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c/n 304
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c/n 304

51-16519

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51-16519 USAF #1116. L-20A No: 117. Command AF-1. Delivered 02-Jul-1952. Built as L-20A and Re-designated U-6A in 1962.

Fate unknown

USAF History

51-16519 was made available on 17-Jun-1952 and accepted on 23-Jun-1952 by the 6600th Air Depot AMO (Air Material Overseas Unit), at Downsview, Ontario after which it was initially assigned to the Tactical Air Command. It was delivered to Biggs AFB, El Paso, TX and joined the 3rd Liaison Flight on 02-Jul-1952 remaining until 22-Jul when it moved to 3rd Liaison Squadron at George AFB, Victorville, CA. It was then re-assigned to the Air Material Command and went to the Sacramento Air Material Area, at McLellan AFB, California on 08-Dec-1952 and on to Burbank, San Francisco, California on 22-Jan-1953 prior to embarkation to Japan and being assigned to the Far East Air Force.

Arriving in Japan on 29-Jan-1953 it was initially at the 6408th Maintenance and Supply unit at Kisarazu before joining the 3rd Liaison Squadron at Komaki on 10-Apr-1953 where it remained until 18-Oct-1953. It then returned to the 6400th Air Depot at Showa until 11-Dec-1953.

Its next deployment was to the Philippines and Clark AFB where it was attached to the 6200th Maintenance Support Group until 25-Jun-1954 moving to Naha, Okinawa, Japan and the 6351 Air Base Wing until 01-Aug-1954 and then to the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing at the same location.. It suffered an accident at Naha on 19-Aug-1954, suffering category 4 (serious) damage on the ground due to weather conditions. Possibly typhoon damage.

Emblem of the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing

There is a possibility at this stage that it was recommended as “Reduction to Spares” but instead it returned to Japan and the 6400th Air Depot at Showa in Oct-1954 where it remained until 15-Mar-1955 after which it returned to active service. Initially this was with the 6101st Air Base Wing at Komaki  from 15-Mar-1955 until 04-Apr-1956 and then to the 67th Transport Wing at Itami where it remained until 16-Apr-1956 for only ten days before returning to Komaki and the 6101st Air Base Wing.

A sojourn of four months at Kisarazu Air Material Depot with the 2723rd Air Base Squadron was followed by a return to Komaki on the 10-May-1957. Kadena and the 18th Fighter Bomber Wing beckoned on the 27-May-1957 and then over to the 6313rd Air Base Wing, the base host unit on 01-Oct-1957. It stayed until 09-Jun-1960 before moving onto Tainan where it was deployed with the 868th Tactical Missile Sq, 6214th Tactical Missile Training Wing and the 6214th SUT Squadron all assigned to the Pacific Air Force until 28-Feb-1963. This latter unit was subsequently moved to Kadena. The last location shown on the record card shows it at Clark AFB in the Philippines with the 405th Fighter Wing and a subsequent note that the aircraft sent for salvage on 12-May-1963.

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