Tallmantz Photo Gallery #4
Tallmantz-Moth N1511T (??)
This aircraft has a bit of mystery behind it. It is possibly Tallman-Moth, N1511T. Several noted aviation historians have presented different possibilities. One explanation behind the unusal airplane is that it was built up by Tallmantz using parts from a Canadian deHavilland Moth for an unknown film project. It was designated as a Tallmantz-Moth (TM-15) with the FAA and registered as N1511T. Another theory is that it was modified in Ireland for the 1966 film The Blue Max, and then exported to the U.S. to Tallmantz. To me, it looks much like a modified French Caudron C.277 with the gunner’s pit added behind the cockpit. Research by Ben Borsberry, Ken Tilley and, particularly, Dave Welch, revealed the likely history behind N1511T. The airframe later went to the UK for further use in a TV show, and then was dismantled for parts to be used in another Moth restoration. (Photo by Richard Kamm via August Hovarth)
Curtiss-Wright Hawk 1A N982V
Curtiss-Wright Hawk 1A N982V as seen in August 1969 while displayed at the Movieland of the Air. This historic airframe was originally built by Curtiss as a demonstrator for its Army P-1 Hawk and Navy F6C-1 designs but it matched neither exactly…apparently it was built up from spares and miscellaneous assemblies and first flew in 1930. It was modified several times after several crashes and was owned and flown by Al Williams up until 1936. It ended up at an aviation trade school for mechanics and forgotten until Frank Tallman located and purchased it in 1958. Tallman rebuilt it and flew it beginning in 1962. It was sold to Rosen-Novak in February 1966 and auctioned in May 1968. The National Air and Space Museum determined that the original intent of Al Williams was that it go on display at the NASM and, after a series of lawsuits, it did end up with the NASM collection where i remains. (Dave Welch)
WACO UPF-7 N30141
This Waco UPF-7, N30141, was operated by Tallmantz Aviation through two decades. Early in the Movieland of the Air Days, it was used to give “penny-a-pound” Barnstormer rides to museum visitors, more often than not flown by Tallmantz pilot Jim Appleby. This view shows it parked in the display hangar in August 1969 (Dave Welch)
Curtiss-Wright CW-1 Junior N10967
Curtiss-Wright CW-1 Junior, N10967, as seen on the Tallmantz flight line in August 1969. This little airplane proved to be a great photo platform for low and slow filming, the forward crew position allowing uninhibited views forward and to each side. This airframe is now with the Kermit Weeks collection. (Dave Welch)C
Boeing B-17G N83525 (44-83525)
B-17G N83525 as seen in August 1969. This ex DB-17P drone controller was placed on a five-year lease to Tallmantz beginning in late 1967. Tallmantz used it in the filming of The Thousand Plane Raid in January 1968, but it seldom flew after that. The B-17G suffered internal wing damage when some exhaust components broke during one flight and the airplane was grounded. It was finally repaired in 1972 after Tallmantz obtained title to the airplane in a trade agreement with the USAF, and it was sold to Junior Burchinal for his warbird flight school late in 1972. The airplane was subsequently obtained by Kermit Weeks but was badly damaged in a 1992 hurricane while parked in Florida. Though repaired, it remains in disassembled long-term storage with Kermit Weeks in Florida. Prospects for it ever flying again are slim. (Dave Welch)
Douglas A-26C N4815E (44-35505)
The rarely flown Tallmantz Douglas A-26C, N4815E, in July 1970. Originally purchased by Tallmantz due to a bit of pressure from one of its commercial companies (Douglas at nearby Long Beach), the A-26 had limited use as a camera platform. It did receive a characteristic Tallmantz camera nose, though. It languished for years in the Tallmantz compound and was finally sold (with a standard A-26C nose) in 1976. Both the airplane and the camera nose have disappeared in the years since. Two rumors persist, though: it was used in a south-of-the-border drug run and was then impounded, and it is now in disassembled storage with the War Eagles Air Museum in New Mexico. (Dave Welch)44-35505
Fokker DR.1 (Replica) N5523V
This is a Fokker DR.1 replica built by Anthony Bright and Harold Duringer. It carried the civil registration of N5523V and is seen on display in August 1969. This airplane was used four years later in the final scenes that appeared in the film The Great Waldo Pepper when it donned a black paint scheme. The current whereabouts of this airplane are unknown (to me anyway) and the civil registration was cancelled in 1989. (Dave Welch)
de Havilland Tiger Moth N5444
This de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth, N5444 (msn 3312), was apparently a visitor on the Tallmantz ramp in August 1969 when Dave Welch took this photo. At the time, records indicate it was owned by William Heurth at nearby Torrance, California. (Dave Welch)
de Havilland Tiger Moth N5446
Another visiting de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth, N5446 (msn 434), seen at the same time at Tallmantz in August 1969. At the time, this airplane was owned by Ralph Wefel and operated possibly from the Van Nuys airport. (Dave Welch)
Meyers OTC-160 N34325
Another apparent visitor to the Tallmantz ramp on an August day in 1969 was this Meyers OTC-160, N34325, There is no record of this aircraft owned or operated by Tallmantz, though it did reportedly appear in an episode of the TV series Highway Patrol in 1958. It was probably still based at Van Nuys in 1969 but made this appearance at Orange County Airport. (Dave Welch)
Boeing 100 N873H
This is the Paul Mantz Boeing Model 100 that came to the Tallmantz collection in 1962, seen here in August 1969. This airplane was built by Boeing as a civilian demonstrator for the Navy F4B and Army P-12, and Mantz was able to purchase it in the mid-1930s. Mantz put it to good and continual use both in front and behind the camera for the next three decades. Frank Tallman of course loved to fly the hot little fighter when he got his chance. This airplane, marked as N873H through the many decades, went to Kermit Week in 1985 and then was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. It has been under slow rebuild in Nevada for many years and will fly again. (Dave Welch)
Grumman J2F-6 N1196N (BuNo 36976)
One of the two identically painted J2Fs employed by Tallmantz for the filming of Murphy’s War is J2F-6 N1196N (Bu 36976) seen here in July 1970. N1196N was obtained by Tallmantz in September 1969 in a trade that sent FG-1 Corsair N3440G (BuNo 92433) to Junior Burchinal in return for the Duck. Filming of Murphy’s War commenced in February 1970 on location in Venezuela. Frank Tallman did the flying with Frank Pine on hand for assistance. This view shows the Duck still in movie colors just months after its return from Venezuela. This airplane is n now in the EAA Museum at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. (Dave Welch)
Grumman J2F-6 N67790 (BuNo 33587)
The other J2F Duck used for the filming of Murphy’s War in 1970 was J2F-6 N67790 (BuNo 33587), also seen here in July 1970 shortly after its return for location in Venezuela. Frank Tallman bought this N67990 from a Louisiana oil rig support company in late 1969 to provide the second needed J2F for the filming. Tallman held onto this airplane after the filming was completed and used for an impressive airshow aerobatic act for several years. It went to Kermit Weeks along with the remaining Tallmantz collection in 1985, and Weeks donated it to the National Museum of the USAF at Dayton, Ohio, the following year. It remains on static display. (Dave Welch)
Goodyear FG-1D N3440G (BuNo 92433)
One of two FG-1Ds held by Tallmantz in the early days, N3440G came over with Frank Tallman from his collection, based earlier at Flabob airport near Riverside. This FG-1D was traded in 1969 to noted warbird guy Jr. Burchinal but was unfortunately lost in a hangar fire in 1979. (Photo by Harry Standel)
