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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Grumman G-111/SA-16/HU-16/UF Albatross
    Latest Model:HU-16B Albatross
    Last Military Serial:51-5282 USAF
    Construction Number:G-163
    Compressed ID:Grumman HU-16B sn 51-5282 USAF cn G...
    Latest Owner or Location:National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a SA-16A.

    16 July 1952

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Air Force with s/n 51-5282.

    July 1952

    Transferred to 1707th Training Squadron (Military Air Transport Command), Palm Beach, FL.

    September 1952

    Transferred to 6th Air Rescue Squadron (Military Air Transport Service), Narsarssuak Air Base, Greenland.

    November 1952

    Transferred to 51st ARS (MATS), Narsarssuak AB.
    Deployment to Furstenfeldbruck, Germany.

    June 1955

    Transferred to Grumman Aircraft, Bethpage, NY.
    Overhaul.

    September 1955

    Transferred to 54th ARS (MATS), Goose AB, Labrador, Canada.

    February 1956

    Transferred to 33rd ARS (MATS), Kadena AB, Japan.

    August 1956

    Base of operations changed.
    Naha AB, Japan.

    June 1957

    Converted to a SA-16B by Grumman at Bethpage, New York.

    October 1957

    Transferred to 36th ARS (MATS), Johnson AB, Japan.

    June 1960

    Transferred to 31st ARS (MATS), Naha AB, Japan.

    September 1960

    Transferred to 76th ARS (MATS), Naha AB, Japan.

    Deployments to Andersen AFB, Guam; Clark AB, Philippines; Tachikawa AB, Japan.

    June 1961

    Transferred to 33rd ARS (MATS), Naha, Japan.
    Deployments to Clark AB, Philippines.

    February 1963

    Redesignated as HU-16B.

    July 1963

    Transferred to 31st ARS (MATS), Clark AB, Philippines.

    December 1965

    Transferred to 48th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (MATS), Eglin AFB, FL.

    January 1966

    Transferred to Warner Robins Air Logistics Area, Robins AFB, GA.

    September 1966

    Transferred to Fairchild Aircraft, Crestview, FL.

    May 1967

    Transferred to 301st ARRS (USAFR), Homestead AFB, FL.

    Circa 1973


    Photographer: Larry Johnson
    Notes: In Homestead AFB, FL.

    4 July 1973

    Established a world altitude record for twin-engine amphibians when it reached 32,883 feet.

    Circa 18 July 1973

    Ferry flight. Delivered to National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright Field, Dayton, OH.
    Last flight of any HU-16B in USAF service.
    View the Location Dossier

    28 July 1986


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

    28 July 1986


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

    28 July 1986


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

    4 December 2006


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

    12 August 2023


    Photographer: Austin Newman


    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier is based on
    unreviewed imported data.
    If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor.

    Credits
    Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...

    Internet Sources
    National Museum of the United States Air Force
    United States Military Services Serial Number Lists by Joe Baugher

    Individual Contributors
    Glenn Chatfield
    Mike Henniger

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