AA "Flagship Bristol" info wanted

[ConnieLover]

An old family photo with no date in it shows the nose of American Airlines "Flagship Bristol" at the Tulsa, Oklahoma, Municipal Airport -- the name is painted on a hangar.

I just wanted to know what years this particular aircraft flew for AA as one way of helping to date this photo. I did Google this aircraft and found a website -- "john2031.com" -- that has a page on DC-3s that features this particular aircraft. She apparently was a DC-3. According to that website she only flew for AA from 1945 to 1947, but I am not completely sure that is correct, and I cannot find any other info on that particular aircraft anywhere else on the web. The other site said her tail number was N33317, and her Construction Number was 11636.

So I am asking here, in case anyone has any further info on this aircraft. Thanks in advance for an info anyone has!

[Cubs2jets]

ConnieLover,

I would love to have a copy of your picture of NC33317 American Airlines Flagship Bristol.

Here is what I can provide you:

https://i.imgur.com/EpaKffX.jpg

dc-3 N2733A, American Airlines N33317 Flagship Bristol.Welcome to John 2031.com All about aviation, aircraft photos, and stuffthat really matters (http://www.john2031.com/douglas/dc-3/airplane_pictures_cn_10000-11999/n2733a.html)

I also have corroborating information that says she served with American from 01/45 to 09/47.

C2j

[megan]

History given else where.

Produced under Contract No. AC-26937 serial range 42-68693/68851 as a Douglas C-53D-DO Skytrooper

68709 (MSN 11636) delivered Mar 6, 1943. In USA. Damaged Jul 16, 1944 in takeoff accident Bergstrom, Texas. To RFC Oct 8, 1945. NC33317 DPC - American Airlines "F/s Bristol" L "17" Jan 30, 1945 - WAA Sep 24, 1947 - N733A Arctic Frontier A/L (Jun 1948) - AP-ADJ Pak-Air Ltd "Naakee" registered Nov 3, 1948 -N733A R J O'Mara-Westair, White Plains, NY (Jul 1953) - CF-HFT E F O'Mara registered Jul 24, 1953 - N733A Amerada Acft & Equipment Corp Aug 27, 1954 - N2733A Safe Flt Instrument Corp, White Plains, NY - Bendix Corp (May 1961) - C D Stoltzfus & Assocs, Coastville, PA (1966) - R M Ward, Indianapolis, IN Nov 1968 - Lease All Data Systems Inc, Kansas City, MO (Jul 1970) - Skvwav Avn Inc, Jackson, MI - Rusk Avn Inc, Kankakee, IL registered Aug 26, 1974 - Stolen in Florida May 1977 - Not recovered bv Dec 1982.

[DaveReidUK]

To RFC Oct 8, 1945. NC33317 DPC - American Airlines "F/s Bristol" L "17" Jan 30, 1945 - WAA Sep 24, 1947

If anyone else, like me, is struggling with some of the acronyms that Joe Baugher uses in his aircraft histories, the following might help:

RFC: Reconstruction Finance Corporation -- a government agency founded in 1932 to give aid to state and local governments and to make loans to banks, railroads, mortgage associations, and other businesses. During the war, the RFC made loans to enterprises essential to the war effort. It also supervised the sale and disposal of excess and surplus aircraft at the end of the war.

DPC: Defense Plant Corporation (a subsidiary of the RFC)

WAA: War Assets Administration

List of Abbreviations and Acronyms (http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/usafserials.html)

[Heathrow Harry]

There's hope yet...

"Stolen in Florida May 1977 - Not recovered bv Dec 1982."

[treadigraph]

Used for drug running I guess - probably in the sea or jungle somewhere.

[ConnieLover]

Thanks, megan, for the info! This airplane really had quite an interesting career!

The reason I asked is because I am in the picture next to a family member who was 5 feet tall, and I am shown as being only a few inches shorter than her, so I thought I had to have been a lot older than I actually was when that photo was taken to have been the height I was in that photo. Can't ask anyone my parents' generation, as they have all passed away some time ago.

Just one of those mysteries life presents to us at times.

[Cubs2jets]

ConnieLover,

Would you care to share your picture of Flagship Bristol?

If the photo posting is a bit of a head scratcher, you could send to me and I'll post it for you.

twoj3s at yahoo dot com

C2j

[DaveReidUK]

Thanks, megan, for the info! This airplane really had quite an interesting career!

It's worth checking out Joe Baugher's site - as well as that quoted history of NC33317, others from that same batch of USAAF C-53s became "Flagship Albany", "Flagship Bridgeport", "Flagship Charleston", "Flagship Douglas", "Flagship Elkins", "Flagship New Haven", "Flagship Washington" and the rather oddly named "Flagship Bn45" (reported elsewhere as "Flagship Battle Creek", which seems more feasible), with similarly chequered histories.

1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-57213 to 42-70685) (http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_3a.html)

[ConnieLover]

DaveReidUK: Thank you for the link to all that interesting info. That is a real treasure trove.

Cubs2jets: Sorry, but no, not now. I'll find a photo-hosting website I like and put some photos on it so I can share them with others. Thanks for the offer.

butrton_push_ignores: Thanks! It is wonderful that there is a mint-condition AA DC-3 on display in Dallas.

DC-3s seemed to be almost indestructible. A number of them have lasted a very, very long time - and some even still fly! I wonder if the people at Douglas Aircraft ever thought any of their DC-3s would still be flying more than 70 years after they were built?