McDowell, John Nelson

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The Beechcraft Model 18 (or "Twin Beech", as it is also known) is a 6- to 11-seat, twin-engined, low-wing, tailwheel light aircraft manufactured by the Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas. Continuously produced from 1937 to November 1969 (over 32 years, a world record at the time), over 9,000 were built, making it one of the world's most widely used light aircraft. Sold worldwide as a civilian executive, utility, cargo aircraft, and passenger airliner on tailwheels, nosewheels, skis, or floats, it was also used as a military aircraft.

During and after World War II, over 4,500 Beech 18s were used in military service – as light transport, light bomber (for China), aircrew trainer (for bombing, navigation, and gunnery), photo-reconnaissance, and "mother ship" for target drones – including Royal Canadian Airforce (RCAF), United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) C-45 Expeditor, AT-7 Navigator, and AT-11 Kansan; and United States Navy (USN) UC-45J Navigator, SNB-1 Kansan, and others. In World War II, over 90% of USAAF bombardiers and navigators and pilots trained in these aircraft.

In the early postwar era, the Beech 18 was the pre-eminent "business aircraft" and "feeder airliner". Besides carrying passengers, its civilian uses have included aerial spraying, sterile insect release, fish stocking, dry-ice cloud seeding, aerial firefighting, air-mail delivery, ambulance service, numerous movie productions, skydiving, freight, weapon- and drug-smuggling, engine testbed, skywriting, banner towing, and stunt aircraft.Wikipedia

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Wikipedia Expeditor

Harold A Skaarup Web Page

2 ANS (2 Air Navigation School)

Nos. 1 & 2 Air Navigation Schools offered four-week courses in astronavigation and were the last step for Air Observers.

The RAF schools, Nos. 31, 32, and 33, provided the same training as Air Observer Schools.

RCAF.info - RCAF Station Pennfield Ridge NB

History of 2 ANS Pennfield Ridge NB

2 Air Navigation School was disbanded at Pennfield Ridge April 1942.

Unit was reformed in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island February 1944.

RCAF.info - RCAF Station Charlottetown PEI

The unit was again disbanded on 7 July 1945. The Unit was reformed in Winnipeg, Manitoba on 1 August 1951.

RCAF.info - RCAF Station Winnipeg Manitoba

The unit was redesignated No 2 Air Observer School 15 November 1955.

Project 44 BCATP

Project 44 BCATP

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