Destroyed By Fire

This aircraft is a Ryan B-1 Brougham, S/N 125 (ATC #25). It shares lineage with the “Spirit of St. Louis”, but was built during the following year. The B.F. Mahoney Aircraft Co., San Diego, CA manufactured it on 6/15/28. It was equipped with a 220 HP Wright J-5CA Whirlwind engine, S/N 8075. It weighed 3,300 pounds.

It was sold on 7/5/28 to Massachusetts Airways, Inc. of Springfield, MA. In a quick turnaround, they sold it on 7/7/28 to Old Colony Airways Corp. at Muller Field, Revere, MA. Anyone have information about Muller Field?

NC6583 landed at Tucson on 7/4/1928 piloted by Lt. R.H. Hardy (note the discrepancy of dates of sale, and of landing at Tucson). On board were Mrs. Hardy and Lt. R.O. Snavely. They were enroute from San Diego to El Paso. This was probably the eastbound ferry flight from the factory.

It was resold to Massachusetts Airways on 9/11/30. They must have fallen on hard times early in the Great Depression, since the airplane was sold 4/27/32 on mortgage foreclosure at sheriff’s sale to James A. Hearn of Springfield, MA. The airplane had accumulated 420 flight hours.

It then sold three more times, finally winding up in Auburn, ME owned by Roland R. Maheux on 7/24/36. The airplane had accumulated 656 flight hours (about 230 hours in the past four years). On 5/3/37 it was reported, along with two Taylor Cubs NC17222 and NC17585 (neither in the Register) as, “destroyed by fire.”

UPLOADED: 07/09/05 REVISED: