L-2M History

[dbdhenson]

We are currently rebuilding a L-2M (Serial # 43-25965). We have a pretty good history of the plane and have been able to determine that its military life was spent at the South Plains Army Airfield in Lubbock, Texas from approximately July, 1943 to November, 1944. South Plains Army Airfield is where the Winged Commandos (Glider Pilots) were trained. We figure that this plane was used in the training of the glider pilots and maybe even some of the civilian pilot training programs with Texas Tech University.

This plane has become a passion for us especially since we have a Lubbock connection. My Dad, brother, and myself graduated from Texas Tech. My wife is from Lubbock. And, my niece is planning on going to Tech next year. We are hoping to fly the plane back to Lubbock once it is finished for a "reunion".

We plan on making a trip to the Silent Wings Museum and Texas Tech's Library in Lubbock to research their archives. We are also looking for any historical documentation and/or pictures that anyone might have available of L-2s in the military. We are especially interested in pictures that might have been taken at South Plains Army Airfield. If anyone has anything please let me know.

I am attaching a few pictures of the project. So far we have been having a lot of fun with it and look forward to having a great flying L-2M.

[Dick Huish]

Re: L-2M History

David, I sent you an email offering my help and/or advice during your restoration. Like I said in the email I have a lot of experience restoring L-2s and have helped a lot of restorers obtaining the necessary parts that they needed. If you are going to Lubbock be sure and visit the Texas Air museum at Slaton. It might help you if you call there at talk to Malcomb Laing at 806-794-0190. He is the curator. They have an L-2M there. Dick

[dbdhenson]

Re: L-2M History

Dick:

Thanks for the offer of help and advice. I am sure we will be taking you up on it (several times).

We will be sure to make a stop by the Texas Air Museum on they way out to Lubbock.

Looking forward to getting your email.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: L-2M History

Give me the L-xxxx factory number & I have lots of history

[dbdhenson]

Re: L-2M History

Here is the information that we have on the L-2M:

USAAF tail number 43-25965, Manufacturer's s/n L-5277

Aircraft manufacture date: July 22, 1943

As per Individual Aircraft Record Card and FAA history for Taylorcraft
L-2M U.S. Army Air Forces serial number 43-25965.

Aircraft acquired on Contract AC-36504

Delivered, by air, from the manufacturer July 29, 1943 to the Lubbock
Texas Flying School No.2, Lubbock, Texas.

Reassigned to Romulus Army Air Field (Fry Field), MI on August 10, 1943
(may have been an administrative (paper) assignment)

Reassigned to South Plains Army Air Field, Lubbock, TX on August 15,
1943

Aircraft was passed to the custody of the Reconstruction Finance
Corporation (RFC) on or about November 25, 1944 for surplus disposition.

Sold surplus by RFC on January 9, 1945.

[M Towsley]

Re: L-2M History

Hey Forrest,

Nice of you to offer, do you think you can send me mine????!!!!! You already have the information................... Thank you!!!

David,

You already have a lot of the history!!! I don't even know when mine was originally built. Besides the RFC stuff, (I already have that), where did you learn of the rest?? I'm always interested in this stuff, I'm glad you already have some good documentation, good luck. We have two B models and three M models here in the Springfield area currently. Thanks.

[Pro from Dover]

Re: L-2M History

The NASM will provide you with a copy of the Aircraft History Card. This card will document where and which organization operated the aircraft while it was in military service. It may take three or four weeks for a reply. Pretty neat stuff...

While you will find what organization operated the aircraft do not expect to recover unique maintenance information. That info is long gone...

Smithsonian web link

http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/arch/collections/achistory.cfm

Good luck!

[M Towsley]

Re: L-2M History

Bill,

I spoke with a nice lady, not sure where from at this moment, but she sent me a copy of the 'card' information. Most cannot be translated, she couldn't even help. The reason being several organizations used their own coding and abbreviations. Forrest has had a copy of my information for a couple of weeks now, haven't heard anything since. Do you know anyone that can 'translate'???

[Forrest Barber]

Re: L-2M History

Marty I am digging into it again this afternoon, yours has a missing link at the factory. The History card speaks for itself after the factory delivery. I can "translate" I guess but it merely tells its history of service.
I will come back to this thread with the answer, usually I mail copies from here directly tot he Foundation member !

[Forrest Barber]

Re: L-2M History

After 2 hrs of research ,Forrest is stumped , put that in your book!! This airplane L2B, Army ser# 43-385 and factory L-4960 one of a batch of L-2B's from ser# 4751 to 5065 does not appear in either test pilots book. The history card shows it was at Ft Houston on 5-17-43 " Lost to Army Ground Forces" by a wire to Washington dated 5-19-43. You will have paper work showing it being bought from the RFC sometime & the data plate issued at that time. That should ahve the date of manufacture.
Date of build? well a lot of those ships were flown to the "brickyard" or the "armory" where they were crated and shipped to the Army. I use the factory records & test pilot log books for that research.
Al Barber ( my Dad) flew 384 & 386 on 4-7-43 384 for 2:15mins 386 for 1:05 mins. ( that is VERY strange to fly them that long) then we have the flights into the brickyard in early May , 5-13 #358, 5-10 & 11; 318,319,321,323,320,329, 332, 334 & up to 349. maybe they built these ships, tested them & let them sit till they were flown over for crating. I heard that sometimes the "test flight" was done on the ferry flight over for crating. THIS ship does not show on the factory test pilots books. Marty what is the first civilian paper work you have on her? Is the factory number correct? IS that the authentic number on the rear throttle?

[M Towsley]

Re: L-2M History

The paperwork I have on her is a receipt, unfortunately with no pricing; just showing $1.00 plus other valuable consideration, from Classic Aircraft Repair and Salvage out of Rush City, MN. (I was unable to contact this company, perhaps out of business). The plane was assembled from parts with the fuselage having S/N 4960. It showed all parts Milt Sup. (Military Supply)? No date on this paper but I am guessing early '90's as that is when the ship was assembled. I have an 'Aircraft Description Aircraft Assembled from Parts to Conform to the Approved Type Design in Accordance with FAR47.33(d)' form showing the registration number as 'Military' and S/N as 4960. This is the number on the FRONT throttle, nothing on the rear throttle. Apparently it was assembled a little backwards in regards to this. Probably someone who didn't know better. This form was dated Aug 27, 1991. Aircraft records show it as a Taylorcraft/Johnson after the first owner, Russell R. Johnson of Duluth, MN. I have no other paperwork unless the last owner held onto it. What does "Lost to Army Ground Forces" mean, any thoughts? Can you understand anything else on the paperwork I sent you? I found from other sources, and it is on that paperwork I sent you, of an RFC date of 9-01-44, though it is misread on another source I had as 9-14-44. Thank you for your continued research!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also, the data plate does not have a date of manufacture, therefore I think it is an after-the-fact data plate.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: L-2M History

Kind of like McDonalds "parts & pieces", she was built up around that throttle and some paper work......she did not even need the throttle ser#.
Get me a good photo of the throttle ( I am guessing it is not original) and the data plate. Dick Huish jump in here and we will show the gang how we do it!! Can you interpolate the factory # & Army # to see if they match. What do you think of the "Lost to Army Ground Forces" sounds like a total accident to me.

[M Towsley]

Re: L-2M History

Forrest,

As a side note I found a discrepancy from the previous owner, that he could not answer. The Army serial number on the data plate, which was a reproduction plate, showed 43-384. The owner had the data information on the left side of the plane as 43-386. I computed the army serial number from the aircraft serial number of 4960 into 43-385! This should be the correct number given the aircraft serial number. It is interesting to note that all three of these aircraft show an RFC date of 09-14-44, (which I believe should be 09-01-44). I have a picture of the data plate, I think, on this computer, I will send it to you.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: L-2M History

computed?? Like interpolated? I do not thionk thaas I said the ones on either side of it made it to the brickyard, maybe it crashed on the way. IT IS a mystery and you keep adding more pieces to the puzzle. Marty & I are conversing off list too!!

[Forrest Barber]

Re: L-2M History

computed?? Like interpolated? I do think that I said the ones on either side of it made it to the brickyard, maybe it crashed on the way. IT IS a mystery and you keep adding more pieces to the puzzle. Marty & I are conversing off list too!!