Continental Air Services, Inc.

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Continental Air Services, Inc. (CASI)
Subsidiary of Continental Air Lines
1965-1975

Formed in April 1965 by Continental Airlines at the suggestion of the US Government. The objective was to provide a "less visible" air transport alternative to the CIA-associated Air America for the growing Laotian support. .. Bird & Sons assets bought by Continental Airlines - reportedly 22 aircraft and 350 personnel for $4.5 million. Continental Air Services Inc. (CASI) became operational in September 1965. Provided contract air support to US Government activities. Ceased operation in 1975.

Abbreviations: a/c - aircraft; b/u - broken up or scrapped; c/n - construction number; lb - lease back; lp - lease purchase; lsf - leased from; r/n - registration number; ufo - ultimate fate obscure/current state unknown; w/o - written off (crashed or uneconomical to repair)

Registration Codes (initial 1 or 2 characters): HB - Switzerland; HS - Thailand; LN - Norway; N - US; PJ - Netherland Antilles; VH- Australia; XW - Laos. Numeric in Remarks is the USAAF serial number.

Blank fields indicate data not known or available; Sources: See source file.

Beech AT-11/B-18/H-18/Super 18

A/C Type	c/n	Origin	Company	Registration	From	To	Fate	Remarks	Source
Beech AT-11	poss 3330	from Bird & Sons	CASI	poss N4830N	Sep 1965		ufo	Bird assets to CASI; at LS20 1/66	A72, A110
Beech H-18 Tri-Gear	BA-667	Philippines	CASI	N906T	Nov 1965	Mar 1977	sold	VTE 1971-1975. sold as HS-CHP	A110C, A143, A145A
Beech H-18 Tri-Gear	BA-750	from Japan Airlines?	CASI	N18843		May 1974?	sold	VTE 1971-1975. sold to Volpar Int'l Corp	A110C, A145A

Beech 95-B55 (Baron)

A/C Type	c/n	Origin	Company	Registration	From	To	Fate	Remarks	Source
Beech 95-B55			CASI	N13Z					A124
Beech 95-B55	TC-172		CASI	N1349Z			ufo		A110C
Beech 95-B55	TC-236	from Aztec Aircraft Sales (Long Beach)	CASI	N24J/N224J	Feb 1966	Apr 1968	sold to Bira Air Transport TH	Reregistered HS-PBB	A124, A143
Beech 95-B55	TC-236	from Bira Air Transport (HS-PBB)	CASI	N7303	Mar 1970	Oct 1976	sold to Aircraft Modification & Parts Center		A143
Beech 95-B55			CASI	N1335Z					A123
Beech 95-B55			CASI	N1462G				At Savannakhet, Laos in 11/68	Ref2, A124
Beech 95-B55			CASI	N1563Z					A124
Beech 95-B55			CASI	N1581Z					A124
Beech 95-B55	TC-309		CASI	N4681			ufo	ground collision at Savannakhet, Laos 18 Jul 1972	A110C
Beech 95-B55	TC-437		CASI	N9781Y			write off 20 Feb 1967 Nha Trang, VS		A110C

Curtiss C-46

A/C Type	c/n	Origin	Company	Registration	From	To	Fate	Remarks	Source
Curtiss C46D-CU	22293	from Bird & Sons	CASI	N9473Z	Sep 1965	Aug 1967	w/o 13 Aug 1967 shot down Phu Cum, Laos	44-78470, Birds Assets to CASI	A2,A46,A47
Curtiss C46D-CU	22410	from Bird & Sons	CASI	N4871V	Sep 1965	?	Reported "lost in SE Asia"	44-78587, Bird Assets to CASI	A2,A46, A110C
Curtiss C46F-CU	22512	from Bird & Sons	CASI	N67961	Sep 1965	?	(1) written off 1969 (2) Flown on 28 May 1971 ufo	44-78689 Bird Assets to CASI	A2,A46,A58, A145A
Curtiss C46F-CU	22561	Netherlands Antilles	Caribbean Air Transport	PJ-CLC	Jul 1965	May 1967	to Millard Berry	44-78738 N1649M	A2, A143
Curtiss C46F-CU	22561	from Millard Berry	CASI	N1447	May 1967	May 1974	to Royal Air Lao		A2,A15, A143
Curtiss C46F-CU	22561	from CASI	Royal Air Lao	XW-PMF	May 1974		escaped Laos to BKK May 1975		A15, A143
Curtiss Super C-46C	22574		Bird & Sons	N9760Z		Sep 1965	to CASI	Bird Assets to CASI	A2,A46
Curtiss Super C-46C	22574	from Bird & sons	CASI	N9760Z	Sep 1965	1974?	to Tri-Nine Corp	write off Phnom Penh, CB 26 Aug 1974	A2, A110C
Curtiss C-46R	27049	Norway	Fred Olsen AirTransport	LN-FOP			to CASI		A2,A73
Curtiss C-46R	27049	from Fred Olsen AirTransport	CASI	XW-PHL	Jun 1971	Jun 1974	to N335CA		A2,A47,A73
Curtiss C-46R	27049	From XW-PHL	CASI	N335CA	Jun 1974	Feb 1976	to Tri-Nine Corp		A2,A47,A73
Curtiss C-46R	30252	Norway	Fred Olsen AirTransport	LN-FOR			to CASI		A2,A73
Curtiss C-46R	30252	from Fred Olsen AirTransport	CASI	XW-PHM	Jun 1971	Jun 1974	to N336CA		A2,A47,A73
Curtiss C-46R	30252	from XW-PLM	CASI	N336CA	Jun 1974	Feb 1976	to Tri-Nine Corp		A2,A74
Curtiss C-46R	30257	Norway	Fred Olsen AirTransport	LN-FOS			to CASI		A2,A73
Curtiss C-46R	30257	from Fred Olsen AirTransport	CASI	XW-PHN	Jun 1971	Jun 1974	to N337CA		A2,A47,A73
Curtiss C-46R	30257	from XW-PHN	CASI	N337CA	Jun 1974	Feb 1976	To Tri-Nine Corp		A2,A74

Dornier DO-28

A/C Type	c/n	Origin	Company	Registration	From	To	Fate	Remarks	Source
Dornier DO28-B2	3013		Bird & Sons	N4223G		Sep 1965	to CASI		A1,A1a, A110C
Dornier DO28-B2	3013	from Bird & Sons	CASI	N4223G	Sep 1965		ufo		A1,A1a, A110C
Dornier DO28-B2	3021		Air America	N4224G			to Bird & Sons?	reported as Air America asset in 1963 as N4224G;	A1,A1a, Ref 188
Dornier DO28-B2	3021	from Air America?	Bird & Sons?	XW-PBJ		Sep 1965?	to CASI?	Bird Assets to CASI?	A1,A1a, A59,A72
Dornier DO28-B2	3021	from Bird & Sons?	CASI	XW-PKM	Sep 1965?		to N4224G		A1,A1a

Douglas C-47

A/C Type	c/n	Origin	Company	Registration	From	To	Fate	Remarks	Source
Douglas C-47A-DL	4309			N75409					A2,A47
Douglas C-47A-DL	4309	from N75409	CASI	N719A	1966	1970	ufo		A2,A47
Douglas C-47A-DL	10160		Continental Air Lines	N560?				also associated with N7780C	A2,A47
Douglas C-47A-DL	10160	from Continental Airlines	CASI	N560, XW-PDE				Notation of "SIGINT" a/c" as XW-PDE	A2, A110C
Douglas C47A-DL	10160	from CASI	Southeast Asia Air Transport	N82AC					A2,A65
Douglas C-47A-DK	11971	Australia	Trans Australian Airlines	VH-SBC		1968	to CASI	42-92197	A35,A75
Douglas C-47A-DK	11971	from Trans Australian Airlines	CASI	XW-PFV	Apr 1968				A2,A35
Douglas C-47A-DK	11971		CASI	N7302	Sep 1968			lst Air Vietnam	A35,A76
Douglas C47A-DK	11971	from CASI	Commercial Air Freight	N7302	Apr 1979		crashed Dec 11, 1979; hulk Oaxaco Mexico	lb N7302	A2,A35, A110C
Douglas C47A-DK	12039	US	Frontier Airlines	N4995E	Oct 1958	1966		42-92258; Frontier Sunliner "LINCOLN"	A77a
Douglas C47A-DK	12039	from Frontier Airlines	CASI	N4995E	1966?		ufo		A2,A77,A77a
Douglas C-47A-DK	12539	Australia	Trans Australia Airlines	VH-SBE	1960	1968		42-92708; TAA "BROCKMAN" & "MUELLER"	A35
Douglas C-47A-DK	12539	from Trans Australian Airlines	CASI	XW-PFT	May 1968	Nov 1973			A35
Douglas C-47A-DK	12539	from CASI	Southeast Asia Air Transport	N83AC	Nov 1973		ufo	registration cancelled Oct 1981	A35,A65
Douglas C-47A DK	13174	US	Morrison Knudson Co	N35MK	1945	Nov 1965	to CASI	42-93280; previously NC91053	A75-425, A114
Douglas C-47A DK	13174	from Morrison Knudson	CASI	N650K	Nov 1965	Oct 1973	to Air Alliance	Referred to as "50 Kip"	A114
Douglas C-47A-DK	13184	US	Air Orlando	NC79971				42-93389	A45
Douglas C-47A-DK	13184	from Air Orlando	CASI	XW-PDG	Aug 1966?				A2
Douglas C-47A-DK	13184	from CASI	Tri-Nine Corp					No record at Tri-Nine	A2,A74
Douglas C-47A-DK	13622	Australia	Trans Australia Airlines	VH-SBJ				42-93683	A78
Douglas C-47A-DK	13622	from Trans Australia Airlines	CASI	XW-PEE					A2
Douglas C-47A-DK	13622	from CASI	Private US Owner	N13622				later to Turkish Air Force as ETI-31	A66
Douglas C-47A	13817	Taiwan	Air Asia	B933	Oct 1961	Feb 1974		43-30666; to CASI	A135
Douglas C-47A	13817	from Air Asia	CASI	N11AF	Feb 1974	Feb 1974	Sold to Air Alliance, Inc		A135
Douglas C-47A-DL	19476	US	Frontier Airlines	N64422	1950	1966		42-10113; Frontier Sunliner "New Mexico"	A45,A77, A77a
Douglas C-47A-DL	19476	from Frontier Airlines	CASI	N64422	Dec 1966	Sep 1972		acquired via Miami Aviation and Continental Airlines (parent)	A2, A77, A77a, A115
Douglas C-47A-DL	19476	from CASI	Air Alliance	N64422	Sep 1972				A2
Douglas C-47A-DL	20062	US	Frontier Airlines	N64910	Jun 1950	1962		43-15596; Frontier Sunliner "Denver" & "Williston Basin"	A45,A77,A77a
Douglas C-47A-DL	20062	from Frontier Airlines	CASI	N64910	1965?		ufo		A2
Douglas C-47-DL	20156	US	Carolina Aircraft Corp	N8744R		1966?		43-15690	A45-19
Douglas C-47-DL	20156	from Carolina Aircraft Corp	CASI	N8744R	1966	1966	w/o 16 Apr 1966, crashed Sam Neua, Laos	2 killed during supply air drop	A45-19
Douglas C-47A-DL	20542	US	Frontier Airlines	N65385	Dec 1949	Feb 1966		43-16076; Frontier Sunliner "Colorado"	A45,A77,A77a
Douglas C-47A-DL	20542	from Frontier Airlines	CASI	N65385	Feb 1966?	1972	ufo		A2,A47
Douglas C-47A-DK	25234	US	Continental Airlines	N620Z	Dec 1966	Feb 1967			A47
Douglas C-47A-DK	25234	from Continental Airlines	CASI	N620Z	Mar 1967	1970	ufo		A2,A47
Douglas C-47B-DK	26675	US	Catalina Airline	N55L		1963	to CASI	43-49414, c/n 15230/26675	A2,A45-26,A98, A75-432
Douglas C-47B-DK	26675	from	CASI	N55L	1965+	Feb 1971	Crashed Phnom Penh, CB 14 Feb 1971	Possibly sold to Air Alliance	A2, A98, A75-432
Douglas C-47B-DK	26763	from Bird & Sons	CASI	N7781C	Sep 1965		ufo	43-49502	A2,A46
Douglas C-47B-DK	33571	US	Consolidated Airlines?	N67674				44-77239	A2,A75-445
Douglas C-47B-DK	33571	from Consolidated Airlines?	CASI	N67674	1966				A2,A47,95
Douglas C-47B-DK	33571	from CASI	Tri-Nine	N67674					A2

Lockheed L100 Hercules

A/c Type	c/n	Origin	Company	Registration	From	To	Fate	Remarks	Source
Lockheed L100	4101	US	Lockheed	N9260R		Sep 1965	to CASI	lsf Lockheed	A2,A47
Lockheed L100	4101	from Lockheed	CASI	N9260R	Sep 1965	Jun 1966	return to Lockheed		A2,A47
Lockheed L100	4109	US	Lockheed	N9261R		Nov 1965	to CASI	lsf Lockheed	A2,A47
Lockheed L100	4109	from Lockheed	CASI	N9261R	Nov 1965	Jun 1966	return to Lockeed		A2,A47

Pilatus PC-6 Porter/Super Porter

A/c Type	c/n	Origin	Company	Registration	From	To	Fate	Remarks	Source
Pilatus PC6			CASI	XW-PCL					A72
Pilatus PC6B1-H2	705	Switzerland	Pilatus	HB-FFG	1969	1970	to CASI		A10
Pilatus PC6B1-H2	705	from Pilatus (HB-FFG)	CASI	XW-PGN	Mar 1970	Dec 1974	to N61612 or N6216Z		A10, A143
Pilatus PC6B1-H2	705	from CASI	Bangkok United Mechanical Co.	N61612	1975		still flying in 2000 as F-GZDO		A10
Pilatus PC6-B1	2011	US		N325F		1971	to CASI		A3
Pilatus PC6-B1	2011	from N325F	CASI	XW-PKI	1971	1974	to N62157		A3
Pilatus PC6-B1	2011	from CASI		N62157	1974		ufo		A3

Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer

A/c Type	c/n	Origin	Company	Registration	From	To	Fate	Remarks	Source
Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer 2			Bird & Sons	XW-PBJ		Sep 1965		cargo/rice dropper	A59,A72
Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer 2		from Bird & Sons	CASI	XW-PBJ	Sep 1965		hulk Laos		A59,A72
Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer 2			Bird & Sons	XW-PBP		Sep 1965	to CASI	passenger configured; Bird assets to CASI	A72
Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer 2		from Bird & Sons	CASI	XW-PBP	Sep 1965		hulk Laos		A72
Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer 2			Bird & Sons?	XW-PBN			hulk Laos	suspect confusion with XW-PBD	A59
Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer 2			Bird & Sons	XW-PBD		Sep 1965	to CASI	Bird assets to CASI	A72
Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer 2		from Bird & Sons	CASI	XW-PBD	Sep 1965		hulk Laos	Suspect confusion with XW-PBN	A59,A72

Secret War Home Page

Created January 2002-2007; Updated 8 May 2007
Copyright Thomas E. Lee 2002-2007; All Rights Reserved; This file uses copyright materials. Not for commercial use of any kind. Air Transport Data Base information used with permission of Alexandre Avare; PC-6 information used with permission of Markus Herzig; USAAF/USAF Serials used with permission of Joe Baugher. Martin Best information used with permission of Martin Best.