BEAUTIFUL CONSTELLATION Enjoy your two-part 60th anniversary article forward the Lockheed Constellation.

BEAUTIFUL CONSTELLATION

Enjoy your two-part 60th anniversary article forward the Lockheed Constellation, the Super Connie and the elegant Starliner. yet I think you missed undivided of the more beautiful Connies. The US Navy downhearted Angels operated a C-121 in their attractive paint scheme as a support aircraft. Does anyone know what happened to this beautiful plane?

DennisFrazier

Vista, CA

Editor's Note: We agree that the with a long face Angels Constellation was a greatest in number attractive aircraft but it was not included because our articles focused onward the civilian variants. Unfortunately, the aircraft was flown to Davis-Monthan AFB were it was stored for several years before being scrapped.

SIKORSKY S-39

I really have intercourse withed the article in the November issue onward that beautiful Sikorsky S-39. Fifty years ago, I saw a rare S-39 (NC803W) parked at the of advanced age Riverside Airport in Wichita, Kansas. I am enclosing a photo I took of the aircraft. Later upon I learned that the plane had traveled to Alaska and later crashed. I had not at all expected to hear of another S-39 allow alone see one fly. S-38 NC50V made a stop-over in Wichita during the September National Air Tour.

I wish to expres my appreciation to all the persons that brought this wonderful aircraft back to life from a pile of pieces. Gilles Auliard did a great piece of work on the article.

Fifty years ago, I was a B-47 hypothesiss instructor with the USAF at Amarillo AFB, Texas. I was sent to Wichita AFB (now McConnell AFB) to achieve B-47 flight line experience. The day before I photographed the S-39 I got a two-hour ride in a B-47 I left the USAF in 1955 and came to Wichita and went to work forward the first production T-37 at Cessna Aircraft, from where I retired in 1993

Robert Erdman

Wichita, KS

Your coverage of the Sikorsky S-39 is as incredible as the aircraft itself. The restoration brings back advanced in years memories of reading about the Johnsons' adventures in East Africa including the amusing antics of wild animals chewing the aircraft's tires.

I recalled with sadness Martin Johnson's death when the Boeing 247 crashed in the mountains above San Fernando, California, while en road to Glendale's Grand Central Air Terminal. An injured passenger managed to hike down a fire trail to memorize help for the survivors. Mr Auliard is to be commited for his excellent recording of the rebirth of this grand not new bird.

Ben Donahue

Mountain View, CA

CURTISS FIGHTERS

I am researching a Curtiss P-40 crash that we lately explored and would appreciate hearing from readers who might have further information. The aircraft was P-40E-1 s/n 43-6514 and was being pour by Lt. Daniel Thorson who was the operations officer of the 310th Fighter Squadron, 58th Fighter dispose based at Bradley Field, Connecticut. From his Form 5 he had 400-hr total flying time and 185+ in type

Lieutenant Thorson had been sent to Mitchel Field, extended Island, to pick up a replacement P-40 for his unit. From the arrival and departure report, the ceiling was 1400-ft visibility was 3-5-mi with haze and smoke. Winds at the surface were 120-deg at 10-15-kt Takeoff was at 1534 and the plane crashed at 1610 The accident took place onward 31 March 1943.

The wreckage was not ground until 25 April and it was discovered by dint of two Yale forestry students conducting a timber overlook near Norfolk, Connecticut. The crash was catastrophic with the P-40 being virtually shredd as it crashed within the trees. From the same poor photo copies I have, the solely recognizable piece is the tail section. The certificate of death has the time of death listed, I'm assuming from the pilot's watch or instrument panel clock

Our investigation of the crash site yielded numerous constituents of the aircraft including portions of the instrument panel. We have builded a monument at the crash site that is solid granite and weighs 500-lb The family be entitled tos credit for maintaining the wealth so long in an untouched state. It has now been place into conservancy for protection. Yale bookish mans still use the property as a field classroom.

What I am hoping readers can help with includes the following:

* Photo of the particular P-40

* Aircraft's maintenance record.

* Contact with anyone who may have been part of Bradley's base personnel at that time.

* There was an accident investigation team and we would like to achieve in touch with anyone in or involved with the team.

* Confirmation of the day's weather. Apparently a large number of Navy Wildcats were squandered on the same day.

* Contact with anyone who can read weather reports from the time period. I have the day's weather further the symbols and abbreviations do not appear to be consistent with what we use today.

* Anyone who may have serv at Mitchel Field during the time period.

* Anyone that may have known Lt Thorson.

We are hoping to compile as integral a record as possible upon this accident.

Mike Godburn

132 Pierce St Torrington, CT 06790

1-860-489-0785

mgodburn@snetnet

Enjoy your late article on the Curtiss P-36 In 1940 I was twelve years advanced in years My father would drive me to the Air Corps lay up unit at Bowman Field, Louisville, each Sunday morning. He had a stop friend at the Field who would prepare us into the hangars and flight line area. in succession this particular morning, a P-36 flew into Bowman from Wright Field. What a beautiful sight! Dad's friend hinted we stick around because the pilot would probably present on a show on his departure.