This was one of three Waco J2W aircraft purchased in 1937 for the US Coast Guard. Originally intended as two-seat observation seaplanes for operation from Coast Guard Cutters, instead they were deployed as land planes by the Coast Guard Air Detachment at El Paso, Texas. Although the Coast Guard is frequently referred to as a branch of the armed forces, in fact it is a law enforcement agency. It is not part of the Department of Defense and has actually come under the jurisdiction of a number of other departments over the years. Although currently belonging to the Department of Homeland Security, during the 1930s, when it operated these Waco aircraft, the Coast Guard belonged to the Treasury Department.
Sunderajan, e-mail, 31.01.2013 11:44
About 1937, Tata Airlines, Bombay India,started by the legendary J.R.D Tata, had a fleet of arround 6 Waco sesqui planes fitted with jacob engines. I am not sure of the propellers, probably either fixed pitch or Variable but certainly not costant speed .When I joined the Airline in 1944 the fleet was still operational. I wonder if any can throw more light on the Wacos.
Mike, 19.07.2012 22:57
I have another shot of this J2W taken at the same time and place and the 2B20's counterweights are clearly visible. The J2W was an EQC-6 (as per Waco's own books) - not the ZQC-6 and so had a 320hp Wright R-760-E2 instead of a Jacobs.
Thomas D. Moreland, e-mail, 24.11.2010 06:01
The propeller in the photo does not have counter weights so it is not a 2B-20. It appears to be a ground adjustable propeller which was common in that time frame. The ZQC-6 had a Jacobs L-5, 285 hp engine from the factory. 68 of these aircraft were sold. The 2B-20 was available as standard equipment.
WALLACE MURRAY, e-mail, 14.10.2010 20:04
THIS IS PROBABLY A 1936 WACO ZQC-6 245 H.P. JACOB ENGINE WITH A HAMILTON STANDARD 2B-20 CONSTANT SPEED PROP
