WIX Archives

USAF Museum PT-26

Posted by Tony Broadhurst on Wed Feb 12, 2003 05:23:55 PM

Mike, in answer to your inquiry below:

Strictly speaking the PT-26 displayed at the USAF Museum is actually a Fleet-built Cornell II. The c/no. is FC120 and it was delivered to the RCAF in March 1943 as serial no. 10619.

This Cornell is one of 251 Cornell II's (RCAF s/nos. 10500 to 10750) built to an RCAF order by Fleet Aircraft Ltd. of Fort Erie, Ontario. Though, all 670 Cornell I's (b.b. Fairchild as PT-26) and a further 1057 Cornell II's (b.b. Fleet as PT-26A and PT-26B) were supplied via Lend-Lease funds, this initial batch of 250 appears to be a direct RCAF order. I anticipate the only data plate will be the small Fleet plate on the roll-over pylon -- stamped: "CORNELL II FC120". As an example Cornell 10738 in the National Aviation Museum at Rockcliffe has no USAAF acceptance plate and comes from the same batch.

Although on charge to the RCAF, Cornell 10619 served at the RAF's No. 34 Elementary Flying Training School at Assiniboia, Saskatchewan. This unit trained mainly, but not exclusively, RAF pilots shipped over from the UK. Fairchild Cornells began replacing the DH82C Tiger Moth at this unit during February 1943. 10619 suffered two minor accidents due to taxying collisions in May and July 1943. In January 1944 the Assiniboia school was taken over by the RCAF and renumbered No. 25 E.F.T.S., closing the following July.

Two, probably three, fatal Cornell accidents (an Instructor and a pupil pilot killed in each) at Assiniboia were due to jammed rudder pedals. Two more fatal accidents (4 killed) here were due to structural failure of the wooden wings and centre-section. The Cornells underwent modifications to overcome both problems.

RCAF 10619 was sold in December 1946 and must have crossed the border to the USA . The next trace I have of FC120 is as N2039A . Subsequently donated and ferried to the USAF Museum in it's current and inappropriate camouflage colours -- it should of course, be in RCAF trainer yellow.

There are at least four ex #34/25 E.F.T.S. Cornells still active:
Cornell Mk.I FH650 (N75463) is flying in PA and FH991 (N49462) in MN;
Cornell Mk.II 10618 (N103JC) is flying in NY State and 10620 (N73677) in TN.

Hope this helps, Tony Broadhurst

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