Waco C-72: American Light Transport

USAAF Waco UC-72 42-38271, at Hammer Field.

C-72 was a blanket designation given to a variety of privately owned Waco enclosed-cabin biplanes pressed into service by the United States Army Air Forces in 1942. Only two were lost in operation, one in the north of England and the other not far from Chicago. In all, 42 aircraft were taken and used for light transport duty wherever needed.

Variants

UC-72: 12 impressed civil Waco SRE, powered by a 400 hp (298 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985-33 Wasp Junior.

UC-72A: One impressed civil Waco ARE, powered by a 300 hp (224 kW) Jacobs R-915-1 (Jacobs L-6-1).

UC-72B: Four impressed civil Waco EGC-8, powered by a 350 hp (261 kW) Wright R-760-E2 Whirlwind.

UC-72C: Two impressed civil Waco HRE, powered by a 300 hp (224 kW) Lycoming R-680-9.

UC-72D: Two impressed civil Waco VKS-7, powered by a 240 hp (179 kW) Continental R-670-3 (Continental W-670-3).

UC-72E: Four impressed civil Waco ZGC-7, powered by a 285 hp (213 kW) Jacobs R-830-1 (Jacobs L-5-1).

UC-72F: One impressed civil Waco CUC-1, powered by a 250 hp (186 kW) Wright R-760E Whirlwind.

UC-72G: One impressed civil Waco AQC-6, powered by a 300 hp (224 kW) Jacobs R-915-1.

UC-72H: Five impressed civil Waco ZQC-6, powered by a 285 hp (213 kW) Jacobs R-830-1.

UC-72J: Three impressed civil Waco AVN-8, powered by a 300 hp (224 kW) Jacobs R-915-1.

UC-72K: Two impressed civil Waco YKS-7, powered by a 225 hp (168 kW) Jacobs R-755-1 (Jacobs L-4-1).

UC-72L: One impressed civil Waco ZVN-8, powered by a 285 hp (213 kW) Jacobs R-830-1.

UC-72M: Two impressed civil Waco ZKS-7, powered by a 285 hp (213 kW) Jacobs R-830-1. One later factory retrofitted with a 300 hp (224 kW) Lycoming R-680-13.

UC-72N: One impressed civil Waco YOC-1, powered by a 285 hp (213 kW) Jacobs R-830-1.

UC-72P: Two impressed civil Waco AGC-8, powered by a 300 hp (224 kW) Jacobs R-915-1.

UC-72Q: One impressed civil Waco ZQC-6, powered by a 285 hp (213 kW) Jacobs R-830-1.

Sources

Andrade, John (1979). U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Midland Counties Publications.

Another shot of USAAF Waco UC-72 42-38271, at Hammer Field.

 

Another shot of USAAF Waco UC-72 42-38271, at Hammer Field.