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This
aircraft was manufactured at its Hagerstown factory by Fairchild Engine and Airplane
Corporation as a UC-61A Forwarder. Delivered to the USAAF as 43-14601 on June
22 1943, seven days later saw it shipped to the UK to be used as a 'hack'aircraft
to the US 8th Air Force. At the end of the war it was rendered 'surplus to requirements'
and was civilianised by London Aero and Motor Services at Elstree Aerodrome. Placed
on the civil register as G-AIZE, it was one of 54 surplus Argus aircraft flown
post war as British registered civil aeroplanes. It made its first civilian flight
from Lympne to Le Touquet on June 17 1947 and after a period of work in that country
was flown on to Italy. On September 5 1948 the Argus force landed in a field 'owing
to darkness and lack of fuel' damaging the undercarriage and prop. The pilot and
navigator were unhurt and the aircraft was taken to Venice for repair.
March
24 1949 saw the first test flight with the aircraft being returned to the UK in
1951. It was transferred to the American civil register as N9996F and purchased
by a captain of Pan American Airways. In 1955 it made a brief appearance in the
film 'The Glenn Miller Story' when it was used to substitute the Norseman that
actually flew Glenn from Twinwood Farm and into a mystery never solved. Passing
through a number of owners it suffered another accident in 1964 when it landed
heavily at Elstree ripping off the undercarriage and damaging the propeller again.
After repair the Argus flew its last flight on May 1 1966 when the certificate
of airworthiness expired. It was purchased by the RAF Museum in February 1973
and was taken into store at RAF Henlow. Moving to Cosford for storage, October
21 1997 saw the aircraft arrive at Maps for restoration to be conducted over a
two year period.
Maps finished the aircraft in its original military configuration
before it was returned to Cosford to be placed on display.
Photos Detailed
History Back  P.Cole
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