Vultee aircraft BT-15 valiant




Basic Info
Manufacturer Construction Number: 9536
Army Air Force Serial Number: 42-41689
Military Purchase Price: $16,971
Civilian Registration Number: N69987
Original Civilian Purchase Price: $200
Model Background
The BT-15 was used as a basic training aircraft for the USAAF and the US Navy. Basic trainers were used as the second step of flight training during the WWII. Basic trainers in general had more powerful engines, some had variable pitch props, and all had more advanced systems.
There are two basic variants of this aircraft, the BT-13 and the BT-15. The difference between the variants was the engine. The BT-15 used a 450hp Wright R-975-11 engine and the BT-13 used the 450hp Pratt & Whitney R-985. The Navy only used BT-13 variant designated as the SNV.
History of this example:
Military History | ||
25 March 1943 | Manufactured by Vultee Aircraft, Downey CA | |
29 March 1943 | Accepted by the USAAF | |
31 March 1943 | Gunter Field (by air) |
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11 May 1943 | Dallas TX |
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11 August 1944 |
To: Robins Field, Georgia – Air Service Command, 4117 Base Unit From: Memphis, Tennessee – 554th Base Unit |
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18 August 1944 | To: Cincinnati Airport, Ohio- Air Transport Command | |
29 August 1944 | To: Robins Field, Georgia from Cincinati Airport | |
13 September 1944 |
To: Robins Field, Georgia – Air Technical Service Command, 4117 Base Unit From: Warner Robins Air Material Command, 4117 Base Unit |
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24 September 1944 |
To: Memphis, Tennessee Air Transport Command, 554th Base Unit From: Robins Field, Georgia – Air Technical Service Command, 4117 Base Unit |
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27 September 1944 |
To: Reconstruction Finance Corporation Camden, Arkansas From: Cincinnati Aiport, Ohio – Air Transport Command |
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28 September 1944 | Dropped as salvage | |
Civilian History | ||
29 June 1946 | After being released as excess inventory by the War Assets Administration by C. Christian, it was purchased by LaVern Pfeifer of Stillwater, Minnesota for $200. |
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24 July 1946 | LaVern resold the aircraft to Harold G Sommers, a student pilot born in 1896, and living in Lake Elmo, Minnesota. Harold paid $600 and registered the BT-15 as NC69987. Harold G. Sommers is the son of George Sommers, one of the founders of G. Sommers and Co which was one of the largest catalog distributors in the country in the early 1900’s Harold’s uncle Charles L. Sommers – in addition to being one of the other founders of G. Sommers and Co – was also a well known Minnesota Scout Leader. Charles L. Sommers was instrumental in the formation of the oldest of Scouting America’s national high adventure bases. The Northern Tier – Charles L. Sommers Canoe Base in Ely, Minnesota is named in his honor. |
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10 March 1947 | N69987 was sold Thomas H North of North Aviation, Co. in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. |
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31 January 1948 | N69987 was sold to C.V. (Clinton Victor) Moline of Isanti, Minnesota. |
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28 June 1950 | N69987 was sold to Brandt Aero at Holman Field, St. Paul, Minnesota. This made six civilian owners in 4 years and ends its first Minnesota stay. |
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22 March 1952 | NC69987 was sold to John Giles of Madison, Wisconsin. |
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26 June 1952 | N69987 was sold to Glenway Ehnert of West Bend, Wisconsin. |
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16 October 1954 | N69987 was sold to Edward and Chester Pachnik of Chicago, Illinois. The Pachniks were the owners until after Edward’s death |
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13 May 1992 | N69987 was sold to Mike Rawson of Minneapolis, Minnesota. | |
17 February 2004 | Wings Restoration LLC (a subsidary of Wings of the North) purchases a share of N69987 and begins a complete restoration in partnership with Mike Rawson. | |
1 December 2011 | Wings of the North purchases N69987 from Mike Rawson. Restoration continues. |