then a search aircraft finds the tail with a visible number?
The search aircraft
did not see the aircraft registration number, all they saw was
possible aircraft wreckage. That was only found after the search party reached the site.
did you fly convicts around at ...oh what was it called?
Yes, it was called, The United States Marshal Service Air Operations, Justice, Prisoner and Alien Transportation Divison, JPATS for short, or;
Con-Air.
(We tried to get 'Con-Air' as our call sign, but because on the East Coast there was a company that had the call sign 'Com-Air' we were turned down.)