on charge with the 5064^th Cold Weather Material Testing Sqd and then on the 20-Sep-1954 to the 5001^st Operations Sqd. It then passed to the 5001^st Maintenance Squadron on 31-May-1955 and then returned to the 5001^st Ops Sqd on 03-Jun-1955.

Emblem of the 5001^st Operations Sqd.

It now returned to Elmendorf for a short period with the 5039^th Aircraft Repair Squadron until 20-Oct-1955. Back to Ladd AFB., again but this time to the 10^th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron until 09-May 1956. It next joined the 5001st Maintenance Squadron and then the 5001^st Operations Squadron which was re designated as the 5060th Operations Squadron on 01-Nov-1957. This in turn was re designated as the 5060^th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Group. A brief return to Elmendorf saw it with the 5040^th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Group until 09-Feb-1959 before its final allocation of its military life, back with the 5060^th CLM Group where it terminated on 28-Apr 1960 after which it passed to the Civil Air Patrol Inc, still based in Alaska.

Emblem of the 5040^th CLM Group

* See my painting "Boy & Beaver"