designations and general "misplacements" etc.
There are also some aircraft whose histories and
dispositions just don't add up.
Please e-mail the author: sdbeck AT caverock DOT net DOT nz
with any information or your own theories...
Drawing Credit: USAF.
Was there ever 3 Aeronca L-3C airframes allocated to the US Navy as the JR-1?
Theres no records for this designation and no s/n's recorded, one apparently had
a civil reg.: N47051.
What's the correct c/n allocation for the Piper L-4B?
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
What was the date of first flight for the C-45?
Was BuNo. 89466 / 89494 (29) designated as the JRB-5 or JRB-6?
I have them as JRB-6 at the moment.
Details for a Beechcraft Model D18S issued s/n: 89-0126 in 1988-1989?
Was RAF Expeditor Mk. I (HB759), delivered?
Answer: RAF logs don't record a delivery.
Boeing-Stearman PT-13 / PT-17 kaydet
A photo depicting an N2S-5 Kaydet with BuNo. 52941 has been published
in several books. However, the s/n batch for BuNo. 52627 / 53049 was
cancelled according to every source I can locate?
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
C/n's for the P-40F and P-40L.
Douglas A-20 Havoc
Were the 240 Boeing DB-7B (AL263 / AL502) designated as Boston Mk. III or Boston
Mk. IIIA in RAF service?
The Boeing built DB-7B's had electrical system differences over the Douglas built
DB-7B's, but was this enough to warrant them as Mk. IIIA?
The RAF version of the A-20C was Boston Mk. IIIA as these had
armament and fuel capacity improvements.
Douglas DC-3 / C-47 Skytrain
Allocations for RAF Dakota s/n: FG857, TJ170, TP181.
Did RAF s/n: HK993 exist, or was it really HK893?
Grumman F4F Wildcat
Some Martlet Mk. III serial numbers seem to duplicate themselves with those of
the Martlet Mk. I. These are s/n: AX733 and AX824 / AX829.
Grumman Goose
Were Goose Mk. I (Mk. II?) RN s/n: FP738 / FP747 assigned to a batch not delivered
but returned to the USN?
Was Goose Mk. II RCAF s/n: 398 assigned?
Lockheed Twin Series
Hudson Mk. III (RAF) V9069 (414-3714) is quoted as being converted on the factory
floor and delivered as an L-18-07 c/n: 18-2111, then impressed as a C-56C s/n:
42-57212. It is known to have existed up to 1982 where it then disappeared? However,
sources also quote V9069 (414-3714) being completed and sent to the RAF and RCAF
before being struck off charge in 1948? Were there two airframes built with s/n: V9069?
Present Answer: Was most likely built.
Was USAAF s/n: 41-23629 (414-6446) - (RAF) BW767 - (RNZAF) NZ2048 built as an
A-29 or A-29A?
What was the distribution of the B-34 Lexington to the USAAF, RAF, RAAF, RCAF
and RNZAF, did the RAF receive any aircraft?
Did the 18 B-37 aircraft built have c/n: 137-1001 / 1018 or c/n: 437-6476 / 6493
or were both issued?
Lockheed C-69 / C-121 Constellation
Were the 9 C-121A Constellations built as the Model 749 or Model 749A?
North American AT-6 Texan (Harvard)
Harvard Mk. II serial numbers:
(RAF) AH185 / AH204 (20)
(RCAF) 2501 / 3013 (513)
(RNZAF) NZ901 / NZ967 (67)
All were produced between c/n: 66-2234 / 2833 (600).
What was the distribution within this c/n range?
Some sources quote these RAF serial numbers:
EZ100 / EZ208 (109)
EZ259 / EZ458 (200)
as being Harvard Mk. IIA where others quote them as being Harvard Mk. III's.
Present Answer: They are Harvard Mk. III.
North American B-25 Mitchell
Of the 162 Mitchell's for the NEIAF (N5-122 / N5-283), what number were
B-25D's and B-25J's?
There appears to be various s/n to c/n "mismatches" for the B-25J, especially in the
later batches.
North American P-51 Mustang
Are the c/n's for the two XP-51J 105-47446 and 105-47447 or the more likely
105-47444 and 105-47445?
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
Was the P-47 company model number AP-10 or P-44?
Stinson L-5 Sentinel
Details required on post-WW2 Stinson production concerning left-over airframes which
were built and sold on the civil market from 1945 - 1950?
Did T-34A BuNo. 147543 / 147547 exist as a foreign export?
Why did seven T-34A sold to Spain have newly assigned c/n: X-100 / X-106?
What is the status of these Model B-45 c/n's:
CG-11
CG-48 / CG-57
CG-61 / CG-72
CG-74 / CG-110
CG-114 / CG-121
CG-200 / CG-203
Was Fuji T-34A c/n: KD-50 (JG-50) built or cancelled?
Convair T-29 & C-131 Samaritan
The first flight of the XT-29 is given as 22 September, 1949 but records show the first
one wasn't manufactured until 15 February, 1950?
Douglas C-74 / C124 Globemaster
Was C-124C s/n: 53-001 originally assigned cancelled s/n: 52-1090?
and does it actually carry c/n: 43999?
Fairchild C-82 / C-119 Flying Boxcar
Why were the USMC R4Q-2 Packet's redesignated as C-119F's in 1962 and not C-119G's,
did they not have "G" variant features?
What year did the C-119L first enter service?
Fairchild C-123 Provider
Why do onboard C-123 data-plates list the Chase Model No. MS-8B instead of the
Fairchild Model No. 205?
General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark
Did F-111A-CF s/n: 66-9277 exist?
Why the dual c/n's on the F-111E and F-111F variants?
Grumman AF Guardian
Did AF-2S BuNo. 124210 exist?
Grumman F9F Panther / Cougar
At what point (BuNo.) was F9F Cougar production transferred from
Bethpage to Calverton?
Did F9F-8T BuNo. 143013 exist?
Grumman S2F Tracker
What are the c/n's for the XS2F-1 and YS2F-1?
The first batch of S2F-1 c/n's seem to be out of sequence:
BuNo. 133043 / 133328 are listed as c/n: 14 / 299.
The c/n's should be 16 / 301, if they are to line up with the YS2F-1 and the next batch
of S2F-1's which start at c/n: 302.
This maybe to do with the first two S2F-1 airframes originally ordered as the XWF-1
(BuNo. 133043, 133044) prototype which was then cancelled.
What are the c/n's for S2F-1 BuNo. 149843, 149844?
The USAF s/n: 59-5919 / 59-5921 (3) were assigned from what batch of S-2 Tracker?
Need further details on CS2F-1 s/n: (RCN) 1500, 1501?
Whats the first flight and production dates for the CS2F-2?
Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
Were the construction numbers for the Aeritalia F-104S 783-1001 / 783-1246 or just
6701 / 6996?
Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk
USAF serial numbers and construction numbers maybe inaccurate?
Lockheed P2V Neptune
Did the 3 P2V-7 BuNo. 144732 / 144734 exist?
Lockheed S-3 Viking
Are the c/n's for S-3A BuNo. 160567 / 160607: 394A-1147 / 1187 or 394A-3147 / 3187?
McDonnell F-4 Phantom II
Some details surrounding JASDF F-4E(J) s/n: 8324 / 8332 - did they carry a 37 or
47 prefix?
North American F-86 Sabre / F-100 Super Sabre
Were the original serial numbers for the YF-86D prototypes actually: 49-577 and 49-578
and were these later re-serialled to: 50-577 and 50-578? A photo exists (below) of YF-86D
50-577 at Edwards AFB in the early 1950s with "9577" on the tail indicating a FY1949 s/n
of 49-577.
North American T-28 Trojan
Why were the two USN Trojans (T-28B / C), given USAF designations and not Navy
ones when the 1962 Tri-Service system wasn't in place until 1962?
Present Answer: Aircraft were procured through USAF so had USAF designations with
USN serial numbers.
North American OV-10 Bronco
Did the charge number NA-404 ever exist for the OV-10E?
Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter
The following countries assembled F-5's but I have no references to what serial numbers
were built and when:
Korean Airlines Co. Ltd., Aerospace Division (KAL), Seoul, South Korea,
1981 - 1986, 48 KF-5E / 20 KF-5F "Chegong" (Skymaster).
Swiss Federal Aircraft Factory (F&W), Emmen, The Netherlands,
1978 - 1985, 90 F-5E / F-5F.
Aero Industry Development Center (AIDC/CAF), Taichung, Taiwan,
380 F-5E.
Bell H-13 Sioux
HTL-1 BuNo. 122452 / 122461 appear to clash with the BuNo.'s of the Lockheed
P2V-2 Neptune?
Hiller H-23 Raven
HTE-1 BuNo. 129169 / 129184 (16) - counted as cancelled?
H-23G s/n: 66-13106 / 66-13195 (90) - counted as cancelled?
Kaman H-2 Seasprite
Is the SH-2G Super Seasprite still in production?
Did UH-2B s/n: BuNo. 150621 / 150623 exist?
Piasecki (Vertol) H-21 Workhorse / Shawnee
Was CH-21C s/n: 52-8680, c/n: C-176?
Some Canadian deliveries had previous USAF serial numbers which don't line up
against the delivery dates for the numbers assigned:
CH-21B, s/n: 59-2331 / 59-2336 (6).
CH-21B, s/n: 59-5927 (1).
Model 44A, s/n: 60-5445 / 60-5449 (5).
Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw
Require accurate production totals for civil (S-55A, S-55C) built airframes.
Require serial numbers for foreign built (France and Yugoslavia) airframes.
Sikorsky H-34 Choctaw
Was H-34A s/n: 58-1721 assigned?
Was UH-34D BuNo. 154045 assigned?
SH-34J BuNo. 149840 (c/n: 58-1611) was assigned to Netherlands MDAP sale
s/n: 135, but some sources also has it assigned to HSS-1N Chile sale s/n:
N-51 (c/n: 58-1429).
UH-34D BuNo. 150729 (c/n: 58-1725) was built for the USMC, but the BuNo. also
appears to have been assigned to an SH-34J Netherlands MDAP sale s/n: 134
(c/n: 58-1597).
Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe
Were c/n's: 64-068 and 64-069 ever built as the civil S-64E?
Sikorsky H-3 Sea King
Were SH-3D BuNo. 158874, 158875 & 159026 / 159029 cancelled airframes?
Present Answer: Yes.
Did CH-3C s/n: 65-12511 exist?
Were USCG HH-3F with US Navy BuNo. 158847 / 158858 built?
Martin B-57
Were there 823 or 925 UK built Canberra bombers?
Model 737
Did USAF C-40B 01-0005 exist, or did it become 01-0041?
Answer: 01-0005 was not taken up.
Was C-40C s/n: 02-0204 cancelled?
Answer: Cancelled.
Grumman E-2 Hawkeye
What factory was the E-2 / C-2 built in?
Lockheed U-2 / TR-1
Dates of first flights for the U-2A/B/D?
Factory locations and production dates for the U-2 / TR-1?
McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
What is the c/n for F-15C s/n: 81-0056, some sources quote it as 046 but this clashes
with s/n: 81-0002 for Saudi Arabia as 1322?
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet
The Northrop YF-17A prototypes featured s/n: 72-1569, 72-1570. However I have
seen pictures with the tail number on 72-1569 being "01569"?
Theres some conflicting details over Australian Hornet construction numbers, are they:
AF/A-18A c/n: mixed 228 to 834 or as I have presently listed c/n: mixed A181 to A581.
AF/A-18B c/n: 213, 214 or as I have presently listed c/n: B041, B042.
AF/A-18B c/n: mixed 215 to 632 or as I have presently listed c/n: mixed B043 to B097.
Bell UH-1 Iroquois / AH-1 Cobra
UH-1
Was the official first flight October 20th or 22nd, 1956?
Did s/n: 70-4507 / 70-4510 (4) for the UH-1D exist, some sources quote them as being
an export sales batch?
Did UH-1F s/n: 62-5434 (c/n: 7000) exist?
Were the 4 UH-1F (s/n: 66-15358 / 66-15361) really cancelled, as some sources quote
they were sent to Colombia?
Was UH-1H s/n: 68-15779 / 68-15794 (c/n: 17001 / 17016) an export order or cancelled?
Did UH-1H c/n: 16001 / 16027 exist as an export order or was it cancelled?
Did UH-1H s/n: 72-22068 / 72-22071 exist as an export order?
Did Bell 212 c/n: 30500 exist? Some documents quote such a number.
Details of civil Bell 204B c/n: 1501, 3001, 3002 that went to Japan.
AH-1
Was s/n: 64-7015 (c/n: 2600) and s/n: 64-7016 (c/n: 20001) ever assigned to any of the
AH-1 Cobra prototypes?
Is AH-1F s/n: 83-24065 / 83-24076 a cancelled contract?
Is AH-1W BuNo. 165445 / 165450 a cancelled contract?
Was AH-1W c/n: 26245 built?
Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey
Year of first flight of the CV-22B?
Was the first 6 MV-22B aircraft designated as NV-22A?
Seems to be some c/n conflicts in various production batches?
Boeing-Vertol CH-47 Chinook
Is CH-47D s/n: 98-02000 (c/n: M-3462) for the US Army new built or re-manufactured?
Does Singapore s/n: 88199 (199) CH-47SD exist or was it even delivered?
Has production in Italy and Japan finished?
Hughes (McDonnell Douglas / Boeing) AH-64 Apache
YAH-64A s/n: 74-22247 clashes with s/n for Bell YAH-63?
Are YAH-64A s/n: 79-23257 / 79-23259 in the FY'77 or FY'79 year?
What is the c/n for the WAH-64D, s/n: 92-05408, for the British Army?
Hughes OH-6 Cayuse / Model 500
Would like more details on foreign delivered OH-6A helicopters in the c/n group
1072 / 1078 (7) and 1079 / 1099 (21).
What are the c/n's for OH-6A s/n: 66-17905, 66-17918?
Details on the A/MH-6M?
Sikorsky H-53 Sea Stallion
The model number for the CH/MH-53E is the Model S-80 but the c/n's still list a
"65" prefix?
Whats the status of CH/MH-53E c/n: 65-604, 65-605? Were they built?
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk
UH-60A s/n: 85-25511, 85-25512 clash with s/n for Bell UH-1H.
The US Army spells the name as two words: BLACK HAWK, but the US Navy spells
the name as one word: SEAHAWK, various other "Hawk" names are spelt as one or
two words as well, which is correct?
McDonnell Douglas AV-8 Harrier
Was AV-8B+ batch BuNo. 165020 / 165027, completed by Italy?
Some sources quote Spanish AV-8's as being designated as the AV-8G?
Raytheon T-6 Texan II
Did the modified Pilatus PC-9 with US civil reg.: N26BA also
have a modified c/n, possibly being either PT-1 or T-1?