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National Skyways/Flying
Tiger's Budd Conestoga fleet:
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Budd RB-1 Conestoga
- N33308 RB-1 016 07/45 07/45 Aerovias Azteca
- N33330 RB-1 017 07/45 07/45 Aerovias Azteca
- N41810 RB-1 001 07/45 07/45 Fort Worth, TX. See Note b)
- N45347 RB-1 003 07/45 01/01/46 Bluefield, WV
- 45348 RB-1 004 07/45 by 47 Out of use by early 1947
(rgd Jun46)[2.46]
- N45349 RB-1 006 07/45 08/45 Asiatic Petroleum/Shell Oil
- N45350 RB-1 008 07/45 08/45 Asiatic Petroleum/Shell Oil
- N45351 RB-1 009 07/45 08/45 Asiatic Petroleum/Shell Oil
- N45352 RB-1 010 07/45 08/45 Asiatic Petroleum/Shell Oil
- N45353 RB-1 011 07/45 by 47 See Note a) ii)
(rgd Apr46 cx Jun46)[12.45/2.46]
- N45354 RB-1 012 07/45 /46? Tucker Automobile
- N45355 RB-1 013 07/45 07/50 Cuba (Not in service from 1947)
- N45356 RB-1 014 07/45 /47 See Note a) iii)
- N45357 RB-1 015 07/45 by 47 See Note a) i)
(rgd45 cx Apr46)[45/12.45]
Notes:
1)The identities given below are by inference from known certification dates,
but none are
confirmed by photographic or official records:
i) Detroit August 25, 1945. The most likely aircraft involved in this
accident is
N45357 (msn 015);
ii) Nr Grants NM November 7, 1945. N45353 (msn 011) is the most probable
aircraft involved in this accident;
iii) N45356 (msn 014) is the only aircraft with current certificate still
with FTL in
947, for which no subsequent history is known. Thus it would have to
have
made the last Conestoga flight for the company. Something happened during
the
landing at Los Angeles, and is presumably the aircraft donated to the LAX
Airport Fire Department.
b) What actually happened to the prototype on landing at Fort Worth, TX., is
unclear.
Nor is an exact date of the incident known. It was moved to the facilities of
Globe
Aircraft (TEMCO). Reports say it was to be brought up to the same standard as
the
rest of the fleet, but instead became a hamburger stand, or a gas
station!
c) Flying Tiger history always states that two aircraft were sold to South
America; but no evidence to attest to this has ever come to light. Two former
Tiger Conestogas went to Colombia in 1956, after some years in Cuba; and it is
possible that these are the "two to
South America" although ties to FTL had long been severed.
Additional note:
We are thus able to narrow the Cuban (Aerovias "Q") aircraft down to four
airframes:
004 ex Flying Tiger. The quote of "009" for CU-C-493, could well be a
misreading for "004." It being out of use with FTL by early 1947, could
indicate a sale, and relocation to Florida. Then CU-C-493 and HK-345.
012 ex Tucker. As both Harold Martin and Jorge Farinas quote CU-C-497 and
HK-344 with c/n "012," is there any real evidence against this?
016 ex Azteca, via FTL. If Pima i/d is correct this has to be the aircraft
that was
being flown from California to Cuba; but was abandoned on the Arizona/Mexico
border. Possibly CU-C-495 or CU-C-496 ntu.
017 ex Azteca, via FTL. Probably in California; and thus the fourth potential
"Q" aircraft - and possibly destined to be CU-C-495 or CU-C-496.
John M. Davis
27th May 2002
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