• 51-16490 USAF #1070. L-20A No: 71. Command AF-1. Delivered 16-May-1952.
Note: This aircraft is also shown in some writings as operated by the Fuerza Aérea de Colombiana/ Colombian Air Force from1953, but the USAF history of this aircraft shows its service unbroken until at least 1963 as far as current research shows. So for the record the detail is recorded below:-
• FAC-115 Fuerza Aérea de Colombiana / Colombian Air Force. Operated from 1953. Used by SATENA and Escuadron de Enlace.
• FAC-5115 Fuerza Aérea de Colombiana / Colombian Air Force. Re serialled on an unknown date. Poss with EMAVI – Ecole Militaire de Aviacion (Military Aviation School.).
Note: Seen in good flying condition in 2002.
USAF History
51-16490 was made available on 02-May-1952 and accepted by the by AMO Unit (Air Material Overseas Unit), at Downsview, ON., on 09-May-1952 and is reported as delivered to Goose Bay AFB, Newfoundland on 16-May and the 6603rd Air Base Wing. The aircraft remained based in Newfoundland until 1960 and its northern history is as follows.
It moved to the Ernest Harmon AFB and the 6602nd AB Group on 29-Jun-1952 and then returned to Goose Bay and the 6615th Transport Squadron on 20-Jan-1954 remaining only until 09-Feb-1954.Interestingly at this time the aircraft was designated as a Special Missions Aircraft although the exact nature of the designation is unclear, but perhaps associated with cold weather testing.
Its next attachment was with the 6614th Medium Transport Squadron at Ernest Harmon between 09-Feb-1954 and 02-Mar-1956 after which there was a return to Downsview for maintenance until 01-Jun-1956 and then back to the 6614th. It returned to Goose Bay with the 6606th Air Base Wing on 18-Jun-1956.and re assigned to the Strategic Air Command when it was re designated as 4082nd Air Base Group until 01-Apl-1957. It then had a short period with the 22nd Helicopter Squadron also based at Goose Bay. and supported the squadron helicopters re-supply the ACW sites in Newfoundland and Labrador. None of the sites had a landing strip for fixed wing aircraft. The AC&W sites were on the coast and most had a bay where an L-20 (on floats) could land in summer to bring in supplies. Sometimes in the winter when the choppers were grounded for weather, the L-20 would land on the ice with skis. A few of the 22nd pilots at Goose got checked out in the L-20. In the summer the L-20's were on floats and were used to support the R&R fish camps. Wheel-skis were installed in the winter as they would sometimes do supply runs to the sites. The aircraft returned to the 4082nd on 05-Feb-1959.
Four months at the North American Company’s facility at St Paul, Minneapolis interrupted active service but it returned to the 4082nd at Goose Bay on 12-Aug-1959. There was a short period at Ernest Harmon AFB with the 4081st Combat Support Group from 02-Oct-1959 until 23-Nov-1959 after which it once again returned to Goose Bay with the 4082nd having been re designated as a Combat Support Group and a few months later on 02-Mar-1960 as the 4082nd Strategic Wing.
Its time in Newfoundland finished on 02-Mar-1960 when it moved to Langley AFB for the 4440th Air Delivery Group but only for ten days.
Emblem of the 4440th Air Delivery Group
The next move was to the 792nd Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron at North Truro, Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Emblem of the 792nd AC & W Squadron
This deployment lasted from 29-April 1060 until 29-Jun-1961 after which it was attached to the Eastern Transport Air Force and the 1608th Heavy Transport Wing. This lasted until 05-Aug-1963. Its next location was at Byrd Field, Richmond, VA where it was attached to the 4638th Support Squadron.
The aircraft’s further military history is still to be researched.
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