77TX

 
In December 1998, WOTN negotiated an agreement with local warbird operator Bruce Obermann to acquire a part ownership in his North American AT-6A Texan trainer (N77TX).  Here is a brief history of the aircraft as compiled by Tom Lymburn, local aviation historian.
 

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N77TX in the skies over Minnesota during the 1998 Mustang Roundup.
 
Serial Number:  AAF 41-16320

Construction Number: 78-6698

Ordered 1 October 1940, to AAC order # W535 ac-15977 to North American charge number NA-78 in block AAF 41-15824 to 41-17033, 517 total aircraft built as AT-6A-NT at North American Dallas, TX. 1480 total built as AT-6A/SNJ-3 in blocks 41-666 to 41-785 and 41-15824 to 41-17033 and AT-6A-NA blocks 41-149 to 41-665.  Power plant was 600 hp. P & W R-1340-49.  Aircraft were fitted with one .30 cal in starboard cowling and one flexible .30 cal in rear cockpit with 360 degree swiveling rear seat.  Unit cost was $20,869.00.  Civilian Texans were given civil certificates under Group 2 Approval #2-575 of 1945.
10 January 1942 Received by AAF at NA, Dallas, TX.
13 January 1942 To Luke Field, Phoenix, AX.  Assigned (most likely) to the 74th Air Base Group, later 4th Service Group.  Western Flying Training Command, Advanced Single Engine Training.

Note:  Luke had four runways, the longest 4500 feet.   It included seven auxiliary fields and six landing landing fields.  Base commander at this time was Lt. Col. Ennis C. Whitehead.

Note:  Luke Field AT-6A's were bare metal with red/white rudder stripes, red/white horizontal cowl stripes, black anti-glare panels, and carried the field fuselage code "X" and a three digit number.  Early aircraft wore the star and meatball insignia.  Later markings for aircraft used for Advanced Flight Training had yellow and black horizontal cowl stripes with black anti-glare panel.
March 1942 368:9 Total Time.
5 May 1942 Suffered wheels up landing at Luke Field, AZ.  Flown by Air Cadet Chia-Hua Chang, Chinese Air Force. 578:8 TT.
1 July 1942 To Roswell Army Air Field, Roswell, NM.  Western Flying Training Command, specialist bomber co-pilot school.

Note:  Roswell had seven runways, the longest 8500 feet and two auxiliary fields.
6 September 1942 To Higley Field. 1142:1 TT.
2 December 1942 To Roswell, NM. Western Flying Training Command.
3 December 1942 To Higley Field.
March 1943 To Harlingen Army Air Field, TX.  Eastern Flying training Command, Flexible Gunnery School. 1219:0 TT.

Note:  Harlingen had five runways, the longest 6000 feet and one auxiliary field at Laguna Madre.
10 April 1943 To Mather Field, Sacramento, CA, 67 Air Base Squadron.  Mather became an Air Transport Command base.

Note:  Mather had four runways, the longest 7500 feet.  Base commander at this time was Col. William B. Moffet.

Note:  Mather Field AT-6A's were bare metal and carried the airfield code "T" and a three digit number.  Early aircraft carried the star and meatball, later just the star without the meatball and without bars.
1 June 1943 To Las Vegas Army Air Field, NV, Eastern Flying Training Command, Flexible Gunnery School-Main Base.

Note:  Las Vegas had three runways, the longest 6500 feet.
6 October 1943 Assigned to Randolph Field, 2532 Base Unit, Station 8398, Central Flying Training Command.  Base commander was Col. Walter C. White.
26 July 1944 Assigned to Kaufman County Airport, Terrel, TX, 2564 Base Unit, Station 8631, Central Flying Training Command, Contract Pilot School (Primary and Advanced).   Kaufman had two runways, the longest 3600 feet.
27 August 1944 With 2564 Base Unit, Terrel, TX.
15 September 1944 Assigned to Kirtland Field, Albuquerque, NM, 4160 Base Unit, Station 8302, Central Flying Training Command, Combat Crew Training Station Main Base for heavy bomber training, 2nd Air Force.

Note: Kirtland had four runways, the longest 10,200 feet. Base commander at this time was Col. Louis B. Proper.
2 October 1945 Assigned 4160 Base Unit, Kirtland Field, Albuquerque, NM.
3 October 1945 Stricken Albuquerque, assigned to Reconstruction Finance Corp (RFC), at West Mesa Airport or the War Assets Administration (WAA) base at Albuquerque AAF (1706 aircraft at peak).

Note:  As of 1 May 1946, Albuquerque held the following aircraft for sale:  six AT-17, one AT-11, one C-54, twenty-one BT-13, and one hundred seventy-six AT-6.  At this time AT-6's were offered for sale at $850, later reduced to $500.
1950 Portuguese AF takes delivery of six SNJ-4 and 240 T-6G.  These were used until 1976.
1956 Portuguese AF takes delivery of 15 Harvard T. Mk. III.  These were used until 1965.
(The following is a brief outline of T-6 use in the Portuguese AF, AAF 41-16320 was operated by the FAP as #1620)
Between 1949 and July 1952 Portuguese AF takes delivery of SNJ-4, T-6G, fifty P-47D, and twenty-four SB2C-5.
1961 FAP develops counter insurgency force for use against guerillas in northern Angola and later Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique.

Note:  Armament may have included two to four 7.5 mm machine guns in underwing pods two racks for 100 lb. bombs or 4 to 6 rockets.
1961 T-6's delivered from France to FAP
25 August 1961 FAP operated armed T-6, PV-2, F-84G with C-54 and Noratlas support aircraft against rebels in Angola in "Operacao Canda."
1962 Esquadril HA de Ligacao eTreino based in Mozambique for liaison and training with T-6G, Auster, and Do-27A-4.
1963 T-6/Harvard was FAP basic trainer.  T-33 was advanced trainer and Chipmonk was primary trainer.
1965 Esquara de apolo-fogo (fire support squadron) operated T-6 at Bissalanca.
February 1966 Esquadra 101 operated T-6 and Pv-2 Harpoon.
March 1966 Esquadra 121 operated T-6 and Fiat G.91.
June 1969 Portugal supplied T-6's to short-lived Biafran Republic.  These would appear to be T-6G ex-French AF.
1970-1971 FAP acquired 60 "new" Harvards from South Africa.
1971 T-6, T-37C, and Chipmonk operated at training bases at Sintra and Sao Jacinto.  Armed T-6G also operated in Portuguese Guinea.

Note:  Standard trainer markings were silver/bare metal with yellow fuselage band and yellow wing bands inside the ailerons.
summer 1973 T-6's in operation in Portuguese colonies.
25 April 1974 Portuguese revolution. FAP had 850 and 18,000 personnel at this time.
August 1974 Portugal gives up African colonies.
spring 1976 FAP down to 264 aircraft on charge.
1976 Twenty plus T-6G operated in counter insurgency role in Mozambique and Guinea.
1979 The twenty remaining T-6 of 252 were being replaced by Cessna O-2/F337 at Ota and San Jacinto.
16 April 1980 Letter to FAA from Euroworld indicating G-TIDE (c/n 8-6698) as one of six T-6 dropped from UK Civil Registry.  CAA (London) confirms this, but misidentifies G-TIDE as G-TIME.
17 April 1980 Bill of Sale for G-TIDE to Drew Wigley, Dallas, TX, as Harvard T-6 from Euroworld International Airline, LTD.
19 May 1980 Bill of Sale to Jimmie R. McMillan, Breckenridge, TX, for 78-6698 and 88-14659 from Drew Wigley, Dallas, TX.
23 May 1980 Application for Airworthiness filed by Jimmie R. McMillan for N3762J.   8564:05 TT.
13 June 1980 Registration applied for by McMillan for 78-6698 as N3762J. Operating Limitations in Experimental Cat. for AT-6A, N3762J for air shows and racing only issued by FSDO, Ft. Worth, TX.
26 January 1981 Sold by McMillan to Robert E. Richeson, Graham, TX.  Registration applied for on this date.  Chattel Mortgage document filed with FAA by Richeson for N3762J as T-6 for $21,039.40.
(1986) (Note:  T-6 no longer listed on FAP inventory.)
14 July 1989 Richeson applies for Special Registration changing N3762J to N42DQ.
26 July 1989 Followup letter to FAA by Richeson about Special Registration N42DQ.
27 July 1989 FAA issues 78-6698 Special Registration N42DQ in Experimental/Racing Cat.
27 February 1990 Record Conveyance Form from 1st National Bank, Graham, TX, for $100,000 for Wells Oilfield Services for AT-6, N42DQ and Super Decathlon N5026N.
27 March 1990 Sold by Richeson estate to Wells Oil Field Services, Graham, TX.   Registration applied for on this date.
16 April 1990 Request to cancel Special Registration  N42DQ by Patricia Dial after the death of Richeson, reinstate N3762J.
7 August 1990 Request for Special Registration N77TX for c/n 78-6698.
10 August 1990 Sold as "N4200" by Wells to William P. Lear, Los Altos, CA.
17 August 1990 Registration Application file for N77TX by Lear Living Trust.
29 August 1990 FAA assigned Special Registration N77TX to c/n 78-6698.
30 October 1990 Major Repair Alteration Form filed for N77TX for STC for Mo-gas.   Engine R-1340-AN-1, s/n 16872.
4 January 1991 Major Repair Alteration Form filed for N77TX for installation of lead ballast (20lb), new weight and balance.
14 January 1991 Standard Air Worthiness Cert issued for N77TX as AT-6A.
18 January 1991 Major Repair Alteration Form filed for N77TX for installation of remote compass system.
8 February 1991 Major Repair Alteration Form filed for N77TX:
-install wing tip strobes.
-install high roll rate aileron belcrank.
-new weight and balance.
-install new type oil filter per STC.
23 March 1993 Sold to Aero Concepts, Wichita, KS by Lear Living Trust.   Registration Application filed by Aero Concepts.  Security Agreement for $91,000 filed by Aero Concepts for N77TX as AT-6.
15 August 1994 Major Repair Alteration Form filed for N77TX:
-repair left elevator, new Ceconite cover.
-replaced skin and stringer left horizontal.
1 February 1996 Sold to C and B Aero-Plain Co., Eden Prairie, MN.  Registration applied for as N77TX.  Aircraft Security Agreement filed with the FAA and release of Security Conveyance from Aero Concepts filed by C and B.