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The Fairchild 24 series was a highly successful civil aircraft line designed in 1931. Built in the 1930s and 1940s as an economical and easy-to-fly touring aircraft, it was offered in both Standard and Deluxe versions. When the U.S. entered World War II, Fairchild's production line was diverted to the military, and the F-24 became the Army UC-61 Forwarder light utility transport, as well as the Royal Air Force's "Argus." Civilian versions of the planes were also pressed into service. After the war, the manufacturing rights were sold to TEMCO of Dallas, Texas, which built 280 additional F-24s to bring the total number to about 1,800 planes.
In the late 1930s, Fairchild F-24s were produced with two different types of engines that give each a distinctive appearance. Some, including the Museum's example, have Warner "Super Scarab" radial engines. These planes, called F-24Ws, have stubby noses housing the round engine with pistons oriented around a central crankshaft. The others, called F-24Rs, have Ranger in-line engines, with a more streamlined look.
The Museum's F-24 was built in Hagerstown, Maryland in early 1941 and purchased by famous ventriloquist Edgar Bergen. Bergen used the plane to tour the country with his "dummies," Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd. The aircraft sported a silhouette of McCarthy on its side during this period.
Bergen sold the plane to the president of Spokane radio station KHQ, Louis Wasmer, and it was acquired for Army use in 1943. After the war, it flew with many private owners until it was purchased and restored by Ragnar Pettersson in 1981. Pettersson donated the F-24 to The Museum of Flight in 1985.
The Fairchild 24 series was a highly successful civil aircraft line designed in 1931. Built in the 1930s and 1940s as an economical and easy-to-fly touring aircraft, it was offered in both Standard and Deluxe versions. When the U.S. entered World War II, Fairchild's production line was diverted to the military, and the F-24 became the Army UC-61 Forwarder light utility transport, as well as the Royal Air Force's "Argus." Civilian versions of the planes were also pressed into service. After the war, the manufacturing rights were sold to TEMCO of Dallas, Texas, which built 280 additional F-24s to bring the total number to about 1,800 planes.
In the late 1930s, Fairchild F-24s were produced with two different types of engines that give each a distinctive appearance. Some, including the Museum's example, have Warner "Super Scarab" radial engines. These planes, called F-24Ws, have stubby noses housing the round engine with pistons oriented around a central crankshaft. The others, called F-24Rs, have Ranger in-line engines, with a more streamlined look.
The Museum's F-24 was built in Hagerstown, Maryland in early 1941 and purchased by famous ventriloquist Edgar Bergen. Bergen used the plane to tour the country with his "dummies," Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd. The aircraft sported a silhouette of McCarthy on its side during this period.
Bergen sold the plane to the president of Spokane radio station KHQ, Louis Wasmer, and it was acquired for Army use in 1943. After the war, it flew with many private owners until it was purchased and restored by Ragnar Pettersson in 1981. Pettersson donated the F-24 to The Museum of Flight in 1985.
