By Randy Malmstrom
Fairchild UC-86. The military version of the Fairchild Model 24-R40. This particular aircraft was one of nine Fairchild 24-R40’s initially delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps as a UC-86. This version was fitted with a Ranger inverted engine and roll-down windows. 2,232 aircraft of this type were built. My photos at Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum in Hood River, Oregon.
Editor’s notes: Built in 1940, this aircraft was originally built as a Fairchild 24-R40 with the construction number R40-405. It was powered by a Ranger 6-410B 175 hp six-cylinder air-cooled inline engine and registered on the U.S. civil registry as NC25331. During WWII, the aircraft was impressed into service with the U.S. Army Air Force, designated as a UC-86, and issued with the serial number 42-78040. During the war, the aircraft was modified with a Franklin O-405 six-cylinder, air-cooled, horizontally opposed inline engine with an output of around 200 hp. This led to 42-78040 becoming the only Fairchild XUC-86B developed. However, 42-78040 was later refitted with a Ranger L-440 engine. On October 24, 1944, the aircraft was decommissioned and sold to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) at Lambert Field, St. Louis, Missouri, to be sold to private owners.
The aircraft was later placed back on the civil register as N99411 before being re-registered as N48411. Today, the aircraft is maintained in airworthy condition and displayed at the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum in Hood River, Oregon, wearing its U.S. Army Air Force colors.
About the author: Randy Malmstrom grew up in a family steeped in aviation culture. His father, Bob, was still a cadet in training with the USAAF at the end of WWII, but did serve in Germany during the U.S. occupation in the immediate post-war period, where he had the opportunity to fly in a wide variety of types that flew in WWII. After returning to the States, Bob became a multi-engine aircraft sales manager and, as such, flew a wide variety of aircraft; Randy frequently accompanied him on these flights. Furthermore, Randy’s cousin, Einar Axel Malmstrom, flew P-47 Thunderbolts with the 356th FG from RAF Martlesham Heath. He was commanding this unit at the time he was shot down over France on April 24th, 1944, and spent the rest of the war as a prisoner of war. Following his repatriation at war’s end, Einar continued his military service, attaining the rank of Colonel. He was serving as Deputy Wing Commander of the 407th Strategic Fighter Wing at Great Falls AFB, MT, at the time of his death in a T-33 training accident on August 21, 1954. The base was renamed in his honor in October 1955 and continues to serve in the present USAF as home to the 341st Missile Wing. Randy’s innate interest in history in general, and aviation history in particular, plus his educational background and passion for WWII warbirds, led him down his current path of capturing detailed aircraft walk-around photos and in-depth airframe histories, recording a precise description of a particular aircraft in all aspects.
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Raised in Fullerton, California, Adam has earned a Bachelor's degree in History and is now pursuing a Master's in the same field. Fascinated by aviation history from a young age, he has visited numerous air museums across the United States, including the National Air and Space Museum and the San Diego Air and Space Museum. He volunteers at the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino as a docent and researcher, gaining hands-on experience with aircraft maintenance. Known for his encyclopedic knowledge of aviation history, he is particularly interested in the stories of individual aircraft and their postwar journeys. Active in online aviation communities, he shares his work widely and seeks further opportunities in the field.
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