356

C-GDZH at Lakehead Aviation, Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Photo: John Henderson © 14 May 2023 - Aird Archives
C-GDZH snow bunny.
Photo: Rich Hulina © January 2005
C-GDZH arrives with trainee pilot at the helm.
Photos: Neil Aird © 13 September 2003
51-16555 sits it out at Davis-Monthan AFB.
Photo: Unknown photographer © August 1977 (on slide) - Aird Archives
Photo: Jay Sherlock © February 1972 - Aird Archives
51-16555 with a yellow buddy.
Photo: Unknown photographer © September 1970 - Jacques Guillem Collection - Aird Archives
51-16555 sporting old style Buzz number.
Phoro: MAP © date unknown - Wayne Mutza Collection - Aird Archives

356

51-16555

C-GDZH

x

51-16555 USAF #1164. L-20 No: 165. Command AF-1. Delivered 12-Sep-1952. Built as L-20A and re-designated U-6A in 1962.

51-16555 Stored at MASDC., Davis Monthan AFB., AZ. 01-Sep-1971 to 09-Mar-1976. PCN (Product Control Number) HS052.

C-GDZH Man Air Services, Batchawana Bay, ON. Regd 09-Mar-1976.

Note: Purchased by Man Air Services at the Davis Monthan auction sale on 29-Jan-1976 for US$23,000. Total hours 6,344.6 hours. Engine 3,316.2 hours. Sold on the basis of “no reasonable potential for normal certification”. Comment at sale: White and yellow paint scheme, stub exhausts, battery box, and data plate. No tip tanks or tail trim

C-GDZH Pioneer Airways Ltd., Atikokan, ON. Regd Jun-1976. On CCAR at May-1981.

C-GDZH Atikokan Aero Service Ltd., Atikokan, ON. Regd 27-May-1982 & 06-May-2003.

Current

USAF History

51-16555 was made available on 29-Aug-1952 and accepted on 05-Sep-1952 by the 6600th Air Depot AMO (Air Material Overseas Unit), at Downsview, Ontario, after which it was delivered to the Tactical Air Command at Sewart AFB., TN., and attached to the 5th Liaison Squadron on 12-Sep-1952. It was then sent to McLellan AFB and the Air Material Command and the Sacramento Repair and Maintenance Area (SARAR) where it remained for a few weeks between 16-Feb-1952 and 26-Mar-1952 prior to moving to the San Francisco embarkation port.

On 29-Mar-1952 the Beaver was transported to Elmendorf, Alaska possibly by Globemaster II, where it was assigned to the Alaskan Air Command and the 5th Liaison Squadron. It remained at Elmendorf for the next five years. After the initial attachment to the 5th Liaison Sqd which only lasted until 13-Apr-1953 it was next passed to the 5039th Maintenance Group until 06-May-1953. Back to the 5th Liaison Sqd until 13-Oct-1953 followed and then on to the 5025th Maintenance Group until Christmas Eve 1953. Again back to the 5th Liaison Sqd but for the last time as after 01-Jun-1954 it was with the 5039th Air Base Wing until 09-Nov-1954. It is then recorded as having been attached to the 5025th Maintenance Group again until 01-Jan-1955.

The record shows an attachment to the 5039th Aircraft Repair Squadron (ARS) from this date until 17-Aug-1955. It is reported as having had an accident 50 mi. NW of Homer, Alaska, the day before, on 16-Aug-1955. It Suffered category 3 damage (medium/serious) during a landing incident. The pilot was Charles W Rutledge.

It is next with the 5039th Maintenance Squadron until 10-May-1957; the 5039th Air Base Wing until 01-Jun-1957 and the 5039th Air Transport Squadron until 01-Oct-1957. There was now a set of re designations and the 5039th as it became the 5040th and the aircraft was now attached to the Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Group. This lasted until 12-Feb-1958 when a re-assignment saw it move away from Alaska to the Air Defence Command (ADC) and Geiger AFB, Spokane WA which was part of the Western Air Defence Force (WAD). Here it was initially attached to the 84th Fighter Wing until 31-Oct-1958 and then the 84th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance (CLM) Squadron until 23-May-1959.

Emblem of the 84th CLM Squadron

It then underwent a period of maintenance at the North American Company facility at Minneapolis St Paul up to 26-Sep-1959 after which it returned to active service with the ADC & WAD later the 25th Defence Force at Portland AFB, OR until after 01-Jan-1960.

Its later USAF history is still to be researched.