Delivered to the USAAF as B-18A 38-593 in 1939. Converted to a B-18B in 1942. Sold as N66267 in 1946. To Roberts Aircraft in 1951. Used as a crop sprayer and a fire bomber. Stored at Litchfield Park, AZ in 1969. Transported by road to the museum in 1976. Restored and repainted in USAAF colours as 8593 by 1997.

The Bolo was the USAAC's standard bomber in pre-war years and was based on the DC-2. Obsolete by the time the US entered the war in December 1941, several were modified as B-18B sub hunters. The last time I'd photographed this aircraft was in 1979, well before it was restored to USAAF colours. At that time it was under civil registration N66267 with scrubbed "Roberts Aircraft - Dusting Spraying - Boise Idaho" titles still visible on the natural metal fuselage. Now displayed in the 1942 marks of 25th Antisubmarine Wing, 4th Antisubmarine Sqdn, Langley AAF, VA

Ex Army Air Corps 38-593, and later preserved at Pima as such.

B-18Bs were equipped for anti-submarine patrols. They operated across the whole Caribbean from the US to South America. Photo from: National Archives at College Park, Maryland

Constructed as a B-18A and used by the US Army Air Force in October 1939 as 38-593. converted to a B-18B in July 1942. Retired by the Army Air Force in February 1945. To a private owner in August 1946 as NC66267. Converted to a cargo aircraft around 1947/1948. In its life, the aircraft served as passenger aircraft, agricultural sprayer (around 1952) and fire bomber (1954-1970), everything as N66267. To the (then) Pima Air Museum in September 1976. Initially on display in bare metal as N66267, but restored in the 1990s and displayed in the markings of the 5th Antisubmarine Wing, 4th Antisubmarine Squadron, Langley AAF, VA, in July 1942.

Ex N66267.

Still with faded titles.

Delivered to the USAAC as B-18A Bolo bomber 38-593 but modified to B-18B with MAD gear in bulbous nose. To N66267 on sale after retirement. Restored at the Pima Museum to early WW2 appearance.

Seen here stored at MASDC on behalf of the USAF Museum, with inventory code BD001 on the nose. Still has former registration "XB-DAJ" at the top of the tail. On 28 May 1983 it was airfreighted in a C-5 Galaxy to McChord AFB, WA, for restoration as a B-18 bomber for display in USAAC colours with original serial 37-505.

Still with faded titles.

At the Pima Air and Space Museum. Later restored in USAAF colours with its original serial, 38-593.