Fairchild Club Forum

'When I bought my 'Argus' although it had a C of A there was no data plate or any sign of a serial number stamped on the fuselage frame by either door.

Can any historians amongst us say if these military machines originally came with data plates or any other means of identification?

Many thanks

Frank Cox

UC61K G-BCBL'

'Frank,
Good question..

I presumed just as with the Fairchild-built PT series the most important identity plates would be on the instrument panel, but I had to check.

I understand Fairchild did not stamp nos. on the fuselage frame itself - but others may know differently.

Have you AN-01-115CC-1; "Pilot's Flight Operating Instructions for Army Model UC-61K Airplane"?

Have a look at the instrument panel illustration on page 8.
The AAF acceptance plate is low down near the middle. That should give you the Army serial and the acceptance date (bearing mind your ex-RAF Argus was Lend-Lease supply and thus passed through the USAAF acceptance procedure).
The Fairchild plate is on the right hand side, low down on the panel. This plate would have shown the Fairchild type no., construction no. and possibly date of construction.

If you do not have a copy I can send you a scan.

Tony Broadhurst
Grimsby, England

--- In fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com, "Frank" wrote:
>
> When I bought my 'Argus' although it had a C of A there was no data plate or any sign of a serial number stamped on the fuselage frame by either door.
>
> Can any historians amongst us say if these military machines originally came with data plates or any other means of identification?
>
> Many thanks
>
> Frank Cox
>
> UC61K G-BCBL
>

'