HOWARD RUNDBERG MEMORIAL COLLECTION
No. 3923. Grumman G-234 HU-16E Albatross (1293 c/n G.370) US Coast Guard
Photographed by Howard Rundberg

Grumman G-234 HU-16E Albatross

002/05/2005. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "This aircraft was delivered as a G-64 UF-1G to the USCG on April 1, 1954. Later it was upgraded to G-234 UF-2G, in 1962 it was redesignated HU-16E."

002/05/2005. Remarks by Howard Rundberg: "At one time North Island NAS in San Diego, California, USA, had an Albatross we used for transportation. We took it to McDonnell, St. Louis, Missouri, and caused a lot of rubber-necking when landing for fuel at Tinker Field, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The pattern went over city streets and people were looking up at the strange sight of a Navy amphibian seaplane landing there.

On the way to St. Louis, oil was leaking from a rocker arm cover on one engine and the plane captain tried to repair it while the airplane was parked at the Missouri ANG hangar. We had stopped for fuel in El Paso, Texas, and between there and San Diego oil began leaking again. After we landed at North Island the prop was feathered on that engine. The airplane cannot be turned while taxiing on one engine because the wheels are directly under the engines. We shut down and were towed in, unceremoniously."


Created February 5, 2005