Some new Mallard photos

[MrWidgeon]

I was recently sent these from Mr. Steven Link, they are original Grumman photos of Mallard J-11, NC2948 (TEXACO 64) taken by Grumman house photographer Harold G. Martin prior to the airplane going to Texaco in 1948.
They are posted with Steven's permission.

Texaco operated this airplane from June 1948 to Sept. 1983 first as NC 2948 and later as N1628 along with 3 other Mallards from their base in Houma, Louisiana.
The other Mallards used were : J-30, NC3500/N1627 (TEXACO 61) 9/47 - 1/86; J-50, N1626 (TEXACO 90) 12/64 - 10/84 and J-51, N1629 (TEXACO 76) 3/54 - 1/86.







All photos © Harold G. Martin via Steven Link Collection.
To see the full image right click on the photo and select View Image.

Bill

[Rajay]

Photos deleted already? They're not showing up anymore. It's been only a day....

[dogsbody]

A Photobucket fail, Bill?

[MrWidgeon]

Sorry, seems like it was.
I've re-posted them.

Bill

[G73]

Regarding Mr. Widgeon's 9-3-2014 post

Texaco Mallards:
Texaco FAA Civil Grumman Date Date
Fleet # Registration # Production # Purchased Sold
T-61 N1627 * J-30 (09-12-1947) 10-01-1947 01-07-1986
T-64 N1628 ** J-11 (12-01-1946) 06-30-1948 09-30-1983
T-76 N1629 J-51 (04-10-1950) 03-15-1954 01-07-1986
T-90 N1626 *** J-50 (01-17-1950) 12-07-1964 06-26-1991
* “Mallard” T-61 was initially operated by The Texas Company bearing FAA Civil Registration # NC3500.
** “Mallard” T-64 was initially operated by The Texas Company bearing FAA Civil Registration # NC2948.
*** “Mallard” T-90 was initially operated by Texaco Inc. bearing FAA Civil Registration # N2980.
Three “Mallard” aircraft were eventually converted for Texaco Inc. by Frakes Aviation (T-61 on 08-14-1980, T-76 on 01-29-1981 and T-90 on 10-08-1981) to G-73T “Turbo-Mallard” configuration, being upgraded with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT-6A-34 turbine engines and Hartzell HCB3TN-3DY propellers. “Mallard” T-64 was never converted and remained in its original configuration.

My father flew for Texaco from 1963 thru 1982. I have recently completed a 5' x 3' painting of N1627 in front of Texacos Caillou Island Camp facility, and have also done some "Limited Edition" prints of the painting, as many who viewed it insisted I make copies for sale. I have been compiling lots of photos about Texaco's 4 Mallards, 2 Widgeons, 3 Gooses and lone Keystone-Loaning "Commuter" that Texaco operated in South Louisiana, and plan to eventually turn the completed file over to the LSU Library for preservation. I also correspond with remaining pilots and staff regularly. As an FYI.. these Mallards had several evolutions of the Red paint scheme shown in Harold Martin's aerial photos. Eventually, Texaco chose White paint jobs with various red and green trim stripes. If you know of anyone who may have photos or records about these aircraft, please send me a link.

[MrWidgeon]

Welcome Aboard G73 (how appropriate).
I have never seen any images of the Widgeons in Texaco colors, if you have any you'd like to share publicly please post them in the Widgeon Reference section or privately to me via PM here.
I can send you my email address via PM.
I do remember seeing 1 or 2 Texaco Gooses way back when though I have no recollection as to the registrations or Fleet numbers.

Bill

[Rajay]

Welcome Aboard G73 (how appropriate).
I have never seen any images of the Widgeons in Texaco colors, if you have any you'd like to share publicly please post them in the Widgeon Reference section or privately to me via PM here.
I can send you my email address via PM.
I do remember seeing 1 or 2 Texaco Gooses way back when though I have no recollection as to the registrations or Fleet numbers.

Bill

I already PM'd "G73" about the ex-Texaco Goose that is currently owned by Antilles Seaplanes. Grumman G-21A c/n 1054 was originally sold by Gilles Aviation to The Texas Co. in 1940 and they operated it up until 1948 when it was sold to Malcolm Hardy of Hardy Aviation in PA. It is the all red "Texaco 34" Goose that is the subject of the Ertl die-cast coin bank model that was made as a "collectible" in 1996 except that the "real" one was not actually all red; it had a black lower hull and there were many other details that Ertl got wrong as I discussed in another forum.

I am also aware of an earlier Texaco Goose, c/n 1018, NC20648, that was (IIRC) painted silver with a red lightning bolt stripe - and of course a black lower hull from the waterline down. It crashed in April 1949 and I want to say that it was "Texaco 30" but I'm not really sure. I'll have to check my extensive notes on the Grumman Goose fleet, but I also don't recall off the top of my head a 3rd Goose operated by Texaco.

-Dave

[G73]

Sorry, for my delay in answering...password problem...

Am doing research on the entire Texaco fleet that was based at Houma, Louisiana (my dad worked as a pilot there in the 1970's and 1980's).

I would appreciate any info, data photos, etc. you can provide on the following aircraft, before, during or after their service with Texaco.

Keystone-Loening K-84 "Commuter" #373 - NC374V (Texaco 23)
Grumman Goose G-21/21A #1018 NC20648 (Texaco 30)
Grumman Goose G-21A #1054 NC3055 (Texaco 34)
Grumman Goose G-21A #1175 NC3500 (Texaco 41)
Grumman Widgeon G-44 #1236 NC37186 (Texaco 39)
Grumman Widgeon G-44A #1454 N1629, later N1629H (Texaco 70)

Also any info on the 4 G-73's previously mentioned.

I've got a few photos of all the aircraft listed above in Texaco colors and am currently putting together a presentation to share about the entire fleet. I'll be happy to forward it on once complete (maybe later this fall).
Looking forward to your reply.