Warplanes of the USA: Beechcraft UC-43 Traveler

Beechcraft UC-43 Traveler

(USAAF Photo)

Beech UC-43 Traveler in flight (Serial No. 43-10828).

(USAAF Photo)

U.S. Army Air Forces Beechcraft UC-43 Traveler (Serial No. 43-10859), c1944.

The Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing is an American biplane with an atypical negative wing stagger (the lower wing is farther forward than the upper wing). It first flew in 1932. The Beech UC-43 Traveler was a slightly modified version of the Staggerwing.

In late 1938, the United States Army Air Corps purchased three Model D17Ss to evaluate them for use as light liaison aircraft. These were designated YC-43 (Y designating a development aircraft or non-standard type, C standing for Cargo). After a short flight test program, the YC-43s went to Europe to serve as liaison aircraft with the air attachés in London, Paris, and Rome.

Early in the Second World War, the need for a compact executive-type transport or courier aircraft became apparent, and in 1942, the United States Army Air Forces ordered the first of 270 Model 17s for service within the United States and overseas as the UC-43 (USAAF designation for Utility, Cargo). These differed only in minor details from the commercial model. To meet urgent wartime needs, the government also purchased or leased (impressed) additional "Staggerwings" from private owners, including 118 more for the Army Air Force plus others for the United States Navy.

In Navy service, the airplanes were designated as GB-1 and GB-2 (under USN designating convention signifying General (purpose), Beech, 1st or 2nd variant of type). The British Royal Air Force and Royal Navy acquired 106 "Traveller Mk. I" (the British name uses the UK double "l" spelling) through the Lend-Lease arrangement to fill its own critical need for light personnel transports.The production UC-43 differed in minor details from the service test YC-43. Two distinguishing external features of the UC-43 are the circular automatic direction finder antennae mounted between the main landing gear and landing lights near the lower wingtips. They were all powered by the 450 horsepower (336 kilowatt) Pratt & Whitney R-985 engine. (Wikipedia)

(NMUSAF Photo)

Four U.S. Army Air Forces Beechcraft UC-43 Traveler aircraft, in early 1943. The nearestTraveler (Serial No. 43-10828). The photo was probably taken on delivery, as seven U.S. Navy GB-2 versions are visible in the background.

(NMUSAF Photo)

Beechcraft UC-43 Traveler (Serial No. 44-76068) at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio.

(USAAF Photos)

Beechcraft YC-43 (Serial No. 39-139),  American Embassy in London.

In late 1938, the Air Corps evaluated the Beech Model D17S for possible use as a light liaison aircraft. Three aircraft were purchased and designated as YC-43s. The distinctive five-place biplane featured negatively staggered wings - the lower wing was forward of the upper wing. The plane also had retractable landing gear and a minimum of drag-producing wing supports which combined to give the YC-43 a cruising speed of about 200 miles per hour. After a short flight test program, the YC-43s were sent to Europe to serve as liaison aircraft with the US Air Attachés in London, Paris and Rome. S/N 39-139 while assigned to the American Embassy in London, England.

(NMNA Photo)

Beechcraft GB-2 Traveler, US Navy (Serial No. 23688), 6917.

(USN Photo)

Beechcraft GB-1 Traveler, U.S. Navy version of the Model 17 Staggerwing.

(NMUSAF Photo)

U.S. Navy Beechcraft GB-2 Travelers lined up, in early 1943.

(Rob Bixby Photo)

The first example of the Beech "Traveller" Model D-17 to serve with the Navy as a staff transport was purchased in 1937 and designated as the JB-1. Following an engine upgrade and redesignation as GB-1, the Navy began acquiring them and its successor (the GB-2) in 1939 for administrative and logistic operations. They were also procured for lend-lease delivery to Britain.

The "Travellers" were also known as "Staggerwings" because of their unconventional wing configuration with the lower wing forward of the upper. This design gave the GB's excellent maneuverability and stall characteristics but made it difficult to land. As early as 1933, a D-17 won the Texaco Trophy race in Miami, Florida.

(NNAM Photo)

U.S. Navy Beechcraft GB-2 Traveller at the U.S. Navy National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, Florida.

Military designations

YC-43 (S/N 39-139) assigned to the American Embassy in London, England
YC-43
Three Model D17S with a 450hp R-985-17 engine for evaluation by the UnitedStates Army Air Corps

UC-43 Traveler
Production version with a 450hp R-985-AN-1 engine, 75 ordered for the Army AirCorps and 63 for the United States Navy as the GB-1, 132 were later transferredfrom the Navy to the Army Air Corps.
UC-43A
Model D17R with 440hp R-975-11 engine, 13 impressed into service.
UC-43B
Model D17S with 450hp R-985-17 engine, 13 impressed into service.
UC-43C
Model F17D with 300hp R-915-1 engine, 37 impressed into service.
UC-43D
Model E17B with 285hp R-830-1 engine, 31 impressed into service.
UC-43E
Model C17R with 440hp R-975-11 engine, five impressed into service.
UC-43F
Model D17A with 350hp R-975-3 engine, one impressed into service.
UC-43G
Model C17B with 285hp R-830-1 engine, 10 impressed into service.
UC-43H
Model B17R with 440hp R-975-11 engine, three impressed into service.
UC-43J
Model C17L with 225hp R-755-1 engine, three impressed into service.
UC-43K
Model D17W, one impressed into service. This aircraft was originally built in1937 for famed aviator Jacqueline Cochran. Cochran flew the airplane in the1937 Bendix cross-country race and placed first in the Women's Division and 3rdoverall. She also set a Women's National Speed Record of 203.895 miles per hourusing the airplane.

GB-1
United States Navy transport version of the D17, ten bought in 1939 and tenimpressed into USN service.
GB-2
USN version as GB-1 but with a 450hp R-985-50 or R-985-AN-1 engine, 271 built,132 later transferred to USAAF as UC-43s. Also additional aircraft from acancelled British contract and impressed aircraft.
JB-1
One Model C17R as an executive transport for the United States Navy.
Traveller I
British designation for the former US Embassy in London's YC-43 and 107 UC-43and GB-2 aircraft delivered mainly for the Royal Navy.

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