Tallman Pfalz N43C
Frank Tallman obtained four World War I airframes in 1950, a Nieuport 28, a SPAD VII, a Sopwith Camel, and this Pfalz D.XII, from Colonel J.B. Jarrett, a World War I artifact collector of some note. The four airplanes, or what was left of them, had been stored outside and were in terrible condition…really basket case condition. The Pfalz was one of many German airplanes earlier brought to the U.S. at the end of World War I for military use. It was later sold as surplus and appeared in the film Dawn Patrol as set dressing. After Jarrett bought the airplane in 1936, it was placed on museum display at his New Jersey facility. When Tallman got the airplane, he agreed to trade the SPAD to Robert Rust of Atlanta, Georgia, in exchange for the restoration work on the Pfalz. The airplane was transported from New Jersey to Atlanta as a pile of broken parts but, over the course of the next four years, Rust restored and rebuilt the airplane back to flying condition. Registered as N43C, Tallman took it back into the air in January 1959. It moved with Tallman to his new base at FlaBob Airport at Riverside, California, where this 1960 photo was taken. The airplane joined the Tallmantz collection in 1961, though it was rarely flown. (Jack Canary via San Diego Aerospace Museum)
Tallman Garland Lincoln LF-1 N12237
Tallman’s Garland Lincoln LF1 was originally built by Claude Flagg for movie pilot Garland Lincoln in 1936. Frank Tallman purchased the airplane in 1956 and it came with him when he moved from Illinois and set up shop at the FlaBob airport near Riverside. Tallman flew the airplane extensively, including a 1961 national tour promoting Naval Aviation 50th Anniversary of flight. It was also, reportedly, used by Tallman in the 1958 filming of Lafayette Escadrille. (Jack Canary via San Diego Air and Space Museum)
Tallman Garland Lincoln LF-1 N12237
A dapper Frank Tallman as seen with his Garland Lincoln LF1, N12237, at a show at George AFB (Victorville, CA) circa 1960. About aged 40 here, Tallman was a rising star in the the operation of antique aircraft and providing same for Hollywood filmwork. Doubtful Paul Mantz was too worried about the competition, but Tallman was in his rear view mirror until 1961 when the two joined forces. (Jack Canary via San Diego Air and Space Museum)
Tallman Sopwith F1 Camel N6254
One of the four World War I airplanes that Frank Tallman obtained from Jarrett in 1950 was a basket-cast Sopwith F1 Camel. It was in very poor shape what was there was moved to the New England School of Aviation in Boston. Some work was done there but, in 1954, it was moved to a shop owned by Ned Kensinger at Peoria, Illinois. Kensinger agreed to restore the airplane in exchange for Tallman’s Nieuport 28, also obtained from Jarrett. Over the course of the next year the work was completed. Whether it was a restoration or the creation of a replica is open to debate, as little of the original structure or fittings ended up being original. The LeRhone rotary engine, however, was original, and it took a great deal of work to get the engine running again. Tallman returned the airplane to the air in early 1955 carrying British markings and the civil registration of N6254. It is seen here at FlaBob in the late 1950s. (Jack Canary via San Diego Air and Space Museum)
Tallman Sopwith F1 Camel N6254
Tallman flying the Sopwith F1 Camel from his FlaBob airport base in the late 1950s, possibly for an airshow or open house. Tallman reportedly flew the airplane for the 1958 film Lafayette Escadrille. By Tallman’s own account of flying the airplane, it was a challenging occupation with primitive controls of a primitive engine. The F1 Camel went into the Tallmantz fleet in 1961. (Jack Canary via San Diego Air and Space Museum)
Tallman Aviation and Lincoln LF-1
This photo is of particular interest because it shows the front of the Tallman hangar at Flabob Airport. This photo dates between 1958 and 1961. The Garland Lincoln LF-1 was purchased by Tallman in 1956. (Doug Fisher Collection via Michael O’Leary)
Art Scholl and Tallman P-51
This photo reportedly depicts Art Scholl after his first solo in a P-51 Mustang. The Mustang is Frank Tallman’s 45-11636 (N5467V) and is probably seen here at Tallman’s base at Flabob Airport. Scholl went on to work with both Tallman and Tallmantz Aviation in the succeeding years and became a well-known air show pilot. He was sadly killed while filming a scene for the movie Top Gun in 1985. (Doug Fisher Collection via Michael O’Leary)
