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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: Curtiss P-55 Ascender
    Latest Model:XP-55-CS Ascender
    Last Military Serial:42-78846 USAAF
    Construction Number:P.02
    Compressed ID:Curtiss XP-55-CS sn 42-78846 USAAF...
    Latest Owner or Location:Air Zoo Aerospace and Science Experience, Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport, Kalamazoo, Michigan

    EDIT THE HISTORY HERE    		 If you can add to the history or would like to submit a correction please use the editor to do so.

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    Dates

    Event

    1943

    Constructed as a XP-55-CS by Curtiss at Saint Louis, MO.

    9 January 1944

    First flight.

    January 1944

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 42-78846.

    January 1944

    Transferred to Technical Data Laboratory, Wright Field, Dayton, OH.

    From 16 September 1944 to 2 October 1944

    Transferred to Muroc Dry Lake AAF Test Center, CA.
    Aircraft was undergoing flight trials.

    1945


    Photographer: Charlie Daniels Collection / San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive

    May 1945

    Transferred to Warner Robins Field, GA.

    July 1945

    Assigned to US Aircraft Section, Air Materiel Command, Freeman Field, Seymour, IN for storage.
    Stored waiting transfer to National Air Museum.

    July 1946

    Assigned to US Aircraft Section, Air Materiel Command, Freeman Field, Seymour, IN for storage.
    Shipped dismantled. Placed in aircraft storage area awaiting transfer to National Air Museum.

    January 1956

    To Smithsonian, National Air Museum, Washington, DC.

    1956

    Based at Smithsonian, National Air and Space Museum, Paul Garber Facility, Silver Hill, MD.
    Stored dismantled.
    View the Location Dossier

    10 June 1991


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
    Notes: At the Paul Garber Restoration Facility of the National Air and Space Museum.

    December 2001

    Loaned to Air Zoo, Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport, Kalamazoo, MI.
    Shipped dismantled from Silver Hill.
    View the Location Dossier

    From 2002 to May 2006

    Restored.

    26 May 2006

    Placed on display.

    24 September 2007


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

    24 September 2007


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

    Loaned to Air Zoo Aerospace and Science Experience, Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport, Kalamazoo, MI.
    View the Location Dossier

    24 July 2019


    Photographer: VIN (V77RFC)
    Notes: 42-78846 - CURTISS XP-55 ASCENDER at Kalamazoo Museum
    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...
    Print Sources
     U.S. Military Out of Service 2010 by Andy Marden
    Internet Sources
     Aerodata Quantum+
    Smithsonian, National Air and Space Museum
    United States Military Services Serial Number Lists by Joe Baugher
    Individual Contributors
     John Bennett
    Glenn Chatfield
    Mike Henniger
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