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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Douglas B-18/B-22/C-58/DB Bolo / Digby
    Latest Model:RB-18A Bolo
    Last Military Serial:37-0469 USAAF
    Construction Number:2469
    Last Civil Registration:N56847
    Compressed ID:Douglas RB-18A sn 37-0469 USAAF cn...
    Latest Owner or Location:National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a B-18A.

    1938

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Corps with s/n 37-0469.

    From 1939 to 1942

    Transferred to Wright Field, Dayton, OH.
    Used for evaluation testing.

    20 June 1941

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 37-0469.

    1942

    Redesignated as RB-18A.
    Aircraft relegated to utility work.

    By June 1942

    Transferred to Midland AFS, TX.

    20 June 1942

    Ferry flight.
    Wright Field, OH to Midland Field, TX.

    20 June 1942

    Damaged.
    Taxi accident at Midland due to mechanical failure.

    1946

    To G. H. Baldwin with new c/r NC56847.

    1954

    To Leo J. Demers, Salem, OR with new c/r N56847.

    Converted for, and used as a crop duster.

    From 1964 to 1966

    To Walter J. Martin, Long Beach, CA keeping c/r N56847.

    From 1965 to 1970

    Withdrawn from use.
    Placed in storage at Tucson, AZ, then later moved to Albuquerque, NM.

    From 1969 to 1970

    To Westernair, Albuquerque, Albuquerque, NM with new c/r N56847.

    To Dennis Hock keeping c/r N56847.

    18 August 1970

    To William C Whitesell, North East, MD keeping c/r N56847.

    March 1971

    Ferry flight. Delivered to National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright Field, Dayton, OH.
    View the Location Dossier

    2 February 1972

    Civil registration, N56847, cancelled.

    1 June 1972


    Photographer: Unknown

    From 1980 to 1982

    Restored.
    Rare retractable turret was recovered by Darryl Greenamyer from belly-landed B-18 high atop a Hawaiian mountain (and the plane is still there).

    1982

    Markings Applied: R 33
    Marked as 38th Reconnaissance Squadron in 1939.


    Photographer: National Museum of the USAF

    19 September 1987


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
    Notes: Displayed during 40th Anniversary of the USAF

    19 September 1987


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
    Notes: Displayed during 40th Anniversary of the USAF

    21 July 1988


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

    11 June 1990


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

    6 May 2008


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

    5 June 2012


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

    5 June 2012


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

    19 April 2013


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

    19 September 2023


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
    Notes: Only overhead view available, special access to an overhead viewing window.
    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier is based on
    unreviewed imported data.
    If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor.
    Credits
     Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...
    Internet Sources
     1000 Aircraft Photos (Aeroplane Photo Supply) by Ron Dupas and Johan Visschedijk
    Airbus, Boeing, Convair and Douglas Production List
    Aviation Archaeology
    Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America
    National Museum of the United States Air Force
    Warbird Registry by Scott Rose
    Individual Contributors
     Glenn Chatfield
    Mike Henniger
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