Spanish Air Force Caribous

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Newest data in shown in red         Updated 12/10/02

 
The Spanish Air Force bought 12 new DHC-4A aircraft in 1968/69. They were assigned to the 37th Transportation Wing and operated with 371 and 372 squadrons replacing the Douglas C-47.  With the DeHavilland production line closed in 1973, 18 surplus USAF Caribous were sold to the Spanish Air Force in 1981. The Spanish Caribous were withdrawn from service by June, 1991. 

 
Thanks to Francisco Valero for his help in updating this roster
Model
C/N
Year
Tail #
USAF Tail #

 Squadron
number
Status
DHC-4A 258 1968 T9-1
new
372-01
 Renumbered 37-01 (1988); taken out of service 6/91; sold to INDRA BDE converted to firefighter aircraft EC-GQL; for sale 10/99.
DHC-4A 259 1968 T9-2
new
372-02
 Renumbered 37-02 in 9/88; taken out of service 6/91; stored at Villanubla 6/91; stored at Cuatro Vientos 11/91; sold to New Cal Aviation Inc. 1994 as N82NC.
DHC-4A 260 1968 T9-3
new
372-03
 Renumbered 37-03 n 7/87; taken out of service 6/91; stored at Cuatro Vientos 11/91
DHC-4A 261 1968 T9-4
new
372-04
 Renumbered 37-04 in 9/88; taken out of service 6/91; stored at Cuatro Vientos 11/91; sold to New Cal Aviation Inc. 1994 as N51NC.
DHC-4A 262 1968 T9-5
new
372-05
 Renumbered 37-05 in 1987; taken out of service 6/91; stored at Cuatro Vientos 11/91; stored Maestranza Aerea, Madrid; status unknown at this time.
DHC-4A 263 1968 T9-6
new
372-06
 Renumbered 37-06 in 1988; taken out of service 6/91; stored at Cuatro Vientos 11/91; sold to New Cal Aviation Inc. 1994 as N53NC.
DHC-4A 284 1969 T9-7
new
372-07
 Renumbered 37-07 in 9/88; stored Cuatro Vientos as 372-07; taken out of service 6/91; stored at Cuatro Vientos; sold to New Cal Aviation Inc. 1994 as N84NC.
DHC-4A 286 1969 T9-8
new
372-08
 Renumbered 37-08 in 2/89; taken out of service 6/91; stored Villanubla; sold to New Cal Aviation Inc. 1994 as N86NC.
DHC-4A 287 1969 T9-9
new
372-09
 Renumbered 372-09 in 5/82; 37-09 in 9/88; taken out of service 6/91; stored Cuatro Vientos 11/91; for sale 4/13/00.
DHC-4A 288 1969 T9-10
new
372-10
 Renumbered 372-10 in 5/83; 37-10 in 10/88; taken out of service 6/91; stored Maestranza Aera, Madrid; for sale 4/13/00.
DHC-4A 289 1969 T9-11
new
372-11
 Taken out of service 6/91; sold to INDRA BDE  aircraft numbered EC-GQM; for sale 10/99.
DHC-4A 290 1969 T9-12
new
372-12
 Renumbered 371-02 in 5/83; replaced as 371-02 by T.9-14  in 5/86; renumbered 37-12 in 2/90; taken out of service 6/91; sold to INDRA BDE  aircraft numbered EC-GQN; for sale 10/99.
C-7 15 10/81 T9-13 60-3764
353-13
 Taken out of service 11/86; sold to New Cal Aviation Inc. 2/88 as N555NC.
C-7 17 10/81 T9-14 60-3766
353-14
 Renumbered 371-02 in 5/86; replaced T.9-12 as 371-02 in 1987; renumbered 37-14 in 10/88; stored at Villanubla; status unknown at this time. 
C-7 19 10/81 T9-15 60-3768
353-15
 Crashed 10/11/84 at Cabaneros, Ciudad Real Province, after in-flight engine fire. Only Spanish Air Force Caribou lost in 23 years of service.
C-7 26 10/81 T9-16 60-5435
353-16
 Renumbered as 371-03 in 5/86 replacing T.9-23; 37-16 in 7/87; sold to New Cal Aviation Inc. as N52NC.
C-7 38 10/81 T9-17 60-5444
353-17
 Taken out of service 1985; sold to New Cal Aviation Inc. 11/86 as N88NC.
C-7 49 10/81 T9-18 61-2391
353-18
 Renumbered 371-04 in 2/86 replacing T.9-24; renumbered 37-18 in 9/88; sold to New Cal Aviation Inc. 1994 as N54NC.
C-7 61 10/81 T9-19 61-2400
353-19
 Renumbered 371-05 in 2/87; renumbered 37-13 in 1988; sold to New Cal Aviation Inc. 1994 as N55NC.
C-7 133 10/81 T9-20 62-4190
353-20
 Renumbered 371-06 in 2/86 replacing T.9-26; renumbered 37-17 in 5/87; sold to New Cal Aviation Inc. 1994 as N56NC.
C-7 22 6/82 T9-21 60-5432
353-21
 Taken out of service 1985;  scrapped - Maestranza Aerea 1988.
C-7 72 6/82 T9-22 61-2594
353-22
 Renumbered as 371-07 in 5/86 replacing T.9-27; 37-15 in 7/87; sold to New Cal Aviation Inc. 1994 as N57NC.
C-7 14 6/82 T9-23 60-3763
371-03
 Replaced as 371-03 by T.9-16; again 371-03 in 1987; preserved on parade grounds at Villanubla AFB.
C-7 24 6/82 T9-24 60-5433
371-04
 Replaced as 371-04 by T.9-18 in 5/86; taken out of service 1986; sold to New Cal Aviation Inc. 11/86 as N90NC.
C-7 53 6/82 T9-25 61-2394
371-05
 Taken out of service 2/86; on display at Museo del Aire , Madrid, Spain.
C-7 27 9/82 T9-26 60-5436
371-06
 Replaced as 371-06 by T.9-20 in 2/86; taken out of service 1986; sold to New Cal Aviation Inc. 2/88 as N666NC.
C-7 47 9/82 T9-27 61-2390
371-07
 Taken out of service 1987; scrapped - Maestranza Aerea, Madrid, Spain.
C-7 58 9/82 T9-28 61-2398
371-08
 Taken out of service 1987; sold to New Cal Aviation Inc. 2/88 as N888NC.
C-7 70 9/82 T9-29 61-2592
371-09
 Taken out of service 1987; Preserved at Maestranza Aerea, Madrid, Spain
C-7 135 9/82 T9-30 62-4191
371-10
 Taken out of service 9/85; sold to New Cal Aviation Inc. 11/86 as N95NC.

 

 <<< T9-3 (c/n #260)

<<< T9-  (c/n # 287)

<<< T9-10   (c/n #288)

Stored at Madrid-Custro Vientos Airport in Spain  9/3/02   (Steve Williams)

 
<<< USAF 61-2394 (c/n #53) going to the Spanish Air Force as T9-25 in  Oct. 1981.  (R. Leader via Pete Harlem)

 
>>> Spanish Air Force #T9-5 (c/n #262) - 1987


 
Spanish Air Force T9-25 (c/n #53) on display at Cuatro Vientos Museum in Madrid, Spain . Thanks to Roberto Pla Aragones.  For more information about the Spanish Air Force check out the following site:  http://www.aire.org    (Unofficial Spanish Air Force pages)

 
When Cor van Gent was guided around at Villanubla-Vallodolid on 23 September 1988 the guide (pilot) takes him to a spot near the runway. One of the based aircraft  will make some overshoots for the occasion. After a while a Spanish Caribou appears at relatively high altitude, intending to start the private airshow with a dive. Even before the plane fully recovers from the dive the guide starts cursing and yelling in fluent Spanish and a few seconds later surprised Cor understands why. The Caribou is losing much too much height and its pilot only just succeeds  in keeping it in the air. The eventual outcome was not only a very  spectacular picture, but most probably also blood, sweat and tears for the crew.
(Cor van Gent - Villanubla-Vallodolid, 23 September 1988)

 
Spanish Air Force Caribou T9-25 (C/N # 53) on display at Museo Del Air, Vientos, Madrid - Spain. (Nicolai Musante (10/10/00)
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