This airplane is an Alexander “comb-wing” Eaglerock, c/n 369. The Alexander Aircraft Company, Denver, CO built it on 12/12/1927. It was fitted with “spur-type” landing gear and a Curtiss OX-5 of 90 HP, S/N 6905. It weighed 2,120 pounds. It was unusual, in that it spent most of its six-year life in the Tucson area.

Its initial sale and identification were convoluted, in that it was originally sold, but not delivered to, the Aero Corporation of California, 9819 South Western Ave., Los Angeles, CA. Rather it was delivered to Steel Aircraft, Inc. of Omaha, NB. On 1/3/1928 a letter from Alexander requested a transfer of its registration number to Eaglerock c/n 405 with OX-5 engine, c/n 4975. This change was authorized via a letter of authorization and a temporary license was issued 1/10/1928.

This Eaglerock landed at the Davis-Monthan Airfield nine times between 1928 and 1930. Interestingly, its first visit on 4/18/1928 at 4:00 PM was piloted by Jack Frye carrying two (unidentified) passengers enroute from Phoenix to Los Angeles. Mr. Frye was an important figure in early air transport. He was president of the Aero Corporation of California at that time (1926-1930). He later served as president and director of TWA.

On 3/10/1928 the airplane was purchased by Mrs. Rose C. Deal of 820 West Lee St., Seattle, WA. Its next three visits to Davis-Monthan (5/22/1928, 6/21/1928 and 7/2/1928) were piloted by Roy Pemberton, with “Mr. & Mrs. G.E. Deal” as passengers. The remarks section of the transient log records their comment on their first visit: "Most beautiful field in the Southwest."

NC3786 was based at Tucson and used by Mrs. Deal's son, Garrison E. Deal. According to the NASM record, it must have suffered an accident, because, at the owner’s request, the left lower wing spar was spliced on 8/1/1928. The airplane was transferred to Mr. Deal (Box 1631, Tucson, AZ) on 8/3/1928. Mr. Deal signed the Register with the airplane on 10/5/1928.

Indeed, NC3786 was damaged as shown in the four excellent images here. According to the Hudgin family, this damage and resulting repair were clearly before it was bought by Alfred Hudgin, below. Another accident occurred after it was owned by Mr. Hudgin (no images). The accident occurred at Tucson when the airplane was being flown by Lynn Hodson (did not sign the Register). Hodson crashed it in a flat spin in the middle of the Airfield and there was nothing left of the airplane. Hodson walked away.

Getting back to the story, on 1/17/1930 NC3786 was purchased by Alfred A. Hudgin, Box 195, Nogales, AZ with 347:50 hours total time (averaging about 115 hours per year). The final four flights to the Davis-Monthan Airfield were piloted by Mr. Hudgin, carrying Stan Gould on 2/16/1930 and 6/4/1930, and John Foster on 8/31/1930 and 10/26/1930. They were flying back and forth from Nogales. The following image shows Mr. Hudgin with NC3786.

On 3/5/1931 the airplane was finally purchased by A. Pafford, Box 2095, Tucson, AZ for $650.00. It was disapproved for license on 3/11/1931, no answers were given to questionnaires, and the airplane’s license was cancelled on 2/10/1933.

UPLOADED: 6/9/05 REVISED: