The Ford XJR-1 A-7526 Page of the Davis-Monthan Airfield Register Website

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This image comes to us courtesy of the Klein Archive of Aviation Photographs available for view on this website.

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Your copy of the "Davis-Monthan Airfield Register" with all the pilots' signatures and helpful cross-references to pilots and their aircraft is available at the link. Or use this FORM to order a copy signed by the author. ISBN 978-0-9843074-0-1.

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"Military Aircraft of the Davis Monthan Register, 1925-1936" is available at the link. This book describes and illustrates with black & white photographs the majority of military aircraft that landed at the Davis-Monthan Airfield between 1925 and 1936. The book includes biographies of some of the pilots who flew the aircraft to Tucson as well as extensive listings of all the pilots and airplanes. Or use this FORM to order a copy signed by the author. ISBN 978-0-9843074-2-5.

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FORD XJR-1 A-7526

**A-7526 Ford XJR-1, Date Unknown** (Source: Klein Collection)

At right, A-7526, a Ford XJR-1. This airplane is equipped with three Wright J-4 engines of 200HP each. This is an official U.S. Navy photo (note title board in the foreground). This airplane followed a pattern during 1928-29 of approximately semi-annual trips between Washington, DC and San Diego, CA.

During its cross-country travels, this big Ford landed at Tucson at least six times. The first two landings were flown by Lt. S.W. Callaway on April 19 and April 27, 1928. Based at Anacostia, Washington, DC, on the first visit Lt. Callaway carried one passenger westbound from El Paso, TX to San Diego, CA. On the 27th he carried nine passengers returning east to Washington.

The airplane must have made another trip west, because on June 6, 1928 we find it at Tucson again eastbound from San Diego to Washington carrying seven passengers. The pilot this time was Lt. Cdr. G.R. Bowes.

On February 12, 1929 it landed at Tucson flown by J.J. Clarke carrying six passengers. Bowes was his copilot and they were westbound El Paso, TX to San Diego. This particular flight was cited in the N.A.S. San Diego section of the Bureau of Aeronautics Newsletter of March 6, 1929, below. Passengers Turner and Page are signed in the Register.

*Bureau of Aeronautics Newsletter*, March 6, 1929 (Source: Webmaster)

The return trip to Anacostia is also logged in the Register. On February 17, 1929 Clarke arrived from Imperial, CA eastbound to El Paso. His copilot was G.R. Bowes. They carried five passengers.

The final landing at Tucson was on June 19, 1929 flown by W.G. Tomlinson (see below for another mention of Tomlinson). He carried one passenger identified as "Assistant Secretary of the Navy". They were westbound from El Paso to Los Angeles, CA.

During the Ford Reliability Tour of 1927, this airplane was used as a press ship for reporters and VIPs and assigned the moniker, "Advance Pathfinder Airplane and Official Tour Airplane". It was based at N.A.S. Anacostia in 1927 and carried Detroit News reporter and Register pilot James V. Piersol.

Another image of A-7526 is available at the Russell T. Gerow Collection on this site.

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THIS PAGE UPLOADED: 09/30/07 REVISED: 03/04/09, 04/01/11

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