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Flitfire to UK

Rare Piper J3C-65 Cub NC37931 is on its way to Eaglescott, North Devon. Acquired by a new UK owner, it is one of the 49 ‘Flitfires’ produced early in WWII.

The RAF Benevolent Fund, formed in 1919, has been looking after injured RAF personnel and their families for a century, a role particularly needed after the Battle of Britain. To support the Fund at that time, the Piper Aircraft Corporation devised a novel plan. At its Lock Haven, Pennsylvania factory it manufactured one J3F, and then, between 10-22 April 1941, a further 48 J3C Cubs−one for every American State. Each Flitfire (named in gentle tribute to the Spitfire) was painted silver, bore RAF roundels and the RAF Benevolent Fund’s title and, on its nose, the state after which it was named. Piper dealerships across the country purchased one Flitfire, then donated it to support the fundraising initiative, whose main event was a gala at La Guardia Airport, NY, on 29 April. With the mass arrival of all 49 Flitfires, the gala had a spectacular start and was financially very successful. The following day each named example set out for ‘its’ state, many subsequently being used for further fundraising or for pilot training once there.

Eight Flitfires are known to survive, including the first one built. Registered NC1766 to honour the statute resolution number of the 1941 Lend-Lease Act, it is today one of the North Carolina Aviation Museum’s exhibits. J3C-65 NC37931 Indiana was the penultimate Flitfire off the line. It joined Illinois-based AKC Aviation’s aircraft sales inventory in the autumn and was purchased by its new UK owner in early November.