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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-401 ?
P-402 ?
P-403 ?
P-404 ?
P-405 ?
P-406 ?
P-407 - Dayton-Wright TA-3 Le Rhone C-9 90
P-408 ?
P-409 24-420 Curtiss P-2 Curtiss V-1400 435
P-410 ?
P-411 ?
P-412 ?
P-413 ?
P-414 ?
P-415 ?
P-416 ?
P-417 ?
P-418 ?
P-419 ?
P-420 ?
P-421 23-1248 Cox Klemin XA-1 Liberty 12A 425 Ambulance plane. With 68 Svc. Sqn., crashed on takeoff at Ammans Crossing, TX Nov 18, 1929
P-422 25-292 ? Consolidated PT-1 Wright E 180
P-423 26-29 Dayton-Wright DH-4BK Liberty 12 400 Active.
P-424 25-426 Douglas C-1A Liberty 12 420 Converted from C-1. Equipped with metal skis, tested with 400hp epicyclical geared Liberty (V-1650). Converted to C-1.
P-425 30805 DH-4BP-2 Liberty 12 400 Transferred to Scott, IL 11/25.
P-426 31858 Atlantic DH-4M-2 Liberty 12A 420 Re-manufactured by Atlantic to DH-4M-2 standards with 110 gal. fuel tank & steel tube fuselage.
P-427 31871 Atlantic DH-4M-2 Liberty 12A 420 Remanufactured to DH-4M-2 by Atlantic. Transferred to FAID, OH, 2/25/27, ST #28156.
P-428 31839 Atlantic DH-4M-2P Liberty 12A 420 Remanufactured to DH-4M-2 by Atlantic.
P-429 23-672 Gallaudet DH-4B Liberty 12 400 Active.
P-430 25-295 Boeing PW-9 Curtiss D-12 440 Performance test.
P-431 25-420 Curtiss XP-2 Curtiss V-1400F 430 27-370 Converted from P-1 to XP-2. Supercharger & high compression tests 1/29-8/31 with Curtiss V-1400F & V-1400G engines. Incidental 9/31. Awaiting disposition 10/31. Transferred to Selfridge by 11/31. Converted back to P-1.
Curtiss V-1400G 430 28-394
Curtiss V-1400G 430 28-392
P-432 25-405 Douglas O-7 Packard 1A-1500 504 Converted from O-2; converted to O-2C. Shipped to FAID, OH, 8/20/26, ST #25265.
P-433 30479 Atlantic DH-4M-2P Liberty 12A 420 Remanufactured by Atlantic.
P-434 68572 Curtiss XNBS-4 2 x Liberty 12A 435 435 Was second XNBS-4.
P-435 62945 Atlantic DH-4M-2S Liberty 12A 420 A former DH-4L. Transferred to FAID, OH, 1/27/27, ST #28020.
P-436 31955 Atlantic DH-4M-2S Liberty 12A 420
P-437 25-325 Curtiss O-1 Curtiss V-1150 435 Transferred to FAID, OH, 10/21/26, ST #25558, Converted to O-1 Special (VIP transport)
P-438 26-376 Huff-Daland LB-1 Packard 2A-2540 800 Surveyed 8/7/26, #24307.
P-439 25-435 Thomas-Morse XO-6 Liberty 12 400 77611YG Metal version of O-2. Flexible gun mount 1/29-10/29. Awaiting transfer to Chanute Field 11/29. Transferred 11/29.
P-440 25-334 Curtiss O-1 Curtiss D-12 435 Shipped to Bolling, DC 9/7/26, ST 25406.
P-441 25-350 Douglas O-2 Liberty 12 420 Surveyed 9/16/26, #24330.
P-442 A-7033 Vought UO-1 Wright J-4B 200 U.S. Navy plane & s/n. On Special Assignment 10/29-11/29. Transferred 11/29.
P-443 26-205 Driggs Dart Wright-Morehouse WM-80 28 27-12 Aerodynamics testing 1/29-1/30.
P-444 26-296 Curtiss XAT-4 Wright E 180 A reworked P-1A fitted with a different engine. In 1928, the Wright E was replaced with Curtiss D12C and the plane re-designated a P-1A and given new P-number P-526.
P-445 26-374 Boeing AT-3 Wright E 180 Converted from PW-9A . Shipped to Bolling, DC, 8/9/26, ST #25199.
P-446 25-324 Boeing XP-4 Packard 1A-1530 510 Converted from PW-9 for high-altitude operations.
P-447 26-206 Waco 9 Curtiss OX-5 90 Tested in commercial colors. Surveyed.
P-448 25-409 Douglas O-9 Packard 1A-1500 500 Active. Converted to O-2A.
P-449 25-333 Curtiss O-1A Liberty 12 420 Delivered with Curtiss D-12 engine. Converted to O-1A with Liberty 12. Static test #27271. Shipped to Marshall, KS 12/6/26, ST #27271
P-450 26-379 Huff-Daland LB-1 Packard 2A-2540 800 Transferred to Langley, VA, 8/20/26 & surveyed there 10/31/28 due to unsatisfactory service.
P-451 26-300 Curtiss XP-3A P&W R-1340-9 450 27-472 Converted from a P-1A. Performance test 9/29-10/29. Incidental work 11/29-12/29. Converted to XP-21 and XP-21A
P-452 26-201 Huff-Daland XHB-1 Packard 2A-2500 800 26-114 Aerodynamics 1/29-2/29. Large parachute testing 3/29-7/29. Awaiting survey 9/29-11/29. Transferred 11/29.
P-453 26-208 Huff-Daland XLB-5 2 x V-1650-3 420 Delivered to McCook Fld. 12/30/27. Wrecked at Reynoldsburg OH, 5/28/27, engine failure.
P-454 26-327 Consolidated PT-1 Wright E 180 Active.
P-455 25-408 Douglas O-8 Curtiss R-1454 400 Active.
P-456 25-436 Thomas-Morse XO-6 Liberty 12 420 Flown to Galveston, TX, put in open hangar to test effect of salt water on duralumin.
P-457 27-68 Curtiss XP-1B Curtiss V-1150D 430 27-355 Compass testing & exhaust silencers. Gunnery 4/29-8/29.
P-1B Curtiss V-1150E 450 29-454 Designation changed from XP-1B to P-1B 10/29. Exhaust silencers 12/29. V-1150E installed 3/30. Transferred 4/30.
P-458 26-387 Douglas O-2C Liberty 12 420 77760YG Radio test 2/29-9/29 & 12/29. Transferred 12/29.
P-459 25-407 Douglas O-7 Packard 1A-1500 500 In use before 1929.
P-460 27-82 Curtiss P-1B Curtiss D-12D 435 In use prior to 1929. Re-designated P-573 in 1929.
P-461 27-87 Curtiss P-1B Curtiss D-12D 430 27-116 Incidental 1/29-4/29. Transferred 4/29.
P-462 27-080 Curtiss P-1B Curtiss D-12D 435
P-463 26-202 Atlantic C-2 3 x Wright R-790A 225 Made first transpacific flight from Oakland, CA to Honolulu, HI.
P-464 26-423 Douglas C-1C Liberty 12 420
P-465 25-353 Douglas O-2 Liberty 12A 400 27893YG Tow target 1/29-3/29. Machine gun & Bombing Ranges 4/29-9/29. Active 10/29. Radio 11/29. Active 12/29. Awaiting transfer to Kelly Field 3/30.
P-466 26-418 Douglas O-2E Liberty 12A 400 27943 Incidental assignment 1/29-12/29.
P-467 25-406 Douglas O-2 Liberty 12 400 26585YG Supercharger 1/29-3/29. Active 4/29.
O-2 Liberty 12A 400 44419YG Converted into standard O-2 with engine s/n 44419YG 5/29. Active 6/29-10/29. Target tow 11/29-2/30. Awaiting transfer to Kelly Field 3/30.
P-468 - Douglas O-2C Liberty 12 400
P-469 27-149 Consolidated XPT-2 Wright R-790 225 Perf. Test.
P-470 27-177 Consolidated XPT-3 Wright R-790 225 Converted to XPT-5 with Curtiss R-600 eng., then to PT-3. Also P-501 and P-530
P-471 27-176 Consolidated NY-2/XNY-2 Wright J-5BA 200 28-177 Navy version of PT-1. Ski test 2/29-4/29, lead in cable system 5/29-4/30. Re-designated XNY-2 4/30. Shock absorber test. Awaiting disposition 2/31.
P-472 25-380 Douglas XA-2 Alllison V-1410 420 26-27 Attack version of O-2. Assigned to McCook 6/30/27. To Wright company for inverted air-cooled V-1460 installation 9/29-10/29. Surveyed at Wright Field, OH, 11/4/29.
Liberty V-1460 420
P-473 27-239 Curtiss AT-5 Wright R-790 225 Converted to P-1E with 435hp V-1150-3 eng.
P-474 ?
P-475 ?
P-476 25-328 Curtiss XO-11 Liberty 12 435 33100YG Radio test 1/29-7/29. Delivered w/Curtiss D-12 eng. & converted to XO-11 w/Liberty 400hp. Crashed 9 mi S of Columbus, OH 9/4/1929. Awaiting survey 9/29-11/29. Surveyed 11/29.
P-477 26-211 Curtiss XB-2 2 x Curtiss V-1570-7 600 600 GV-1570 engs. Delivered to Wright Field 10/27. Crashed Buffalo, NY, 12/8/1927. Surveyed at Buffalo 1/10/28.
P-478 - Curtiss O-11 Liberty 12 420
P-479 Keystone Possibly XB-1B
P-480 27-334 Keystone XB-1 2 x Curtiss GV-1650 600 26-15 & 16 Delivered Wright Field 9/26/27, wrecked FAID 1/21/28 by engine fire.
XB-1B 2 x Curtiss GV-1570 600 27-46 & 16 Converted to XB-1B 10/24/28. VG-1570 installed 2/29. Held due to vibration 1/29-3/29. Surveyed 9/14/29.
P-481 - Douglas O-2H Liberty 12A 400
P-482 27-288 Douglas XO-2H Liberty 12A 400 26499YG Photographic 1/29-9/29. Testing equipment, i.e. landing lights & a Micarta tail wheel.. Designation listed as O-2H 10/29-5/30. Blind flying 6/30-10/30. Transferred 4/31.
P-483 26-203 Atlantic Fokker XC-2 3 x Wright R-790B 235 235 235 28-277 28-276 28-279 Radio testing 1/29-8/29. Transferred to FAID, OH 9/29. Radio tests 10/29-11/30. Surveyed 12/30.
P-484 27-263 Curtiss O-1B Curtiss D-12 435
P-485 ?
P-486 25-381 Douglas O-2B Liberty 12A 400 25-381 Active 1/29. Transferred 1/29.
P-487 27-98 Curtiss XO-11 Liberty 12A 400 77770-YG A modified O-2 intended for National Guard. Instrument development 1/29-9/30. Surveyed 10/30.
P-488 26-295 Curtiss XP-6A Curtiss V-1570-1 600 Won National Air Races 1927. In storage, wing radiators, with no engines 1/29-8/29. Awaiting survey, no engine 9/29-11/29. Surveyed 11/29.
P-489 25-331 Curtiss XO-13A Curtiss V-1570 600 A converted O-1, 1927 NAR race in the Liberty Engine Builders Trophy (finished 2nd), shipped to Bolling Field 9/7/1926, static test #25406. Scrapped 6/28.
P-490 ?
P-491 26-210 Atlantic XLB-2 P & W Hornet 525
P-492 - Douglas O-2B Liberty 12A 400
P-493 27-243 Curtiss A-3 Curtiss V-1150-3 435 O-1B converted to A-3 with Curtiss D-12D 435hp eng. Converted back to O-1B delivered to Wright field 10/7/27. Surveyed 2/19/34.
P-494 25-423 Curtiss XP-6 Curtiss V-1570-1 600 Originally P-2with 500 hp Curtiss V-1400 eng. used for racing, 2nd in 1927 NAR. Crashed 2/25/29
P-495 25-332 Curtiss XO-13A Curtiss V-1570 600 28-286 Originally 0-1, converted to XO-13A with 700hp Curtiss V-1570-61 engine for racing. Crash landed Philips Field, Aberdeen Proving ground 10/21/1929. Surveyed 1/29. Scrapped 3/30.
P-496 NX3698 Sikorsky S-37B Guardian Evaluated and returned to manufacturer. Crashed at sea 1934
P-497 27-268 Curtiss O-1B Curtiss D-12E 430 27-356 Gen. Gillmore’s plane 1/29-6/29. Surveyed 7/29.
P-498 27-333 Keystone XLB-3A 2x P&W R-1340 410 410 27-469 27-470 Delivered to Wright Field OH 12/21/27. Parachute test 1/29-10/29. Parachute & Instrument Board testing 11/29-10/30. In 9/30 R-1840C installed. Surveyed at W. OH 11/6/30.
P-499 27-344 Keystone XLB-6 2 x Wright R-1750 525 525 27-38 27-39 Pilot’s observation on engines, 1/29-4/29. Performance test 5/29-10/29. Crashed Wright Field, OH 10/7/1929. Surveyed 11/29.
P-500 27-255 Curtiss XA-4 P&W R-1340 450 27-461 Revised A-3. Metal wings 1/29-3/29. Machine Gun & Bombing ranges 4/29-9/29. Glider tow 11/29. 1/30-7/30 Holt flare. M-2 guns 8/30-12/30. Awaiting transfer 3/30. Transferred 3/31.
P&W R-1340 450 27-468

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References

 

Last updated 13-May-2020