"Captain Frank T. McCoy and Technical Sergeant Francis Williams helped organize a Materiel Section for technical intelligence operations in Melbourne, Australia, in 1942. In addition to providing information on aircraft and weapons performance, Captain McCoy and Sergeant Williams assigned code names to Japanese aircraft--feminine names for bombers and masculine names for fighters. It may not be surprising that "Frank" and "Frances" became the names of two Japanese aircraft. In October 1944, Lieutenant Colonel Frank Mccoy became officer-in-charge of the newly formed Technical Air Intelligence Unit attached to the Far East Air Forces."
<http://www.wpafb.af.mil/naic/history%20pt%202.htm>

"TAIU IN CONTROL In October 1944, a Technical Air Intelligence Unit (TAIU) was formed and attached to the Far East Air Forces. Frank McCoy, by then a Lt Colonel, was designated Officer-in-Charge. Under his direction, TAIU took possession and control of all captured Japanese aircraft and equipment in the Pacific Theater. Earlier in the same year, a Technical Air Intelligence Center (TAIC) was officially established in Washington, D.C. (Anacostia), as a joint Army-Navy organization with British participation. To this center was assigned the responsibility of collection, evaluation, and dissemination of all technical intelligence on the Japanese Air Forces. This center worked closely with TAIU in the field and absorbed part of its experienced personnel. TAIC, during 1945 and 1946, also worked closely and harmoniously with intelligence at Wright Field. When it was deactivated in the summer of 1946, some of its key personnel were assigned to technical intelligence at Wright Field, along with those functions which pertained to the Air Corps."
<http://home.earthlink.net/~husemann/50Years.htm>

Grumman Widgeon?

This page says that the Widgeon originally had Pratt & Whitney R-985 engines on it. I can't find any pictures or drawings of a Widgeon with radial engines.

From Herman De Wulf (#2406)

For Dave Bush and others

If anything the picture does not show a PBY. The only twin engine seaplanes I can think of that look a bit like the airplane in the wreck photo are Grummans. There are two that come to mind that might fit. Grumman's Model G-21 of 1937 this was an eight seat commercial amphibian. When used by the US Navy it became the JRF-1. Later versions were JRF-2, -3, -4, -5 and -6. In all 275 were built for the US Navy and Coast Guard. They were used as light transports, target tugs, navigation trainers, photographic reconnaissance and for air-sea rescue missions. The USAAF also received 31 and called them OA-9. Later five OA-13 joined them. I think it is very unlikely one would find the type on coral islands in the Pacific, too far away from the US. However, JR-5s and -6s were supplied to the RCAF and especially to the RAF who both called the type Goose. But when looking at the wreck picture again one can exclude the JRF or the Goose because the nose doesn't fit the picture in the wreck photo... That leaves us with the Grumman J4F Widgeon. Derived from Grumman's civilian G-44 in 1940, this four/five seat amphibian was used by the US Coast Guard as the J4F-1. The Navy used the J4F-2 from 1942 on and small numbers were supplied to the USAAF as the OA-14. This type too was supplied to Canada and Britain. The Royal Navy called them Gosling. The interesting thing about the Gosling is that the British used them in the Far East. That's where one would find palm trees and volcanic mountains in the background as in the wreck picture. However I have TWO problems with the Widgeon/Gosling. First the picture I have of a US Widgeon shows the aircraft with a pair of 200 hp Ranger L-440C-5 inline engines. That doesn't prove anything for in 1997 I saw two privately-owned beautifully restored Widgeons at the Flying Legends Air Show at Duxford (Britain), both having shiny radial engines, not unlike the Wasps used in the Lockheed 12. However, the engines had three bladed propellers. Again that doesn't prove anything for this summer there was a French-owned Lockheed 12 Electra Junior at Duxford, which was also equipped with untypical three-bladed propellers. Even the legendary German Junkers Ju-52/3m had been re-equipped with three bladed propellers! The reason why, I was told, is that besides giving greater speed, three bladed props are compulsory on Wasps or comparable engines to comply with today's European noise regulations... At certain airports AT-6s are not allowed to take off under full power to reduce noise at take off! I wonder if there is anyone on the forum who is familiar with the WW II Grumman amphibious types and can explain this change of engine from the inline Franklin to what I believe to be a Pratt & Whitney Wasp. BUT... the main problem I have with the Grummans of either type is that they had a typical cockpit windshield layout which is not shown in the wreck photo. Therefore I hesitate to conclude the airplane in the picture is a Widgeon or, more likely, a Gosling in a palm tree setting with volcanic mountain setting. Ric at one time believed the wreck photo showed a Lockheed 10. Then he changed his mind and now believes it is a Tachikawa Ki-54 Hickory. Could be. But I'm still not 100 % convinced it is not one of the 32 Dutch Lockheed 12s (Lockheed 212 and Lockheed 12-26) the Netherlands air force lost in the Dutch East Indies during the Japanese invasion. This might also explain the palm trees and the volcanic mountain landscape.

LTM (who loves seaplanes)