Can You help ID this plane and crew?

[jskovseth]

I found this in my brothers garage while cleaning it out. I'm not sure if this is family or not, no one can seem to place the photo. Can anyone ID the plane and/or the crew? Thanks! Jon

[comiso90]

Army Air Corps maintenance ground crew in front of an AT6 Texan.

perhaps maintenance school?

[thirtybg]

The aircraft is an AT-6, yes... but I think these fellas are more likely to be flying cadets than ground crew,
as they're wearing flying overalls. (possibly A-4 type)

The code on the fuselage indicates that this could be Bainbridge Field in Georgia. As far as I know there is
no master list for Flying Training Command/Training Command and stateside airfield codes, but Bainbridge
is the only field I've come across which seems to fit the code of 'BB'.

[MONDARIZ]

I think BB is "Beale bandit" the modern tailcode for Beale AFB.

I have been looking for a period, where USAF/USAAF flew without national markers on the fuselage. I have not been able to find any.

Maybe the picture is from somewhere else?

[MONDARIZ]

We are most likely looking at this aircraft:

41-33497 (c/n 88-10619) to RAF as Harvard IIA EX524. No record of receipt

Notice how the 106 fit the BB 106 and 19 fit whats visable on the tail.

[evangilder]

The CN would not be on the tail. The tail would be a serial number.

Beale AFB was only a bombardier/navigator training base during WWII. T-6s were not used for that type of training.

[evangilder]

The roundel on the left wing would indicate pre-war or early WWII. That roundel was used from 1919 until May of 1942, when the red circle was removed from the center of the star.

[MONDARIZ]

I did not see the roundel on the left wing. Seemed like another AC to me.

[ccheese]

Do I see a "razorback" P-47 in the background ? Might give an indication
of the time-frame.....

Charles

[evangilder]

The tail looks a little small for a P-47 to me. But it does offer another clue. The tail of the background plane has the dark color with a striped rudder, which is consistent with the training command markings of the time. Here is a PT-17 and a PT-22 with the same tail color scheme.

The tail makes me think of a BT-13, bit could be something else.

[ccheese]

Originally Posted by evangilder

The tail makes me think of a BT-13, bit could be something else.

The cockpit looks like it's enclosed by a full canopy. What was the
forerunner of the P-47 ?

Charles

[MONDARIZ]

The background aircraft could be a Curtiss P-36 Hawk.

[evangilder]

The tail is too thin to be a Hawk. The tail on the hawk was shorter and fatter. The BT-13 has a thin tail and an enclosed cockpit.

[ccheese]

By jove ! I think you've got it !

Charles

[MONDARIZ]

The BT-13 tail looks about right, but the cockpit (on the actual pic) don't look like a two seater.

Maybe we should stick to finding the AT-6?