Beaver Tails master index

 previous  next click on arrows to navigate page by page.

c/n 318
51-16529 on the busy ramp at Lahr, Germany.
Photo: Aeroplane Magazine © May 1954 issue

c/n 318

51-16529

x

51-16529 USAF #1129. L-20A No: 130. Command AF-1. Delivered 14-Jul-1952. Built as L-20A and re-designated U-6A in 1962.

Note. This could be TC-CAS, formerly of Turkish Air Force as 318.This airframe noted at Wipaire, South St. Paul, Minnesota on 01-Aug-2000.

Status Unknown

USAF History

51-16529 was made available on 03-Jul-1952, accepted on 08-Jul-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 Donaldson AFB, SC where it was assigned to the 64th Troop Carrier (Medium) Group on 14-Jul-1952 until re allocated on 14-Dec-1952 to the 4th Liaison Squadron.

In preparation for transportation to Europe it was immediately assigned to the Air Material Command and the 2847th Transportation Control Depot (TPC) Wing at Newark NJ from 14-Dec-1952. It arrived in Germany at Neubiberg and was assigned to Air Force Europe from 23-Jan 1953 being initially allocated to the 86th Fighter Bomber Wing where it remained until 18-Feb-1953. It was then allocated to the 85th Air Depot at Erding until 01-Apr-1954 after which it moved to the 4th Liaison Squadron at Furstenfeldbeck staying until 01-Apr-1954. The aircraft then moved to Landstuhl for the 7030th Headquarters Group until 15-Oct-1954 and 01-Nov-1954 and then to the 86th Fighter Interceptor Wing until 03-Mar-1955. This unit moved to Phalsbourg-Bourscheid where a new airfield had been built in the Moselle Region of France but also transferred between the two bases twice ending up at Landstuhl until 17-Dec-1956.

A period of maintenance at the Aermacchi facility, Vergiate, Northern Italy was next on the agenda staying for five months until 15-May-1957. The next three and a half years saw the aircraft re located to France initially at Laon Couvron in the Aisne region of North East France. It was first allocated to the 38th Tactical Bombardment Wing until 18-Jun-1958 at which time the units B-57s were returned to the USA and the assets were transferred to the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing now resident at the base. This allocation only lasted a month as the aircraft moved to the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing at Chaumont-Semoutiers on 31-Jul-1958. The unit deployed to Brienne-le Chateau a nominated Dispersed Operating Base for the 48th 01-Sep-1958 & 20-Dec-1958 after which the aircraft returned to Chaumont, but only for three days as the unit is next reported at Laon between 23-Dec-1958 and 13-Sep-1959. However it is believed that the actual unit was the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance unit to whom the aircraft was attached during 1958.

Emblem of 48th Tactical Fighter Wing

A short stay with the 7030th Support Wing at Ramstein was next on the agenda but only between 13-Sep-1959 and 09-Oct-1959 as the aircraft then returned to the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Laon remaining with the unit 6th Jan-1961. During this time apart from an eight month deployment at Toul-Rossiers between 12-Apr-1960 and 05-Oct-1960. We next find the aircraft assigned to TUSLOG (The US Logistics Group) in Turkey and deployed to Karamursel with the 6900th Security (SC) Wing until 11-Apr-1963.and then at Yalova with the 6933rd Support Group until 17-Nov-1963. Its next location was to Athenai Airport, Greece attached to the 7206th Support Group. The aircrafts further USAF history is to be researched.

x