298

51-16513 • N88757 • N604TG • VH-HQE

VH-AWI (6)

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• 51-16513 USAF #1110. L-20A No: 111 Command AF-1. Delivered 01-Jul-1952. Built as L-20A and re-designated U-6A in 1962.

Accident: Komaki Air Base, Japan. 18-Apr-1953. Aircraft attached to the 6^th Liaison Squadron at Nagoya Air Base, Japan with JASDF.

• 51-16513 Vermont ANG.

• 51-16513 Stored at MASDC., Davis Monthan AFB., AZ. 1972 to Feb-1973. PCN (Product Control Number) Unknown.

• N88757 Roosevelt County Civil Defence, Wolf Point, MT. Regd Feb-1973.

• N604TG Texas State Guard, Corsicana, TX. Regd 04-Jan-1980. Canx 26-Mar-1986. Still on USCAR at 02-Mar-1990 & 01-Oct-1994.

• VH-HQE Great Barrier Reef Flying Boats, Airlie Beach, QLD. dba Air Whitsunday. Regd 03-Jul-1987.

• VH-HQE Coral Air Whitsunday Pty., Airlie Beach, QLD. Regd 22-Mar-1995.

• VH-AWI (6) Air Whitsunday Seaplanes P/L., Airlie Beach, QLD. Regd 19-Mar-2002.Re-regd 04-Jan-2006 under CASP 47.

Note: CASP 47 was a 2005 requirement by Australian Authorities for all aircraft to show registration details of both owners and where appropriate operators.

Accident: Hardy Lagoon, near Shute Harbour, QL. 25-Jun-2015. During an offshore takeoff, the aircraft struck an underwater coral structure, resulting in minor damage to both floats. No injury to occupants.

• tt 14,168 hours (Summer 2017).

• Current •

USAF History

51-16513 was made available on 06-Jun-1952 and accepted on 11-Jun-1952 by the 6600^th Air Depot AMO (Air Material Overseas Unit), at Downsview, Ontario after which it was assigned to the Tactical Air Command. It was delivered to Biggs AFB, El Paso, TX and joined the 1^st Liaison Squadron remaining until 22-Jul when it moved to 3^rd Liaison Squadron at George AFB, Victorville, CA. It was then reassigned 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 3^rd Liaison Squadron at Komaki on 28-Mar-1953, remaining until 03-Feb-1954. It passed to Showa and the 6400^th Air Depot for a short period and then returned to Komaki. It is recorded as having a category 2 (minor/medium damage) accident at Komaki on 18-Apr-1954 involving collision with the ground. The pilot was Gordon T Robertson. The report shows it as being attached to the 6^th Liaison Squadron with the Japanese Self Defence Force but this is not supported by the aircraft’s record card.

At Komaki it was again attached to the 3^rd Liaison Squadron from 15^th Mar-1955 and then to the 6101^st Air Base Wing from 15-Mar-1955 until 25-Oct-1956. It is then shown as going to the Northern Material and Repair Area at Showa until 24-Jan 1957. The reason is unknown. It returned to the 6101 AB Wing and remained until 13-Jun-1958. It moved to Tokyo and the Johnson AFB joining the 6041^st Air Base Wing and then stayed as it was re designated to Group level. From here it was assigned to the Air Material Overseas Command and to Tachikawa 2710^th Air Base Wing. It was passed to the 6100^th Air Base Wing on 31-Dec-1960 and then to the re designated 6100^th Support Wing until its time in Japan ended with a return to the US mainland and to an assignment with the Hagerstown, Maryland Fairchild Aircraft Company facility for a short period of storage. Returning to active duty it was assigned to the Strategic Air Command from 30-Jun-1963 and the 381^st Strategic Missile Wing at McConnell AFB Wichita, KS.

Struck off active service with the USAF on 18-Jun-1966 moving to the Vermont Air National Guard at Burlington after which it moved to MASDC., Davis Monthan AFB., Arizona from an unknown date in 1972 to Feb-1973 then to the Civil registry.

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