Fairchild Argus II

The original Fairchild Type 24 civil aircraft, built by the Fairchild Aircraft Company, Maryland, USA, first flew in 1932. In 1941, the United States Army Air Force contracted for a utility transport and communications version, to be known as the UC-61 Forwarder. Under Lend-Lease arrangements, about 670 of these aircraft served with the Royal Air Force and the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) ferry organisation, under the name Argus. The Argus I had a 145 hp Warner Super Scarab engine; the Argus II had a 165 hp Super Scarab engine, and the Argus III had a 175 hp inverted in-line engine.

The Argus II at Elvington arrived in England in August 1942 and served for most of the Second World War with the ATA at No.2 Ferry Pool, Whitchurch. After the War, it was acquired by the United States Flying Club and registered as G-AJOZ. It was finally withdrawn from use in 1963.

After many years in various collections, the Argus was acquired by the Yorkshire Air Museum in June 2000.