I'm currently trying to locate any information on a C-47 assigned to VR 48. I was in the Navy Reserves and was airlifted to Selfridge ANGB from CLE once. One of the crewmen mentioned that the aircraft at one time had been used by LBJ. He also noted that they had 2 such aircraft based out of Andrews AFB. Anyone have any info on these birds?
I flew the DC-3 with the CAF and 2 individuals. Started in 2000 and retired in 2015. It was a dream to fly and great to show up at an airshow and watch everyone come to see us. Before that, I instructed in Helicopters for the Army for 3.5 years and then I was for a pilot for Southern Airlines, Republic Airlines and Northwest Airlines. After a long career as an airline pilot, I enjoyed the C-47 for 15 years.
Russ Sifford, e-mail, 04.11.2017 04:22
First flight in a C-47 was at Keesler AFB, MS in 1948. Fast forward to 1951 at Godman AFB, KY and Manston, England thru 1955. Long Beach ARFB, CA (along with B-26s) 1956. Suffolk County AFB, NY (along with C-119Ds) through 1959. Minot, ND 1960-1962. Was supposed to crew BG "Red" Foreman's T-29 at Chateauroux but made TSgt and orders were for a S/Sgt and got cancelled. Orders were reinstated as a Tech but by the time I got to France the job had been given to an A1C. End of flying career with over 4000 hours in "gooneys". Lost a few engines and had a few scares but those years were the greatest. Saw almost all of Europe and the Middle East. Best bird ever made. Thank you Douglas.
garth c good, e-mail, 04.04.2015 02:33
it seems as though this site has a few misses ,I have faa types in both DC-2 & DC-3 and a bunch more , but so far I do not see the Douglas C-39 , yes there was such a model I flew as a co-pilot in aprox 1958 on one ,on a spray job in Baker Oregon , it is now in the usaf museume in dayton OH , it is also on the news week front cover in color full page , I can tell stories of that airplab\\ne
3,000 hours - IP - Hurlburt Field, Vietnam, Thailand, England AFB. Flew all models/ec/ac/c/hc/spray version. Flew the first prop (C-47) and then the first jet (Boeing 707). Doesn't get any better
Robert K. "Bob" Stein, e-mail, 01.01.2015 20:13
I was sent to Hurlbert Field in Florida to check out in the C-47. My first and only tail drager. Was trained to be a trash-hauler by IPs that had done that the previous year in Viet Nam. When I arrived in Saigon, however, Was told that the Sqd. had been disbanded. The only C-47 unit was the 4th Air Commando Sqd. flying AC-47s. This was end February 1966. I volunteered to go there and I believe that I was the first aircrew replacement since the squadron's arrival in country in November 1965. Spent six months in Bien Thuy in the delta and six at Nha Trang. The stats for the year were 2 DFC, 8 Air Medals and 600 hours of night combat time. One night when nothing was happening I scraped many layers of paint from the name plate and learned that the aircraft we were in was made in 1942. Loved that old plane.
capt w kilburn ret, e-mail, 11.06.2014 06:56
This aircraft was in service with trans canada airlined in 1955 when I joined their flight crew staff. It was not built for large pilots, and created a challenge for anyone with long legs. It was soon replaced with the prop/jets.
Don Gaffke, e-mail, 27.05.2014 00:19
Flew as Flt Mech and crew chief on C-47's out of Lajes Field Azores, Richards-Gebaur AFB Missouri and Otis AFB Ma. Great aircraft--very few problems--hundreds of hours flying timeagreat job for a young guy.
Don Gaffke, e-mail, 26.05.2014 19:21
Flew as Flt Mech and crew chief on C-47's out of Lajes Field Azores, Richards-Gebaur AFB Missouri and Otis AFB Ma. Great aircraft--very few problems--hundreds of hours flying timeagreat job for a young guy.
Dusty Rhodes, e-mail, 27.01.2014 19:30
Flew the SC-47D (Rescue Version) at Thule Greenland 1964-65. Flew one mission to Griese Fiord on Elsmere Island, Canada in Jan 65. Landed on skis between Coleman lanterns set out by the RCMP. Took a pregnant eskimo (inuit?) back to the Thule AB hospital. Great airplane.
Richard L Hamel, e-mail, 29.12.2013 21:19
There is an Eastern Ailines DC 3 hanging from the ceiling at The Smitstonian Instituition in Washington, DC
Ian Corby, e-mail, 03.02.2013 21:37
The DC-3 was the first a/c I flew after finishing my commercial pilot's course at Oxford (UK) in 1971,I was lucky to get the job as I had 20hrs tail wheel experience on an ex-army Auster spotter plane! We flew mail and newspapers for the British Armed Forces based in Germany.I also flew a company DC-3 operated by Martin Baker until they sold it!Sad as the fuselage was eventually used as restaurant.I had the previledge of meeting a US Navy R4D pilot Master Chief Pommeroy based at Lakenheath (UK)in the 1960's.I retired in 1999 after 24 yrs with British Airways as Capt.on DC-10/A320/747.If I ever won the 'lottery' I'd buy a 'turbo dak'!!!!
Steve (Ron)Mihaly, e-mail, 02.12.2012 15:48
While serviing as a Paratrooper/Jump Master with the 82nd Airborn Div. I jumped the C-47 shortly befor they were replaced by the C-119. I can recall on that last jump that the plate holding anchor cable to the floor of the aircraft was held in place by four (4) bolts. Two of the bolts were missing! Rather than cancel the jump after we were approaching the Drop Zone, the Jump Master in charge that day, Sgt. Labrac, secured the cable with a jump rope, and we completed the jump without incident. Indeed, quite an aircraft!
Lauren Eastwood, e-mail, 01.12.2012 16:19
I worked on 2 of the assigned C-47's at Otis AFB, in Falmouth, Mass. from '69 to early '70 when the base went through closure.
Roger Byron-Collins, e-mail, 17.11.2012 16:04
What a magnificent reliable workhorse. I bought my first DC3 in 1973 from British Aerospace at Filton Mristol England It was used to ferry workers on the Concorde project between Filton and Toulouse France. I formed Macedonian Aviation at Southend airport near London and acquired another three DC3 from BIA Jersy. G-AMRA,G-AMHJ and G-AMSV. These were operated out of Southend and Aberdeen Scotland with scheduled routes to Shetland Islands and work for Conoco and Ford Motors. I sold Macedonian Aviation and my beautiful Daks in the mid 1970s.
John Bonner, e-mail, 08.08.2012 18:50
Okay, how about the AC-47, Spooky, Puff the Magic Dragon? With three side-firing GE Mini-guns each rated at 6000 rounds per minute (we always ran only one at switched down to half rate), this was the most fun I had in forty years of flying a variety of aircraft... Bien Hoa and Udorn RTAB, '69-'70.
Jeff Arnett, e-mail, 31.07.2012 18:14
With the 11th Combat Cargo sqdn I flew this plane in Burma in WWII. It always brought us through the worst weather and rugged ,"bush" flying conditions. Great , great aircraft with no surprises for the pilot!
Roberto Mendieta, e-mail, 16.06.2012 02:40
We had many of them at the Nicaragua Air Force, great transport planes, to me, the best plane ever built!!!!!!
Mike Kacka, e-mail, 23.05.2012 19:31
In 1963 at 19 went to work for Ozark Airlines and spent the first 5 years of my 47 years as an A&P learning how to fix a real airplane with propellers. Finished on a A B777 no props and not as dirty or as much fun. Thanks DC 3 I grew up with you.
Vijay Fernandez, e-mail, 09.05.2012 17:19
Capt Ian C. Boodrie was the Maharaja of Dharbangra's pilot, I met him in 1969 in Calcutta. He worked in Jamair an airline that had DC-3airplanes then; he trained me on the Dak. He was one cool guy and I have seen him land in Calcutta in a cyclone. His great friend is 'The Himalayan Rogue' Peter Goutiere a CNAC pilot in N.Y. another great DC-3 pilot.
alan schneider, e-mail, 08.05.2012 21:41
as an army contractor in vietnam in '69, flew a number of times in Air America and Air Viet Nam versions. Air America versions set up very interestingly . . .
Bruce Huff USAF Ret MSGT, e-mail, 10.04.2012 06:38
Crewed and flew as flt. mech VC-47-A at Larson AFB WN 1958-1963 .Ser. no. 42-100568. Very forgiving bird.
Jim Boodrie, e-mail, 17.11.2011 16:51
My father, Captain Ian C. Boodrie, flew DC3s all over India after the war until the early 70s - when he registered with the CAA in London (early 70s) they were astounded over the number of hours flown in this aeroplane by him and were unable to find any records of anybody who had flown more - I do have some photographs of one especially being serviced and the interior of another kitted out to accommodate a Maharajah whom he was contracted to. My son Douglas C. Boodrie now holds his log books
Edward Gilbert, e-mail, 16.11.2011 20:53
My brother flew a DC-3 converted to a United States Air Force anti-submarine bomber designated as a B-18A. I believe that he sank a submarine off the US coast in the Atlantic. He flew out of the Fort Lauderdale Army Air Corps Station in 1944 or early 1945. The B-18A carried a pilot, co-pilot, navigator, and Navy Ordnance crewman, who set the detonation depth settings on the twelve anti-submarine mines at the location determined by the navigator. It had additional fuel tanks to extend its operating flying time by 50%. I think it had both port and starboard 50-mm machine gun turrets to defend itself against surfaced German U-Boats.
Keith Gorzell, e-mail, 12.11.2011 12:13
Greatly enjoyed and have fond memories of flying the C117 out of Cubi Pt, Philippines in 1972-73. We did twice daily milk runs to Clark and Manila on M-W-F, then Bagio Tue-Thur. A few trips to Vietnam and around the PI, plus twice monthly runs to Hong Kong and Taipei added to the joy. We also air dropped Nutribuns as food around Luzon during the severe PI flood of July-August 1972.
Surendra Mohan Singh, e-mail, 09.11.2011 11:07
The great Vintage Jumbo is still flying and had landed in India territory at IGIA airport today on 09 Nov 2011........76 years of Operations....... Cheers. Good show Bell Geospace for maintaing this aircraft.
Roy Tuason, e-mail, 03.11.2011 12:55
In the late 1950s my mother was a Philippine Airlines flight attendant on this plane!
Scott Boyd, e-mail, 08.09.2011 04:56
Back in the early 70's I was flying river runners in Utah and the guy I worked for bought a DC-3 from the Canadian Airforce for a ridiculously low sum. It had a dome behind the cockpit which gave you a good view, we flew it around just for the fun of it until a cargo company leased it.
Peter Lilley, 07.09.2011 10:17
I flew on Geophysical Surveys in DC3's with 2 British company's, Hunting Geology & Geophysics and Fairey Surveys on airborne survey assignments around the world. Most at low level of 500ft or less in the 1960's and early 70's, and also as a passenger on airlines in Africa during the same period. What a great aircraft.
Mike Miller, e-mail, 25.06.2011 08:46
I flew the goon in Vietnam and Thailand from 71 to 72. What a great airplane! Graduated from USAF pilot training, but learned how to fly in the C47 !
JESSE MURRAY JR. ARM2/C, e-mail, 09.06.2011 05:45
I FLEW THIS PLANE OVER 400 FLIGHTS IN WW II CARRYING SUPPLIES TO THE FRONT ALONG WITH TROOPS AND TAKING OUT WOUNDED. I THOUGHT IT WAS A FINE AIRCRAFT.
conney batson, e-mail, 22.05.2011 22:41
I WAS AN INSTRUCTOR PILOT ON C-47'S AND C-46'S BASED AT SEDALIA, MISSOURI. WE TRAINED PILOTS IN FORMATION FLYING, GLIDER TOWING,LOW LEVEL CROSS COUNTRY AS TRAINING FOR THE INVASION. SOME OF MY EARLY STUDENTS WERE SENT TO THE CHINA, BURMA, INDIA THEATER. AFTER THE WAR ENDED I WENT TO THE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AT WRIGHT PATTERSON AIR BASE IN DAYTON, OHIO FOR TWO YEARS. I LOVED THE C-47. WE HAD ONE AT DAYTON THAT I FLEW OUR CLASS TO VARIOUS PLACES AROUND THE SOUTH AS PART OF OUR TRAINING. MY FATHER-IN-LAW TALKED ME INTO GOING BACK TO COLLEGE AND BECOME A VETERINARIAN.
Lew Ayers, e-mail, 17.05.2011 23:45
Flew as crew chief in these in 1944....Over 500 hours in that year....Flew in supplies....Flew out wounded....USMC squadron VMR 353....Gilberts, Marshalls, Mariannas, You name it....Best plane ever made....William L. Ayers, MT/SGT...USMCR (former)
Lynn edmonds, e-mail, 16.04.2011 17:20
In the mid 70s I was a student in a Junior ROTC program. One of my instructors, Burnham W. Cowdry (Cowdrie?), Lt Col, USAF (Ret) had a tech manual for the C-47 in his office. I spent hours looking through that manual over the course of two years. Given his age at the time he has undoubtedly passed away. I hope that manual has found a safe passage from his estate to the hands of someone who would treasure it for what it is, but time can be cruel.
Wayne, e-mail, 12.04.2011 22:43
This old aircraft took me from Toul-Rosieres AB, France to RAF Alconbury,England many times during my tour in 1962-1964.It was like a prison escape to get out of France.Hated to have to go back.
Leonard W (Bill) Riley III, e-mail, 10.04.2011 20:10
As an Air Force navigator this was my first operational aircraft following nav training. Flew about 500 hours in one year in Korea. Our unit had two SC-47D aircraft, tail numbers 330 and 360. One of these aircraft was used in the Movie Sayonara with Marlon Brando. You can see the aircraft as Brando flew from "Korea" to Yokota AB, Japan and waved hello to Col GG Atkinson, who was then our commander of the 67th Tactical Reconnaisance Wing. My most memorable flight however was about 10 years later when I crewed a C-47 from Ubon Thailand to Davis Montham AFB, Arizona. We flew non-stop from Hickam AFB, Hawaii to Davis Montham using C-Loran and a periscopic sextant in an aircraft equipped with astro dome. We had two 500 gallon fuel tanks inside the aircraft. Caught a tail wind and landed with fuel to spare.
Lindsay Lanphere, e-mail, 30.03.2011 19:25
I am doing some research on my grandfather who flew the C-47 in Vietnam as either the first or second wave of the "dirty thirty". His name was Merten Wayne Stroh. If anyone out there remembers him please contact me at cl.lanphere@gmail.com. I also have a ton of great photos I wouldn't mind sharing. Thank you!
Doug Blaair, e-mail, 23.03.2011 19:19
Was the lone Gun plumber assigned to install 10. WW@ .30 Caliber Machine Guns in three 47s at Clark AFB, Pi, July of 65. Also installed 3 .50 Caliber Guns in 2 47s for the cambodians in Aug 71. Fine airplane, Have well over 100 missions in the Aircraft. Only Gun Plumber to be crew in aircraft with 4 different gun configurations. SUU/11 Minni Guns, 10 WW2 . 30s, Mxu/470 Modules and three .50 .50 Browning Guns. Was the highlight of my 29 year AF Career.
Jim Rudd Sr, e-mail, 17.03.2011 06:29
Was R/O on 42-100578 (T2-G) N8042X 83/437 TCG. Towed gliders D-Day and double tow at Wesel. 2200 hrs. The C47 always makes music.
Ken Ernst, e-mail, 06.03.2011 18:55
My dad worked for Eastern Airlines for 37 years as a mechanic. In the 1940's my first flight was in a DC3. They were truely a work horse and many survive today.Eastern donated a DC3 to the Smithsonian and it hangs today off the ceiling in the air and space museum.
In 1944 I was in Alaskan Div. ATC. We were world's first scheduled military airline supporting Ferry route to Russia. Gen. Gaffney said planes only recognize competence, and we never5 lost a passenger. We flew everything except freezing rain and ground fog in C-47s. One of my students put one in a full stall one day and it rolled slowly inverted while shaking violently. Best airplane ever built!
Herb Harrington, e-mail, 27.02.2011 21:24
My first flight on the DC-3 was in 1946 on American Airlines from Bridgeport, CT to LaGuardia with a connecting DC-3 flight to Detroit for my sister's wedding. As a high school freshman this was my first time in an airplane. My parents chose to go by rail but yielded to my strong desire to go by air. I did not take a seat again in a DC-3 until the early 80's with frequent flights to Nantucket on Provincetown Boston Airlines (PBA)
Bill Roll, e-mail, 22.02.2011 06:45
In 1966 I started flying for West Coast Airlines and flew the DC-3. We merged with Pacific and Bonanza, formed Air West and we flew the DC-3 until 1968. I was proud of my type rating in the Grand Old Lady of the Airways!
Ben West, e-mail, 14.02.2011 00:35
I was on the Goonie Bird in as a Flight Mechanic in base Flight in the 7206 Support Group in Athens Greece from 1967 thru 1970. We had 5 goons there. I was on ans 18 month tour there since I was a single airman but managed to stay there for 3.5 years, what a great assignment Athens was.
In 71 I went to Det-1 56th Special Ops Group with a little outfit called Air America in Laos and did 14 months on Puff there the Returned to Dover and back to the C5.
Jerome Mooers, e-mail, 29.01.2011 07:57
Flew in this plan while in the Navy at North Island in San Diego. It was a R4D and we taught pilots how to hunt submarines. 1957. New it was old but did not realize it was flying before I was born. Retired them to Arizona bone yard before leaving the Navy. Very reliable airplane.
President Bill Clinton, 09.01.2011 06:41
On behalf of The White House and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the American Armed Forces we would like to wish a Happy Birthday to Anna Kreisling, The White Wolf of the Luftwaffe! Your invaluable service to the United States during the Cold War and your numerous Humanitarian flights to Pakistan and around the world has been an inspiration! Born in Berlin on January 10,1920. Anna grew up in troubled times, however she and other German Women such as her friend Hannah Reitsch, overcame all obstacles to achieve Great Events in Aviation History. Anna Kreisling received the Iron Cross with Diamonds in 1944. I am today recommending to President Obama that she be given the Medal of Freedom award! Happy Birthday Anna!!!
Howard Sculthorpe, e-mail, 06.01.2011 00:35
Working as a young engineer at Douglas Long Beach, I frequently had to ride up to Edwards Air Force Base to collect flight data on the C-133. To get there one rode one of the DC-3's from Long Beach to El Segundo (LAX) to Santa Monica to EAFB. The pilots were apparently bored and made a game out of coming inches over the fence and high speed taxiing with the tail up - real pros.
Dick Bagley, e-mail, 29.12.2010 07:27
While the DC3 is/was a great airplane, where is the info on the R4D-8(C117) that flew with the Navy and Marine Corps for many years. It was a beefed up DC3 with square wings and tail and a retractable tail wheel. Comparison would be nice to see on this site. I flew it for the Marine Corps from 1971 thru 1975 when I retired.
Mel Brooks Hollywood, 03.12.2010 22:37
I don't care about CNN NEWS! Just tell me where this gorgeous hot blond lives! She appeared in the November issue of Pacific Flyer under BLONDE BOMBSHELLS! How can Anna Kreisling look so smoking hot when she is 92 years old!!!At UCLA Professor Manstein told me its because of time travel and the power of Gate technology, that Anna can go back in time to 1936, and then travel to the year 2010! I don't care! All I know is I've had a boner for six days and its killing me! Anna Kreisling has to be in my next Movie,"Spring Time for Obama and Germany!" Anna Kreisling will save the CHOSEN ONE by landing her DC-3 IN front of the White House and with 2.6 million poor Americans wanting their promised Obama money, he runs to the DC-3 and Bill Clinton saves his bacon by pulling him aboard!! Then they fly to Jamaica and then they try to out drink Anna Kreisling, after the fifth day they give up!! The movie will make millions!!
Peter Graves CNN NEWS, 29.11.2010 09:24
Yesterday, I was at EDWARDS Air Force Base doing a story on the Aurora project and a Russian B-25 Missile they are testing, when I saw a Douglas DC-3 land and taxi up. The door popped open and down the ladder came several high ranking Air Force Pilots and a mysterious blonde wearing a black jump suit. At ground level you could tell that she was in charge and everone was listening to her every word. She looked at me with intense ice blue eyes, around her neck she wore a blue and gold cross that seemed to shimmer in the sunlight. They boarded two cars and left for Hangar 17. As I walked up to the DC-3,I wrote down the N number, but when I checked the FAA files, this aircraft does not exist! Five hours later I was at a bar on base and Col. Medford asked me if I wanted to meet The White Wolf, I thought he was drunk so I said sure! We went down the hall and there having dinner was this lady with frost white blond hair,very tan face and crystal ice blue eyes. It was my first time to meet ANNA KREISLING, and my first question was really stupid, "Did you actually know Adolf Hitler??" "Yes," she replied. She gazed at me and began smiling and the other Air Force officers said nothing. "Well why did he start World War II" I asked. "Adolf Hitler loved Germany and was trying to stop the British from basing their bombers in Poland as a threat. When he could not reach an agreement with Winston Churchill. He reached a pact with Stalin to divide up POLAND, and thus avert a war. However both Stalin and Churchill both reached agreements to go to war against Germany, that is when Hitler decided to strike first!" I was taken aback by her answer, she continued eating and I was struck by the silence in the room. "What was Hitler like??" I asked. "Hitler loved Germany, he had a great sense of humor, he loved animals, he loved music and the Arts. He only felt comfortable with women, he cherished his mother and all German women. He was only open with a select group of women, where he could pour out his heart and speak about his fears. There were perhaps only five men he trusted, one of course was Heinrich Himmler!" Later when I left I was struck with awe, this was a person who knew both Hitler and Himmler for more than a decade, yet who remains almost unknown to the outside world.
thomas w deane, e-mail, 28.11.2010 07:24
flew as flight mech. engineer crew chief the winter 1954-55 in seoul korea K-55. the gypsys was the outfit. flew supply's from japan to korea and all over korea.
Mick Brown, e-mail, 24.11.2010 22:16
Flew the C-117 (Super DC-3) out of Cubi Point, PI in early 70s. What a great, great airplane.
Mike Routledge, e-mail, 16.11.2010 04:22
Served @ Nha Trang as FE on AC-47, Jul 68-Jul 69. Super airplanes. Most of our airplanes were about 25 years old. Didn't have any bad experiences, in 850 hours of mostly night missions..My aircraft commander, LtCol Tillman did a nice job of keeping us safe.
D.L. Bradford, e-mail, 12.11.2010 04:22
After Tech school at Lackland in 61 I was assigned to Base Flight at Beale. We had 4 Gooneys and they were great a/c. I checked in with my tools to the Quonset and this burly staff sgt. took me to the back door pointed at a Gooney on the ramp and said go change the #1 jug on #1 eng. I got within 20ft of the bird and was already dirty. I loved working on those ol girls and Gooneys have a place in my heart today. I retired from Western/Delta in 06 after nearly 39 years having worked on all kinds of a/c and finally finishing in Q/C. Loved the work and planes.
John, e-mail, 10.11.2010 18:10
Contrary to most references which indicate the last USAF AC-47D flight was Dec '69, it actually was six months later, beginning with: "This briefing is classified TOP SECRET. Gentlemen, you are not here, you are not going where you are going, and you are definitely not doing what you will do." This Udorn RTAB mission was unclassified ten years later, but flying it was a gas, the most fun I had in forty years of flying.
John Setser CMS USAF, RET, e-mail, 16.10.2010 05:06
First flight was on C47 from Lackland to Chanute 1953. Sent to Korea in June 56 as engine mech on "Gooney". Got to crew one from Feb to Jun 57 when I rotated. A very easy craft to "crew". Got to several sites in Korea and Japan several times.Took the bird to Manila for overhaul just before rotating. Stationed at Offutt in 1965 as eng mech and got to work on the old gal again. Tail # was 4348158. Would love to hear where it is now if anyone knows.
Roy Nisja, e-mail, 13.10.2010 01:40
My first flight in an airplane was in 1946 at age 12 with my mother and brother from San Francisco to Chicago. What a thrill it was for this youngster to get to go forward into the "greenhouse" at night and talk with the pilots. I was amazed at all the gauges etc., but I will never forget that first flight in one of the greatest airplanes ever made. I have a picture of one next to my computer right now.
Roger W. Swift, e-mail, 30.09.2010 09:08
1st time up in a C-47 was in 1959. Flew from Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, Nevada, to Kansas City. Next time up in one, it was an EC-47 in Viet Nam,1966-1967, 106 combat missions as a Radio Operator, Back Ender, Silent Warrior. Located and had an awful lot of the enemy killed. DFC and 5 air medals. Would have had more missions, but was grounded by my Commander my last two months there as the White Mice had an arrest warrent out for me. (Had a vehical accident), so he would not let me leave the base until I got on the big blue (Pan Am) to come home. Never had the sligest doubt about those Grand Ladys bringing me back to the base. 6994th Security Squadron, TSN. Nick named Antique Airlins because of the age of the aircraft and also of our pilots, the youngest being 45. When I was stationed in Reno. Nev. 1960-1961, we had the oldest C-47 still in commision assigned there, but I never got up in her.
Ralph McRae, e-mail, 22.09.2010 22:18
I flew the DC-3/R4D over 1,800 hrs out of LBAD in Lexington KY in the late 60's and early 70's. All over the eastern half of the US in all kinds of weather. The one I flew the most was Army 43-17168 which was made a yr before I was born and it still soldiers on as a mosquito fighter in FL today.
Jay Friedman, e-mail, 19.09.2010 15:55
I'm 70 years old, so have flown in many DC3s. There must have been flights previous to this, but the first I definitely remember was with North Central Airlines from Milwaukee to Chigago in 1963. In 1972 I went to work for the World Health Organization in Nepal, where Royal Nepal Airlines had several in their fleet, which the crews referred to as a "Dakota". Since I constantly traveled all over the country in my job, frequently taking a bicycle with me to use at the destination, I became friendly with many of that airline's pilots. On one trip I was going from Dhangadi in SW Nepal to Nepalganj about 100 miles to the east in an aircraft that was in C-47 configuration in which the passengers sat in rows on each side with their backs to the windows and baggage was carried in strapped down piles in the middle. The pilot was Capt. Ratna Shahnker Shrestha, now living in London UK, whose family I'm still friendly with. I was standing in the back of the cockpit, watching him and his co-pilot fly the plane, when I looked to my left. There a brass plaque screwed into the wall said this particular aircraft had been built or assembled by Hindustan Aviation in India in April 1940, my month of birth! Anyway, Ratna then said to me that the flight was way behind schedule, so he was going to overfly Nepalganj as he had to get back to the airline's base in Kathmandu before dark (where there were no runway lights). I said something like "Come on, man, I gotta get to Nepalganj, and I only have my knapsack and a bicycle. Can't you just quickly land and let me jump out with my stuff?" The Nepalganj airport was a very long unpaved strip, so he did just that. He landed, braked to a stop partway down the field, the stewardess opened the door, I threw out my knapsack and climbed down, she handed me down my bike and Ratna opened the throttles and took right off again. All this took just a couple of minutes.
Charles, e-mail, 14.09.2010 16:25
My first flight was in the University of Ky's DC-3, which was used mostly to transport the football or basketball teams. It smelled of stale beer, and I marveled at having to climb UP to get to my seat. We flew into that W. Va. airport made by cutting the top off of a mountain. Looking down, I saw a valley and a moment later, I saw the runway about 10 feet below our wheels. As it rev-ed up, each panel and other items in the plane found its resonance and vibrated, but as the engines built up, one panel would quiet down while others took up the song of vibration. I was thrilled ! Flying out of that airport, the DC-3 sank a bit after leaving the end of the mountain runway. My debate team beat W.Va. and we flew home. Then, in love with it, I built the DC-3 model kit.
Jim Hamilton, e-mail, 21.08.2010 00:26
I flew the C-47 in ww 2 dropped troops and towed gliders in all the operations never had a bit of trouble what a great plane
James C. "J.C." Wheeler, e-mail, 07.08.2010 19:42
I served as a Flight Mechanic and SEFE at Sheppard AFB, Texas in 1963-1966. Then I was selected to join the group at war in Vietnam.
In Vietnam with the 361st Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron, I again served as a Flight Mechanic and as Standardization Evaluation Flight Examiner (SEFE). I was part of a Ferry Flight Crew to take I believe the 3rd of some 70 EC-47 versions of the C-47 to Veitnam across the Pacific using the northern route.
During my tour, 1966/67, I remained with the crew I had ferried over with and flew 114 of the 7 hour Airborne Radio Direction Finding Missions over South Vietnam, Laos and the Ho Chi Mihn Trail and along the southern cost of North Vietnam. We were the only crew during the 8 years of this mission to ferry over and remain and fly as a CREW for the entire tour, each member was SEFE for their particular crew position. I believe the EC-47 Mission was the last Combat Flying for the C-47, the mission ended on May 15th, 1974 as it was flying out of Thailand in the end. Today I am the sole survivor of my crew.
I have a 13 year old Web-Site "The EC-47 History Site" on this Last Mission for the C-47. If you care to visit, go to ec47.com Be advised this is a Very Large Web-Site, be prepared to spend several hours to see it all. Hope you enjoy it.
James C. Wheeler
Wiliam Ramsey, e-mail, 24.06.2010 00:25
The immortal C-47 was my first operational acft. out of flight school in 1944. We flew 'em over the hump and to deliver food, ammo, med supplies, etc. to Chinese troops in Burma. It was the best time of my pilot life. Later we flew 'em in Korea as flare ships doing night interdiction on roads, tunnels, vast supply yards, etc. What an airplane.
d france, e-mail, 18.06.2010 20:07
First job at 22 was flying the DC-3 out of Pontiac & Willow Run MI. Century Airlines. Logged 1000 hrs between 1988-90. Best A/C ever flown so far including B-767. ALBERT- Do you remember the sound the tires made on the concrete when you greased it on ?
Jim Chandler, e-mail, 03.05.2010 03:59
I spent about 1200 hours (11 Air Medals and 2 DFC's) on the AC-47 variant at Bien Hoa, RVN in 1967/68. This ship was also known as "Puff The Magic Dragon". I started out in "BS Bombers", C-47's with speakers and leaflet chutes, but I figured if I was going to get shot at, I wanted to be able to shoot back. I was a Loadmaster and my job was to stand in the open rear door and kick flares out. I never felt unsafe in the C-47 and the only time we had a problem with one of our birds was when a rocket attack started on Bien Hoa just as our main gear touched down after seven hours of flying CAP out north of the base. I think the pilots blew every seal out of both engines when they cobbed them to get the heck out of Dodge.
Darryl Johnston, e-mail, 15.04.2010 16:38
There is a song about the bird - "Methusela With Wings". SAA still has an operational one, used along with a Ju52 for nostalgic flights. If I recall correctly, Atlas Aircraft Corporation modified some SAAF ones to turboprops.
Dave Masson, e-mail, 15.03.2010 23:51
Truly an outstanding aircraft. I have 208 combat missions in southeast asia on EC-47's and have witnessed the tough AC-47 in action.
John Hancocks, e-mail, 07.03.2010 09:48
What an incredible aircraft whether flying along the West African coast in 1956 deafened by the rain striking the fuselage or in 1967, Libya, watching the sky outside turn yellow/orange as the pilot strove to climb above the sand storm - and most passengers fell asleep through lack of oxygen, and yet another safe landing. Truly an amazing feat.
joe bernabo, e-mail, 27.02.2010 21:32
Did and how did this plane ever fly across the Pacific orr portiions of it??? STUPID ME - I had a close friend who was a Flight Engineer on one in ww2 ( he also even trained a pilot the well known movie-star flier TYRONE POWER the basics of a C3 or c47.. BUT IT NEVER OCCURED TO ASK HIM any details of THESE LONG FLIGHTS he was on. Thank you
Robert L. Willett, e-mail, 25.02.2010 02:57
In the CBI China National Aviation Corpration flew 26 lend-lease C-47s. On one trip, Capt Moon Chin was unknowingly taking Jimmy Doolittle out of China after the Doolittle Raid. They were landing in Myitkyina, Burma as the Japanese were almost at the airport. Moon Chinn loaded 72 in his C-47, took off for Calcutta and unloaded, finding 4 more in the lavatory. Doolittle's comment was "I should have gone home the way I cxame!"
Eddie Stough, e-mail, 23.02.2010 17:29
Crew chief, Flight mechanic at Lawson Field, Ft. Benning, Ga.1946-1947. 75th Troop Carrier Sqd.
Cap'n Tom, e-mail, 22.02.2010 20:01
Around DC3/C47 growing up, as dad was chief inspector on DC2, DC3 at Douglas early on. Rode an Air Force C47 from Rabat-Sale, Morocco across the Med to Italy in '58, but best experience was in January '59 when I took a Ozark Airline DC3 from St. Louis to Chicago with stop in Springfield. Had to be six inches of ice on the runway as we "landed" in Springfield, with that "3" held up on two for as long as possible and then as the tail wheel came down, the pilot just holding as close to the center line all the way down the runway, getting us to a nice gentle "skid" as we turned to head back to the terminal. We slid up, the Stew opened the door/step and we got rid of a couple thankful passengers and took on a few more.... then it was skidding down the apron to the end of the runway and....I'm here today to tell the story..... we slipped and slid down that runway and off to Chicago. --- At Midway, they had de-icing chemicals.....
Jean-Pierre Marlier, e-mail, 16.02.2010 17:11
During the Sixties SABENA Belgian Airlines was flying DC3 Cargo and one C47 (OO-AWK).I was working at SABENA Cologne Germany,and one day due to a strike,the weather being ok,we flew a DC3 with +/- 2800 kgs cargo from Cologne to Brussels,without lashing material.No problem at all.... untill we realized that the plane was loaded with +/- 3500 kgs ! The DC3 is for shure one of the best aircraft ever build.
Don Wilson, e-mail, 07.02.2010 02:00
I agree with all the foregoing comments. I had a close relationship with this good airplane for nearly twenty years, off and on. Logged about 1200 hours in it and lost only one engine; fortunately out of Miami so got a couple extra nights on the town from Homestead AFB
Harry VDH, e-mail, 25.01.2010 23:30
Served as a Flight Mechanic and Crew Chief on the Gooney Bird out of Rhein Main in the early 50s. Went many a place and saw a lot, only one time I didn't make it home on schedule, lost a engine at Marsey,(spelling) France
Uncle Bill, e-mail, 24.01.2010 21:00
I flew the "Gooney Bird" all over Europe including the start of the Berlin Airlift, then the south-eastern part of the US, and finally flying VIP in Turkey. Although later I flew B-47's amd B-52's in SAC, the old "Gooney" was the best aircraft I had flown.
JOHNNY MAC CHINN, e-mail, 24.01.2010 03:29
PIEDMONT AIRLINES FLEW THESE RELIABLE BABIES. I SWEAR AT TIMES I BELIEVE THEY DIDN'T FLY BUT CLAWED THEIR WAY THROUGH CLOUDS, FOG AND RAIN, NOT TO MENTION SNOW. FLYING ON THEM IN VIRGINIA, KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE IN SOME BAD AIRPORTS MADE ME RESPECT THE HELL OUT OF THEM.
TED HANNEGAN, e-mail, 06.01.2010 06:36
FLEW C47 INN THE CBI OUT OF CHABUA ASSAM INDIA. KNOW ALL ABOUT THE LANDING GEAR. BUT, IT'S STILL THE BEST ONE TO BRING YOU HOME. TED
TED HANNEGAN, e-mail, 06.01.2010 06:34
FLEW C47 INN THE CBI OUT OF CHABUA ASSAM INDIA. KNOW ALL ABOUT THE LANDING GEAR. BUT, IT'S STILL THE BEST ONE TO BRING YOU HOME. TED
Albert Wilkat, e-mail, 04.01.2010 09:48
I am a WWII vet in the USAAC I got my pilot's wings in March, 1944 after flying the Cessna AT-17 as a cadet.I was sent to the China Burma India Theater in June and put in the right sedat of a C-47. Two weeks later, I flew as co-pilot on my first combat mission dropping supplies to our ground forces and over the Hump.In November, I checked out as first pilot. I was 23 years old. I ended up flying 191 missions, almost 800 hours in a C-47. I had my own plane named Abby's Cabby and it brought me home every time. I received three DFCs and four Air Medals. I still dream of how nice it was to grease one in at the short field we flew out of in Burma. I bet I could still do it.
Jack Prebis, e-mail, 24.11.2009 01:44
I'm a photographer and want to fly around the world, roughly along the equator, on DC3s/C47s. I am thinking there are enough still certified (mostly as cargo planes) to do this. Probably should start by finding a registry of currently certified aircraft. Would appreciate any thoughts on the feasibility of such a trip. Thank you.
Marsh Caldwell, e-mail, 15.10.2009 00:41
Does anyone out there have any "oficial" data that approves the installation of Pratt R1830-94 engines on DC3C aircraft?
d.jay, 11.07.2009 00:30
Luis says its "My favourite transport aircraft of WWII" its mine of all time.
RAMÓN, e-mail, 04.06.2009 15:18
I'll allways remember this. A B-757 landed near a C-47 of Aeromarket in Mallorca airport, in which I was working, and the big plane pilot asked me permission to visit our small one. "This is the best all around the world", he said.
Jim Arbuthnot, e-mail, 04.05.2009 22:05
I was a crew chief, flight mechanic on one of these in 1966. We flew out of Thailand and went all over the place. It was a good old plane with over 20,000 hrs. on it but it always go you to where you were going.
Jock Williams Yogi 13, e-mail, 21.04.2009 15:24
The C47 was my first airplane ride when I was in grade 3 and a WW2 friend of my dads AC Ed Rheyno visited Kitchener. Years later I would actually fly the C47 whenever I could scrounge the opportunity -I was a fighter pilot but appreciated classic airplanes and the "Racer" certainly fit that description. There was quite a contrast between the "Dak" as the RCAF called her -and ANY fighter. Biggest of all was the huge bootfuls of rudder often required -particularly in crosswind takeoffs and landings! Many say that the C47 was the aircraft that contributed most to our victory in WW2. I am proud to have flown the old girl under the tutelage of the inimitable Vern Schille. Those who know him will never forget him!
Jock Williams Yogi 13
Luis, e-mail, 06.09.2008 23:18
My favourite transport aircraft of WWII
Grady Eaton, e-mail, 06.09.2008 14:39
Assigned to the Naval Attache' in Liberis in the 60's I flew as mechanic in one in West,North,and South Africa as well as Europe. Visited some airfields that were good. Some not quite so good. The old gooney took 'em all in stride. I was told by an old timer that while the Super DC-3 would get you 3/4 of the way faster the DC-3 would get you all the way, just slower. He of course was refereing to the reliability of the P&W 1830's
Bob Campbell, e-mail, 10.07.2008 08:38
My first airplane flight was on a C-47 from Lackland AFB in Texas to Keesler AFB in MS. I still remember it well, even tho I have since been on hundreds of commercial flights and flown almost 3 million miles.
Roger Moore, e-mail, 20.06.2008 04:40
I flew the DC3 for Hawaiian Airlines in 1966. Once I learned how to get the Landing Gear up and down it was a delight to fly. Those of you who flew it know what I mean.
AceAvakian, e-mail, 07.06.2008 03:27
...with a little over 19,000 hours in the DC-3...there is no other airplane to equal it! When I dream aboutflying...I'm always flying a DC-3!!
James Coffin, e-mail, 06.05.2008 02:49
I flew a USN C-47 in India 1964-1966. The Naval Attache office was acredited to Nepal also and we flew at least once monthly to Kathmandu from New Delhi. We covered all of India from Bombay to Calcutta and Bagdogra to Cochin. Also down into Ceylon. A reliable bird and if you could play soccer on a grass field, we could operate off of it. The Air Attache Convair had much greater speed but required 5-6,000' of concrete to operate.
Tom Jones, e-mail, 03.04.2008 05:29
I note that you have not included the Super DC3 or Navy C117. Can you add this to your collection?
Tolik, e-mail, 05.08.2007 21:28
Я поражен такой без отказной техникой котороя работает со времен ВТОРОЙ МИРОВОЙ
Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Undefined constant "isMob" in /data03/virt15346/domeenid/www.aviastar.org/htdocs/comments/comments.php:165
Stack trace:
#0 {main}
thrown in /data03/virt15346/domeenid/www.aviastar.org/htdocs/comments/comments.php on line 165
