prattwhitneywaspjunior

This is not the "Polar Star," Lincoln Ellsworth's Northrop Gamma 2B (NR-12269; c/n 2). That aircraft was used during Ellsworth's 1934-35 Antarctic expeditions. This aircraft is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Vought-Sikorsky OS2U-3 Kingfisher, RAAF Serial No. A48-13 (ex- USN BuNo 5977), used for the 1947/48 Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE) aboard HMAS Wyatt Earp. Originally constructed for use by the Royal Netherlands Navy (and to wear the serial V-12) in the Netherlands East Indies, the aircraft was instead delivered to the RAAF in April 1942 and used for seaplane training through World War II. The airplane was placed into storage in August 1945, soon after the Empire of Japan announced its surrender to the Allies. The aircraft was removed from storage on October 21, 1947, and prepared for use by the ANARE, including the addition of an engine pre-heater and a new high-visibility yellow paint scheme. She'd be taken aboard HMAS Wyatt Earp on December 13, 1947. See: www.adf-serials.com.au/2a48.htm Also: www.airspacemag.com/history-of-flight/lincoln-polar-star-... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Gamma

On the left is the third Spartan 7W Executive built (reg. XA-BEW, c/n 7W-3). Originally registered as NC13994, it was sold to a purchaser in Mexico, along with at least four other Spartan 7Ws, possibly for use in the Spanish Republican Air Force in the Spanish Civil War. Ultimately, only one of the five made it to Spain. XA-BEW's ultimate fate is unknown. On the right is the second production Spartan 7W Executive built (reg. NC13993, c/n 7W-2). Purchased originally by the A.D. Olson Drilling Company of Oklahoma. The badge on its engine cowl says "Torborkelson Fifth" and features a winged helmet at its center (see another SDASM photo of the same aircraft below). Today this very same aircraft is on exhibit at the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, albeit painted in the colors of the 34th and last Spartan Executive built (c/n 7W-34), "Mrs. Mennen." Photo credit: dlberek

Given the all-metal fuselage and triangular tail, this would appear to be a North American BT-14, rather than a BT-9.