LOCKHEED VEGA Model 5 NC434E

RELIABLE TRANSPORT IN U.S. AND MEXICO

This airplane is a Lockheed Vega Model 5 (S/N 50; ATC #93) manufactured February, 1929 by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, Burbank, CA.  It left the factory with a Pratt & Whitney Wasp engine (S/N 2098) of 450 HP.  It was a six-place airplane. Below, courtesy of site visitor Ben Cass, is a photograph of the airplane. He says about his photo that it is, "... an official Braniff photo with Credit Braniff International, Exchange Park, Dallas, Texas on the back of the photo." The stacked lettering on the vertical stabilizer says, "Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Tulsa, Oklahoma City."

Lockheed NC434E in Braniff Livery, Ca. 1929 or 1931 (Source: Cass)

It sold during 1929 to Nevada Airlines, Inc., Los Angeles, CA.  It was flown on Nevada Airlines routes in California and Nevada.  During its time with the Airlines, NC434E landed twice at Tucson, on October 22nd and October 28, 1929.  Both times it was flown by George C. Sherwood carrying three unidentified passengers.  

Based in Los Angeles both flights, on October 22nd, they were southeast bound from Los Angeles, CA to Durango, Mexico.  On the 28th they were westbound from El Paso, TX to Los Angeles.  This looks like a week-long charter flight to Mexico.  Compare this flight itinerary with that for NC195E.

As the Great Depression deepened, NC434E was repossessed by Lockheed and sold in February 1931 to Braniff Airways, Inc., Oklahoma City, OK.  It was flown for six years in support of Braniff’s routes in the mid-west. The photograph above is from this period, since the Braniff flight routes are painted on the vertical stabilizer. Below is another photograph of NC434E in Braniff livery. This image is courtesy of Tim Kalina.

Lockheed NC434E in Braniff Livery, Ca. 1929 or 1931 (Source: Kalina)

In November 1937, NC434E was sold to Gordon S. Barry of El Paso, TX.  Barry owned Lineas Aereas Mineral, S.A. (LAMSA), Mazatlan, Mexico.  The airplane was flown from 1937 to 1945 over LAMSA routes in Mexico.  Mexican registration XA-BFT was assigned on February 24, 1938 and a “total overhaul” was completed by October 14, 1940.

While flying the Torreon-Laredo route, XA-BFT suffered a landing accident at Monclova, Mexico (date not given in the NASM record).  There were no injuries.  The airplane was returned to the Torreon shops of LAMSA but not repaired.  Its parts were used for other Vegas of the LAMSA line.  Final disposition: dismantled.  Registration record cancelled in 1949.

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UPLOADED: 04/15/06 REVISED: 02/20/09, 10/13/11, 05/23/13, 01/06/16