RCAF Electra Junior 7838.

**Bill Walker** · 11th January 2011, 17:43

A bit of a long shot, and I hope Ross doesn't mind. If anybody could suggest a better forum to post this question I would appreciate it.

Lockheed Electra Junior c/n 1206 served with the RCAF with their serial number 7838, from 1940 to 1945. Most records, including the RCAF's, report this aircraft as the former NC13318, but that was actually a Boeing 247D, purchased at about the same time, becoming RCAF 7638. You can see how confusing this becomes!

Can anybody provide any information on c/n 1206's former civilian identity, or on its life after 1945? Several other RCAF Electra Juniors were built in 1937, and came from Varney Air Transport. Can anybody prove that this one was ex-Varney as well?

**COL BRUGGY** · 11th January 2011, 19:07

Hello,

One source quotes the following for Lockheed 12-A Electra Junior c/n.1206:

Type: Lockheed 12A Junior Electra
Reg.: G-AEMZ
C/n.: 1206
History: G-AEMZ/R8987
Owners: W M Aitken - Lord Beaverbrook/Brian Allen Aviation Ltd.,Croydon/The Secretary of State for Air/RAE South Farnborough.
Date: 00-08-36
CoR: 7297
Fate/Comments: Impressed 8-9-1939. Damaged beyond repair Farnborough 14-4-1942*.

*Elsewhere, date quoted as 15-4-1942.

http://www.goldenyears.ukf.net/reg_G-A9.htm

See also:

http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/HistoricalMaterial/G-AEMZ.pdf

Col.

**Bill Walker** · 11th January 2011, 20:21

Thanks Col. So we can probably rule out RCAF 7838 actually being c/n 1206. So where did it come from?

**robstitt** · 11th January 2011, 21:47

Hi Bill:
According to Phil Butler's 'Air Arsenal North America' Lockheed 12A RCAF 7838 was c/n 1222 and ex NC18125 and CF-BRQ ('off-register' ferry flight registration to address US neutrality concerns). No mention of c/n 1202 although 1205 and 1207 are among the eleven of the type listed re RCAF service. More from that info if you need it.
All aircraft were bought from the civilian market via one Charles Babb.
Cheers:
Robert

**paulmcmillan** · 11th January 2011, 23:16

IIRC this came up on Air Britain Information Exchange 2 or 3 years ago. I will see if I can dig up the messages

**Bill Walker** · 12th January 2011, 00:19

Thanks everyone.

Robert, from RCAF records and conversations with a recent owner of c/n 1222, I'm pretty sure this was RCAF 7837.

According to RCAF records, c/n 1207 became RCAF 7645. Does this match up with Butler's information? I can't find any RCAF reference to c/ 1205, we may have just found 7838.

**robstitt** · 12th January 2011, 01:30

Hi Bill:

Phil quotes 7837 as c/n 1205 and, as you have, 7645 as c/n 1207.

Here they all are:
7640 c/n 1245
7645 c/n 1207
7647 c/n 1223
7654 c/n 1210
7838 c/n 1222
7641 c/n 1241
7646 c/n 1209
7653 c/n 1216
7837 c/n 1205

They are listed in contract order as each had its own contract. CAN-22, -23, -28, -32, -35, -37, -39, -43 and -44.

My error: that's nine aircraft rather than eleven as I quoted before. I can ask Phil to check his sources if you would like.
Regards:
Robert

**paulmcmillan** · 12th January 2011, 09:02

My memory is not bad but not perfect, AB-IX mentioned engines on Boeing 247D NC13318 not NC18125

**Bill Walker** · 12th January 2011, 13:35

Again, thanks to everybody. I am always impressed with what the Forumites can dig up. Here is my list of RCAF Model 12As, compared to the info Robert provided. I have 10 of them:

RCAF c/n (my notes) c/n (Robert)
1531 1240 none? maybe direct purchase by Canadian government?
7640 1245 1245 agree
7641 1241 1241 agree
7645 1207 1207 agree
7646 1209 1209 agree
7647 1223 1223 agree
7653 1216 1216 agree
7654 1210 1210 agree
7837 1222 1205 hmmmm.....
7838 1206 1222 hmmmm.......

So, based on RCAF records matching a subsequent owner's comments, I think RCAF 7837 was most likely c/n 1222. This leaves RCAF 7838. The c/n in RCAF records is clearly a typo, so it was probably c/n 1205. Still, I will have to show both of these as "probables" in my data base.