boeingairplanecompany

grace!

Boeing SA-307B Stratoliner NC19908 c/n 2000 TWA '403', later USAAF C-75 42-88626, then NC19908 again, F-BELY, XW-PGR. This Stratoliner was impressed into USAAF service in 1942. "....Returned to TWA in July 1944 and rebuilt as SA-307B-1 N19908. Sold to French Aigle Azur Transports Aeriens in July 1951 as F-BELY. Sold Air Laous in 1952, to Airnautic Nov 1959. To Air Laos as XW-PGR Apr 1970. Operated by Royal Air Lao as XW-PGR. Damaged on ground Feb 27, 1971 and sat derelict at Luang Prabang for several years. Sold to Cambodia Air Commercial in 1974. Believed to have been damaged in collision with C-47 Apr 20, 1971 at Luang Prabang and cut up for scrap." - J. Baugher

Nice photo, but there are some problems with the Smithsonian's description and dating. There are no DH-4Bs in this photo; most of the aircraft shown are Douglas, not just the ones on the left. They all share the Douglas's distinctive vertical fin shape, quite different from the DH-4B's, and they are "single-bay" biplanes with one set of interwing struts per side; the DH-4B was a "twin-bay" biplane with two sets of interwing struts on each side. Also, the Douglas planes must be either M-3s or M-4s; the M-2 was only bought by Western Air Express, not by the Post Office. The Boeing 40 belonged to Boeing Air Transport, judging by the logo on the side. (Going by the tail number, it appears to be the one registered as NC285.) These details mean the photo must be a few years later than 1924, because at that time the Douglas and Boeing planes didn't exist. 1927 seems most likely: the Boeing 40 had entered service, but the U.S. Post Office hadn't yet stopped flying the mail itself.

Thank you, Colin! You are correct and we will redo the caption shortly.