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USAAS McCook Field P-Numbers 1919-1930

In the mid-1950s AAHS member Warren Bodie with the assistance of Ms. Jennie Reeves (custodian of the Wright Field still photo files), Peter M. Bowers, William T. Larkins and John Sloan compiled an index of the aircraft tail numbers (P-number) for McCook Field (and later Wright Field).  The period covered was 1918 through 1930.  P-numbers were assigned to aircraft used in engineering and research evaluations during this period. Even at this date no one is sure what the “P” represented – plane, project or procurement.  Aviation historians and photograph collectors have long noted these identifier numbers painted on the rudders of various aircraft. The original list was published in Vol. 1, No. 4, of the AAHS Journal (October-December 1956). This information has been updated using a number of published references including significant data provided by Drew Taylor derived directly from the airplane records by month for both engineering divisions at McCook and Wright Fields, and further supplemented by Robert Casari.

The following is an updated listing of the McCook Field P-numbers. It includes additional aircraft that were not in the original listing, as well as information regarding the engines installed (in many cases including their Air Service number).  A notes column has been added that contains additional information about the aircraft.

P-No. A.S. No. Make Model Engine H.P. Eng. A.S. No. Notes
P-301 22-1122 Aeromarine DH-4B-3 Liberty 12 400 31334 In assembly 1/1/24. Surveyed “7/24/23” (7/24/24?), #10999.
P-302 22-1125 Aeromarine DH-4B-3 Liberty 12 400 XY-5184 Active 1/1/24 & 5/1/25. Transferred to FAID, OH 1/27/27, ST #28020.
P-303 64215 Witteman-Lewis XNBL-1 6 x Liberty 12 400 “Barling Bomber”. Active at FAID 1/1/24, 7/30/24 (22649), & 5/1/25. Salvaged 1928. Engine s/n’s 28497-YG, 29733-YG, 30433-YG, 22163-YG, 31334-YG, & 5011-YG.
P-304 64239 Gallaudet DB-1 Eng. Div. W-1 750 22-24 Active 7/26/23 (18575), 1/1/24, & at FAID 5/1/25. Surveyed 12/7/26, #24351.
P-305 23-1204 Engineering Division XCO-5 Liberty 12 400 22163-Y Active 1/1/24, 8/5/24 (22752), & 5/1/25. Had Liberty 12 s/n 4654 on 5/1/25. High alt. photo project during all 1929. Surveyed 1/30.
P-306 68533 Sperry Messenger Lawrance L-4 64 95046 Active on 1/1/24 with trapeze attachment for use with dirigibles. Shipped to Scott, IL 2/27/25, ST #13503.
P-307 22-1118 DH-4B Liberty 12 400 43940 Active 1/1/24. At “Factory”, assigned to Cross Country on 5/1/25. Surveyed 12/7/26, #24347.
P-308 68535 Dayton-Wright XPS-1 Lawrance J-1 200 22-101 An alert pursuit. Did not meet required performance. Active 7/24/23 (18564). In storage 1/1/24. W/o engine 5/1/25. Transferred to FAID 9/27/26, Shipped to Chanute, 5/27/27, ST #25-365.
P-309 23-1216 Boeing XPW-9 Curtiss D-12 440 10109 Static tested. Surveyed 11/8/23, #10956.
P-310 64236 Boeing GA-2 Eng. Div. W-1A 750 95060 Active on 8/20/23 (18745) & 1/1/24. Later had a W-1A s/n 22-88. Transferred to FAID, OH 4/14/25, ST #13729.
P-311 68536 Dayton-Wright XPS-1 Lawrance J-1 200 22-102 In storage 1/1/24. Transferred to Museum 9/10/23, ST #3945. Transferred to Scott, 3/23/25, ST #13612.
P-312 23-553 DH-4BP-1 Liberty 12 400 4769-XY Active on 1/1/24 & 5/1/25. On 5/2/25, it had a Liberty 12 s/n 31823-Y & was a photographic plane. Surveyed 2/8/26, #17062.
P-313 None Thomas-Morse S-9 Lawrance J-1 200 22-100 Active on 1/1/24. Company owned, not accepted. Transferred to Brooks, TX 1/12/24. At factory on 5/1/25.
P-314 23-538 Curtiss JNS-1 Wright I 150 48339 Army rebuilt. Active on 9/15/23 (18949) & 5/1/25. Transferred to FAID, OH 1/20/26, ST #21246.
P-315 23-552 DH-4BP-1 Liberty 12 400 4769XY Transferred to FAID, OH 12/3/23, ST #5514.
P-316 68519 Curtiss NBS-1 2 x Liberty 12 400 400 29733-Y 30433-Y Supercharged engines. Active on 1/1/24. Transferred to Langley, VA 11/13/25, ST #11563.
P-317 None Huff-Daland TW-5 Wright E 180 49645 At Penscola, FL. Wrecked in Alabama while company owned.
P-318 23-1210 Douglas DWC Liberty 12 400 28447 “Boston II” World Cruiser, c/n 144. On 5/1/25 had Liberty 12 s/n 32598-YG. At Langley, 1/1/24. Awaiting overhaul at McCook, OH, 5/1/25. Transferred to FAID, OH 9/2/26, ST #25318.
P-319 A-5906 G. Elias EM-2 Liberty 12 400 U.S. Navy s/n. Active 1/1/24. Returned to U.S. Navy.
P-320 22-315 Eberhart SE-5E Wright E 180 48953 Re-built by Eberhart. Active 1/1/24. At factory 5/1/25. Transferred to FAID, OH 1/28/26, ST #21294
P-321 22-316 Eberhart SE-5E Wright E 180 47061 Active on 1/1/24 & 5/1/25. Also had Wright E s/n 49018. Surveyed 7/8/26, #17096.
P-322 68526 Curtiss NBS-1 2 x Liberty 12 400 400 30748 32923 Supercharged engines. Active on 1/1/24 & 5/1/25. Transferred to Mitchel, NY, 7/3/25, ST #18177.
P-323 A-6426 Douglas DT-2 Liberty 12 400 31112 U.S. Navy s/n. Transferred from USN for parachute tests. Active 4/24/24 (21321). At W. Wright, OH, 5/1/25. Returned to US Navy.
P-324 23-1211 Huff-Daland TW-5 Wright E 180 49088 Later had a Wright E s/n 47490. Active on 1/24/24 (20393) & 5/1/25. Transferred to Chanute, IL 9/3/25, ST #18493.
P-325 23-1209 Fokker CO-4A Liberty 12 400 4409 Active 1/11/24 (20246), 8/14/24 (2284), & 5/1/25. Fog cockpit tests. Written off 1927.
P-326 68580 Fokker PW-7 Curtiss D-12 440 3121 Active 1/16/24 (20320). Surveyed 10/22/24, #10906.
P-327 68581 Fokker PW-7 Curtiss D-12 440 23-142 Static tested. Active 2/11/24 (20543). Surveyed 2/21/25, #10956.
P-328 23-1220 L.W.F. XT-3 Liberty 12 400 4760 Active 5/1/25. Later had Liberty 12 s/n 3711-G. Surveyed 1/18/27, #24357.
P-329 23-669 Gallaudet DH-4B Liberty 12 400 30004YG Performance test #507. Surveyed 2/21/25, #10952.
P-330 22-399 Vought VE-9 Wright E 180 46861 Later had a Wright E s/n 49759. Active on 5/1/25. Transferred to Montgomery AID, AL 9/21/26, ST #25407
P-331 22-400 Vought VE-9 Wright E 180 47556 Also had a Wright E s/n 49088. Active on 5/1/25. Written off 1927.
P-332 23-109 Boeing XCO-7 Liberty 12 400 A DH-4M1 with a thick wing. Wrecked 5/13/24, Lt. E. H. Barksdale & R. Anderson killed (21542) (21569). Surveyed 5/23/24, #4967.
P-333 23-1202 Curtiss XPW-8 Curtiss D-12 460 23-177 Active 2/4/24 (20479), 9/18/24 (23366), & 5/1/25. Transferred to Selfridge, MI 1/8/26, W/O 1/30/1923.
P-334 23-420 DH-4B-3 Liberty 12 400 33245Y Active 4/8/24 (21164) & 5/2/24 (21395). Wrecked 6/18/24 near Dayton OH by Lt. Macready (22031). Surveyed 9/29/24, #4992.
P-335 68567 G. Elias XNBS-3 2 x Liberty 12 400 400 22004YG 77485 Active on 7/29/24 (22631) & 5/1/25. Transferred to Chanute, IL 5/17/26, ST #21800.
P-336 24-111 DH-4B-4 Liberty 12 400 37891-Y Active 5/1/25. Also had Liberty 12 s/n 20167. Transferred to Phillips Field, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 3/9/26, #21492.
P-337 68592 Boeing XDH-4M-1 Liberty 12 400 44736 Active 3/13/24 (20910). Transferred to Boston Airport, MA 2/27/25.
P-338 23-1309 Dayton-Wright TW-3 Wright E 180 47717 Surveyed 11/10/24 (also listed as 10/2/24). (Johnson Gerhardt crash on Troy Pike 1924 race Stunt Whistle Job)
P-339 64226 Aeromarine MAT Lawrance L-4 64 95051 Aerial torpedo. Transferred to Langley, VA 1/9/25, ST #11797.
P-340 ?
P-341 ?
P-342 ?
P-343 ?
P-344 ?
P-345 68576 Fokker TW-4 Curtiss OX-5 90 Fokker model S-I. Performance test #414. Salvaged 11/5/23, I&I report #4549.
P-346 ?
P-347 ?
P-348 ?
P-349 ?
P-350 ?
P-351 A-6577 Douglas DT-2 Liberty 12 400 2504 U.S. Navy s/n. Active 6/24/24 (22125) & 5/1/25. Parachute tests. Awaiting transfer to university 1/1/29-5/1/29. In storage at FAID 5/29-5/30 awaiting transfer to university. Transferred 5/30.
P-352 68571 Curtiss XNBS-4 2 x Liberty 12 400 400 31331 24873 Active on 6/6/24 (21833) & 5/1/25. Used into 1927/28.
P-353 68281 Boeing MB-3A Wright H 300 68719 Wrecked McCook, OH, 10/17/24. Surveyed 12/19/24, #10943.
P-354 23-1235 Curtiss R-8 Curtiss D-12A 500 Following 1923 Pulitzer race, U.S. Navy R2C-1 was transferred to Army and rebuilt. Crashed 9/2/24 by Lt. Pearson. Crashed 9/3/24 (23167). Surveyed 9/8/24, #4997.
P-355 23-1217 Boeing XPW-9 Curtiss D-12 440 23-193 Active on 5/1/25. Engine removed, awaiting survey 1/1/29. Surveyed 3/29.
P-356 23-1218 Boeing XPW-9 Curtiss D-12 440 23-117 Active on 6/19/24 (22038), 5/1/25, & into 1927/28.
P-357 24-201 Curtiss PW-8 Curtiss D-12 440 23-211 Active on 7/22/24 (22536) & 5/1/25. Surveyed 8/7/25, #17024.
P-358 24-202 Curtiss PW-8 Curtiss D-12 440 23-139 Active on 5/1/25. Turbo-supercharger test. Used into 1927/28.
P-359 24-247 DH-4B-4 Liberty 12 400 33363 Active on 8/12/24 (22838) & 5/1/25. Also had Liberty s/n 5169Y. Used into 1927/28.
P-360 23-1236 Engineering Div. XCO-6 Liberty 12 400 5142 Air-cooled inverted Liberty. Active 7/14/24 (22390). Converted to XCO-6B with 435hp Liberty 12A in 1924, then to XCO-6C in 1927. Plane with VG-1410 perf. tests 1/29-12/29. Torque meter 1/30-12/31. Surveyed 4/32.
XCO-6C Allison VG-1410 400 26-29
P-361 24-204 Curtiss PW-8 Curtiss D-12 440 23-192 Used in “Dawn to Dusk” flight. Active on 5/1/25. Transferred to Selfridge, MI, 5/20/25, ST #13901.
P-362 22-328 Verville Sperry R-3 Wright H-3 400 Active 10/1/24 (23472). Transferred to Museum 11/25/24, ST #8841. Engine removed 2/13/25.
P-363 32319 Boeing DH-4M-1 Liberty 12 400 31451-YG Active on 5/1/25. Also had Liberty 12 s/n 33245. Transferred to FAID, OH 1/3/27, ST #27390.
P-364 23-1203 Curtiss XPW-8A Curtiss D-12 440 23-130 Was former XPW-8 converted to a racer. Performance tested. Tunnel radiator installed. Was later fitted with tapered wings & re-designated XPW-8B. Active 9/12/24 (23276). Not listed on 5/1/25. Surveyed 5/5/25, ST #10976.
P-365 68566 Atlantic AO-1 Liberty 12A 420 5003 Converted from CO-4 in 1924. Performance test #506. In storage at McCook 5/1/25. Equipment being removed 3/15/26.
P-366 31412 Boeing DH-4M-1 Liberty 12 400 24160 Transferred to FAID, OH, 11/10/24, ST #11523.
P-367 A-6745 Longren L-3 L-4 60 SE 8967 U.S. Navy s/n. Active on 9/15/24 (23320) & 5/1/25. Equipment being removed 3/15/26. Surveyed about 1926.
P-368 31216 Boeing XCO-7B Liberty 12 A 420 26281 Transferred to Museum 3/16/25, ST #16114. Equipment being removed 3/25. Wings removed 11/30/26 for shipment to Forest Products Lab., approved by McMahon. Surveyed 1927.
P-369 23-163 Atlantic XCO-8 Liberty 12A 400 33305-YG DH-4M2 with COA-1 wings. Performance test #522. Active on 5/1/25 and to 6/1/30. Awaiting survey 7/1/30. Surveyed 8/30.
P-370 68539 Thomas-Morse MB-6 Wright H-3 400 Static tested. Used in crash tests at W. Wright, OH, 11/24.
P-371 24-301 Boeing DH-4M-1 Liberty 12 400 31385 Active on 5/1/25. Also had Liberty 12 32936. Used into 1927/28.
P-372 24-93 Curtiss JNS-1 Wright E 180 48517 Later had Wright I. Equipped with Sperry autopilot. Active on 5/1/25. Used into 1927/28.
P-373 22-1 Sperry M-1 (M.A.T) Messenge Lawrance L-4 60 94596 Radio controlled Aerial Torpedo. Active on 5/1/25. Equipment being removed 3/15/26. Surveyed 12/7/26, #24350.
P-374 23-1251 Douglas XO-2 Liberty 12 400 21905 Also had Liberty 12 s/n 24131YG. 500hp Packard 1A-1500 engine s/n 23-237 installed in 1924. Active on 5/1/25 with Packard. Used into 1927/28.
P-375 23-1252 Curtiss XO-1 Liberty 12 420 24131YG 510hp Packard 1A-1500 engine installed in 1924. Surveyed 4/23/25, #10979.
P-376 23-1254 Wright XO-3 Wright T-3 645 23-221 In January 1925 competition; not accepted. Returned to Wright Co. 4/30/25.
P-377 None Cox-Klemin CO-1 Napier Lion 450 Listed as CO-1 (possibly for CO-1 competition?). Active 7/9/24 (22317). Not accepted, returned to Cox-Klemin.
P-378 68582 Fokker PW-7 Curtiss D-12 440 23-124 Active on 5/1/25. Used into 1927/28.
P-379 None Cox Klemin CO-1 Liberty 12 400 Listed as CO-1. Heinkel plane. Partially tested. Returned to Cox-Klemin..
P-380 None Thomas-Morse TM-24 Curtiss D-12 440 23-143 Tested Feb. 1925. Not acquired. In storage 5/1/25. Abandoned McCook, OH, in storage late 1925.
P-381 25-235 Huff-Daland AT-1 Wright E-2 190 Transferred to Kelly, TX, 4/6/25, ST #13692.
P-382 24-253 Curtiss DH-4B-4 Liberty 12 400 32280-Y Converted from DH-4B 63416 by Curtiss. Active in “Airways” (possibly “Aerial Airways” routing) on 5/1/25. Transferred to FAID 1/27/27, ST #28020.
P-383 23-1247 Cox Klemin XA-1 Liberty 12 400 38267 Ambulance plane. Active 5/1/25. Transferred to France Field, Panama Zone 6/4/25, ST #13941.
P-384 24-8 Loening XCOA-1 Liberty 12 (Inv.) 400 21930 A redesigned COA-1. Active on 5/1/25 and to 1927-28
P-385 23-1249 XDH-4BS Liberty V-1650-1 400 33009 Active on 5/1/25. Surveyed 8/14/25, #17013.
P-386 25-245 Consolidated PT-1 Wright E 180 47717 Active on 5/1/25. Shipped to Brooks, TX, 51/3/25, ST #13892.
P-387 25-246 Consolidated PT-1 Wright I 150 46869 Active on 5/1/25. Transferred to Brooks, TX, 5/3/25, ST #13892.
P-388 23-691 XDH-4B-5 Liberty 12 400 33404 “Honeymoon Express” version. Active 5/1/25. Surveyed 12/1/25, ST #17048.
P-389 23-697 DH-4B Liberty 12 400 24131-YG In Cross Country assignment on 5/1/25. Surveyed 8/18/26, #24318.
P-390 32894 Boeing DH-4M-1 Liberty 12A 420 33307-YG In Cross Country assignment on 5/1/25 and to 1927/28.
P-391 32752 Boeing DH-4M-1 Liberty 12A 420 32537-YG Performing radio assignments on 5/1/25. Transferred to Maxwell, AL, 3/22/27, ST #28305.
P-392 32476 Boeing DH-4M-1 Liberty 12A 420 32325-YG Active on 5/1/25. Loaned to Dept. of Commerce. Used into 1927/28
P-393 31386 Boeing DH-4M-1 Liberty 12 400 31891-YG Active on 5/1/25. Transferred to FAID, OH 3/24/27, ST #28322.
P-394 25-425 Douglas C-1 Liberty 12A 420 Static test #18744. Transferred to FAID, OH, 10/27/25, ST #18744.
P-395 23-1250 Huff-Daland XLB-1 Packard 800 Delivered to McCook 7/30/25. Surveyed 2/8/28 with 75 hours total flight time.
1A-2540
P-396 25-264 Consolidated PT-1 Wright E 180 Transferred to FAID, OH, 8/5/26, ST #25181.
P-397 26-21 DH-4BS Liberty 12 400 Supercharged. Surveyed 1/18/27, #24355.
P-398 26-30 Dayton-Wright DH-4BK Liberty 12 400 Transferred to FAID, OH, 1/27/27, ST #28020.
P-399 68523 Curtiss NBS-1 2 x Liberty 12 400 400 Static test #28199. Transferred to Langley, VA, 3/16/27, ST #28199. Surveyed at Mongomery AD 10/31/28 for FWT with 517 hours flight time.
P-400 24-410 Curtiss XP-1 Curtiss D-12C 435 Tested landing I & I nav lights 5/11/26.
Allison V-1410 Test bed for inverted Allison V-1410 engine 8/25/26.
XP-17 Wright V-1460 Wright V-1460-3 480 550 29-291 28-504 Redesignated XP-17, Awaiting Wright V-1460 engine 1/29-4/29. At Wright Aero installing V-1460 5/29.

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References

 

Last updated 13-May-2020