JACK FISHER COLLECTION
No. 10264. Boeing SA-307B Stratoliner (NX19906 c/n 1998) Transcontinental and Western Airways
Source unknown

Boeing SA-307B Stratoliner

12/31/2010. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "The five 307s built for TWA were designated SA-307B and differed sufficiently from the four Pan American Airways 307s in detail to warrant the new Aircraft Type Certificate 726. Externally, the most noticeable feature was the triangular external wing flap hinges. TWA assigned its SA-307Bs with Native American tribes names, and operations started on July 8, 1940.

Considerable confusion exists as to the registration numbers of the SA-307Bs because of the wide circulation of photographs by Boeing and the airline showing the second TWA aircraft (Fleet Number 401) with the registration NX1940, as shown in this photo. The actual registration of this aircraft was NX19906 (later NC). The figure 6 was deleted and the second 9 changed to a 4 after the aircraft had flown briefly. This altered number was used temporarily to publicize 'The 1940 Airliner' when it was flown on a pre-service tour of TWA's routes. The original registration was restored after the tour.

In 1942 TWA's 307s were drafted by the USAAF Air Transport Command. They were assigned the military designation of C-75, and the civil registrations were cancelled and replaced by the USAAF serial numbers 42-88623 to 42-88627, however, the Native American tribes names were retained. Although military property and used for military business, the 307s were operated by TWA crews until they were sent to the factory in 1944 for reconditioning prior to return to the airlines as SA-307B-1. External differences were deletion of the external flap hinges and installation of a larger B-17G horizontal tail located 3 ft (0.91 m) further aft.

The five TWA SA-307B-1s were sold to the French airline Aigle Azur in 1951.

Created December 31, 2010