This airplane is a model SM-8A. It is serial number 4054. I have very little information about this airplane. It is not currently registered with the FAA (the number is assigned to a Bell helicopter), and there is no data for it at the Smithsonian that I could find.

NC247M landed at Tucson December 26, 1934. The pilot, Francis Angell, did not enter a date in the Register, but in interviews with his children it was learned the date was the 26th. He carried three passengers identified as his two children and his wife. Based at Plains, KS, they were eastbound from Santa Ana, CA back to El Paso, TX and on to Plains.

Below, from friend of dmairfield.org Tim Kalina, are two photographs of 247W. Mr. Kalina says about his photographs, "Nothing at all is written on either of the Stinson photos. Note that the fuselage is marked ‘Martin-Decker, Long Beach’. Perhaps this is a corporate aircraft? And judging from the angled color line on the wing I would assume this Stinson is painted in the standard Stinson colors of orange and blue."

Stinson SM-8A NC247W, Date & Location Unknown (Source: Kalina)

The Martin-Decker Company serviced oil rigs, which was a big business in Long Beach at the time. Below, a second image of the airplane. The people are unknown, but they are well-dressed. None looks like the pilot. The women and the third man from the right appear to be the same ones as in the photo above, therefore both images were probably shot the same day, and probably by the same camera.

Stinson SM-8A NC247W, Date & Location Unknown (Source: Kalina)

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THIS PAGE UPLOADED: 03/15/11 REVISED: 07/07/12