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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:B-18B Bolo
    Last Military Serial:37-0029 USAAF
    Construction Number:1890
    Last Civil Registration:N52056
    Latest Owner or Location:Castle Air Museum, Castle Airport (formerly Castle AFB), Atwater, California

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a B-18.

    Circa 1937

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 37-0029.

    Converted to a B-18B.

    To Anthony Stinis, NY with new c/r NC52056.

    1945

    To Smyrna Beach Aero, Miami, FL keeping c/r NC52056.

    1954

    To Anthony Stinis, Jamaica, NY with new c/r N52056.

    1956


    Photographer: Mel Christler
    Notes: Christler and Avery Aviations crew loading Douglas B-18B N52056 for a spraying job in 1956

    From 1959 to 1960

    To Christler and Avery, Greybull, WY keeping c/r N52056.
    Operated as a srayer.

    From 1960 to 1969

    To Avery Aviation, Greybull, WY keeping c/r N52056.

    Operated as fire service #B20.

    August 1961

    To Avery Aviation, Greybull keeping c/r N52056.

    From 1969 to 1981

    Based at Hawkins and Powers, South Bighorn County Airport, Greybull, WY.
    View the Location Dossier

    From 1970 to 1981

    Withdrawn from use.
    Placed in open storage at Greybull, WY.

    Circa 16 March 1970

    Certificate of airworthiness for N52056 (B-18, 1890) issued.

    16 March 1970

    To Hawkins and Powers Aviation Inc, Greybull, WY with new c/r N52056.

    October 1979


    Photographer: Geoff Goodall
    Notes: N52056 tanker #B20 was used by Avery Aviation until the 1960s at Greybull, Wyoming, where it still sat in October 1979

    1 April 1980


    Photographer: unkown
    Notes: Douglas B-18A N52056 (ex USAAC 37-29) retired at Greybull, Wyoming in October 1979. It had been a fire attack tanker and sprayer with Mel Christler and later Hawkins and Powers Aviation, based at Greybull. This prewar veteran was traded to the US Air Force Museum at Castle AFB, California in exchange for several Douglas C-117Ds.

    October 1981

    To National Museum of the United States Air Force Loan Program, Wright Field, Dayton, OH.
    View the Location Dossier

    Loaned to Castle Air Museum, Castle Airport (formerly Castle AFB), Atwater, CA.
    View the Location Dossier

    25 October 1981

    Transported by ground.
    Delivered from Greybull to Castle.

    Markings Applied: R38
    Displayed in USAAC markings.

    Markings Applied: BI/24
    Displayed in USAAC markings.

    26 April 1984

    Civil registration, N52056, cancelled.

    By October 1984


    Photographer: Wayne Gomes
    Notes: Photographed at the Castle AFB Museum in Atwater,

    2 September 1991


    Photographer: Robert Nichols

    By 1991

    Markings Applied: 38, THE GREAT WHITE, R, 38

    By October 1994

    By 2010

    Markings Applied: BI, 24

    12 September 2010


    Photographer: Mike Henniger

    12 September 2010


    Photographer: Mike Henniger
    Credits
     Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...
    Internet Sources
     Airbus, Boeing, Convair and Douglas Production List
    Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America
    Ruud Leeuw.com by Ruud Leeuw
    Warbirds Directory, 6th Edition (2013) by Geoff Goodall
    Individual Contributors
     Terry Fletcher
    Robert Nichols
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