DOUGLAS DC-3
SURVIVORS VOL2 HBDJ SANTA MONICA LONG BEACH OKLAHOMA CITY PRODUCTION
HARDBOUND BOOK with DUSTJACKET by
ARTHUR PEARCY (256 PAGES)
Details on the surviving airframes (as of 1988) built by
Douglas Aircraft at Santa Monica, Long Beach and (mostly Oklahoma City)
Superbly illustrated with 233 photographs and specific airframe history for 370
aircraft � some in service, some in museums and some derelict.
Includes aircraft then in the possession of Museum of
Flight Seattle, Aeronautica Militaire Italiano, Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, Air
Queensland, Ethiopian Airlines, Saber Aviation, South African Air Force SAAF,
VARIG, Transport Flight Royal Aircraft Establishment, Northland Air Manitoba,
Stiftelsen Flygande Veteraner, Valiant Air Command, Dutch Dakota Association,
Royal Danish Air Force, Ligue d�Amitie Parachustiste � Ste. Mere-Eglise, Aces
High Ltd, North Cariboo Air, Israeli defense Force, Aviodome Museum Schiphol,
Royal Jordanian Air Force, Aer Lingus, Royal Thai Air Force, Turkish Air Force
THK, Force Aerea Portuguesa, Imperial War Museum, Oregon Museum of Science and
Industry, Broome Western Australia, California Air National Guard, Silverstream
Aeronautical New Zealand, National Museum of Transport, Militaire Luchtvaart
Museum, VIARCO, Escola de Paraquedistas do Exercito Brazil, National Air
Charter Indonesia, Castle AFB, US Department of Forestry, International Fire
& Safety Training School Malta, U.S. 8th AF Museum Barksdale
AFB, Museo del Aire Spain, Airtech Canada, Royal Canadian Air Force RCAF, Musee
Royale de L�Armee Belgium, Nord Aviation, Air North Charter & Training
Canada, Freindship Air Alaska, Nunasi-Central Airlines Canada, South Dakota Air
& Space, Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana, Western Canada Aviation Museum, Namin
Air South Africa, Air America, Comair South Africa, Victoria Air Philippines,
Travair Australia, Wonderair South Africa, No.402 City of Winnipeg (Air
Reserve) Squadron Canadian Armed Forces,
Musee de L�Air France, Terra Mining & Exploration, Northwest
Territorial Airways, Frontier Flying Services Alaska, Basler Flight Service,
French Navy Aeronavale, Jakarta Aircraft Engineering & Maintenance, Royal
Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm FAA, Government of Canada department of
Transportation, Dover AFB, Bradley Air Services Canada, Argentine Air Force
Fuerza Aerea Argentina FAA, Aero Virgin Islands, Salair, Air Queensland Cargo,
Business Air Inc., Vermont, Fuerza Aerea Hondurena, Chilean Air Force, Rebel
Air Australia, U.S. Army Parachute Training School Fort Benning Georgia, Drages
Air World, Military Aircraft Storage & Disposition Center Davis-Monthan
AFB, Grissom AFB, Hill AFB, Air Atlantique, Minnesota ANG, Charleston AFB,
Chanute Technical Training Center, Warner-Robbins AFB, North Dakota ANG, Hickam
AFB, Royal Thai Navy, Golden West Airways Australia, RAAF Royal Australian Air
Force, McChord AFB
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Additional Information from Internet Encyclopedia
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota
(RAF designation) is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the
Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War
II and remained in front line service with various military operators through
the 1950s.
The C-47 differed from the
civilian DC-3 in numerous modifications that included being fitted with a cargo
door and a strengthened floor.
During World War II, the
armed forces of many countries used the C-47 and modified DC-3s for the
transport of troops, cargo, and wounded. The U.S. Naval designation was R4D.
More than 10,000 aircraft were produced in Long Beach and Santa Monica,
California and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Oklahoma City plant produced 5,354
C-47s from March 1943 until August 1945.
The C-47 was vital to the
success of many Allied campaigns, in particular those at Guadalcanal and in the
jungles of New Guinea and Burma where the C-47 (and its naval version, the R4D)
made it possible for Allied troops to counter the mobility of the
light-traveling Japanese army. Besides dropping large formation of Allied
Airborne Division in Normandy on D-day, in Holland during Operation Market
Garden (Arnhem) and Operation Varsity (Rhine Crossing), C-47s were used to
airlift supplies to the embattled American forces during the Battle of
Bastogne. Possibly its most influential role in military aviation, however, was
flying "The Hump" from India into China. The expertise gained flying
"The Hump" was later be used in the Berlin Airlift, in which the C-47
played a major role, until the aircraft were replaced by Douglas C-54
Skymasters.
In Europe, the C-47 and a
specialized paratrooper variant, the C-53
Skytrooper, were used in vast numbers in the later stages of the war,
particularly to tow gliders and drop paratroops. In the Pacific, with careful
use of the island landing strips of the Pacific Ocean, C-47s were even used for
ferrying soldiers serving in the Pacific theater back to the United States.
The United States Air Force's
Strategic Air Command had Skytrains in service from 1946 through 1967.
With all of the aircraft and
pilots having been part of the Indian Air Force prior to Independence, both the
Indian Air Force and Pakistan Air Force used C-47s to transport supplies to
their soldiers fighting in the Indo-Pakistan War of 1947.
Several C-47 variations were
used in the Vietnam War by the United States Air Force, including three
advanced electronic warfare variations, which sometimes were called
"Electric Gooneys" designated EC-47N, EC-47P, or EC-47Qs depending on
the engine used. EC-47s were also operated by the Vietnamese, Laotian and
Cambodian Air Forces. A gunship variation, using three 7.62mm miniguns,
designated AC-47 "Spooky" often nicknamed "Puff the Magic
Dragon" also was deployed.
The Royal Canadian Air Force
and later, the Canadian Armed Forces employed the C-47 for transportation,
navigation, and radar training, as well as for search and rescue operations
from the 1940s to the 1980s.
The Lisunov Li-2, originally designated PS-84 (NATO reporting name "Cab"), was a license-built version of the Douglas DC-3. It
was produced by Factory #84 in Moscow-Khimki and, after evacuation in 1941, at
TAPO in Tashkent. The project was directed by aeronautical engineer Boris
Pavlovich Lisunov. The Soviet Union
received its first DC-2 in 1935. Although a total of 18 DC-3s had been ordered
on 11 April 1936, the Soviets purchased 21 DC-3s for operation by Aeroflot
before World War II. A production license was awarded to the Soviets on 15 July
1936. Lisunov spent two years at the Douglas Aircraft Company, between November
1936 and April 1939 translating the design. One of the engineers who
accompanied him to Douglas was Vladimir Mikhailovich Myasishchev. The Soviet version
was given the designation PS-84
- Passazhirskiy Samolyot 84, passenger airplane 84 (i.e. made in GAZ/State
Plant No. 84). The design incorporated 1,293 engineering change orders on the
original Douglas drawings, involving part design, dimensions, materials and
processes. Some of the changes were
substantial, such as the use of the Russian Shvetsov ASh-62IR engines, a Soviet
development of the nine-cylinder Wright R-1820.
The Sh�wa L2D and Nakajima L2D,
given the designations: Sh�wa Navy Type
0 Transport and Nakajima Navy
Type 0 Transport, were license-built versions of the Douglas DC-3. The
L2D series, numerically, was the most important Japanese transport in World War
II. The L2D was given the Allied code name Tabby.
Variants
C-47: Initial military version
of the DC-3 with seats for 27 troops, 965 built including 12 to the United
States Navy as R4D-1
C-47A: C-47 with a 24-volt
electrical system, 5,254 built including USN aircraft designated R4D-5
RC-47A: C-47A equipped for
photographic reconnaissance and ELINT missions
SC-47A: C-47A equipped for
Search Air Rescue; redesignated HC-47A
in 1962
VC-47A: C-47A equipped for
VIP transport role
C-47B: Powered by R-1830-90
engines with superchargers and extra fuel capacity to cover the
China-Burma-India routes, 3,364 built
VC-47B: C-47B equipped for
VIP transport role
XC-47C: C-47 tested with Edo
Model 78 floats for possible use as a seaplane
C-47D: C-47B with
superchargers removed after the war
AC-47D: Gunship aircraft with
three side-firing .30 in (7.62 mm) Minigun machine guns
EC-47D: C-47D with equipment
for the Electronics Calibration, of which 26 were so converted by Hayes in
1953; prior to 1962 was designated AC-47D
NC-47D: C-47D modified for
test roles
RC-47D: C-47D equipped for
photographic reconnaissance and ELINT missions
SC-47D: C-47D equipped for
Search Air Rescue; redesignated HC-47D
in 1962
VC-47D: C-47D equipped for
VIP transport role
C-47E: Modified cargo variant
with space for 27�28 passengers or 18�24 litters
C-47F: YC-129 re-designated,
Super DC-3 prototype for evaluation by USAF later passed to USN as XR4D-8
C-47L/M: C-47H/Js equipped
for the support of American Legation United States Naval Attache (ALUSNA) and
Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) missions
EC-47N/P/Q: C-47A and D
aircraft modified for ELINT/ARDF mission, N and P differ in radio bands
covered, while Q replaces analog equipment found on the N and P with a digital
suite, redesigned antenna equipment and uprated engines
C-53 Skytrooper: Troop
transport version of the C-47
XC-53A Skytrooper: One
aircraft with full-span slotted flaps and hot-air leading edge deicing
C-53B Skytrooper: Winterised
version of C-53 with extra fuel capacity and separate navigator's station,
eight built
C-53C Skytrooper: C-53 with
larger port-side door, 17 built
C-53D Skytrooper: C-53C with
24V DC electrical system, 159 built
C-117A Skytrooper: C-47B with
24-seat airline-type interior for staff transport use, 16 built
VC-117A: Three redesignated
C-117s used in the VIP role
SC-117A: One C-117C converted
for air-sea rescue
C-117B/VC-117B: High-altitude
superchargers removed, one built and conversions from C-117As all later VC-117B
C-117D: USN/USMC R4D-8
redesignated
LC-117D: USN/USMC R4D-8L
redesignated
TC-117D: USN/USMC R4D-8T
redesignated
VC-117D: USN R4D-8Z
redesignated
YC-129: Super DC-3 prototype
for evaluation by USAF redesignated C-47F and later passed to USN as XR4D-8. Wright R-1820 engines uprated
to 1425 hp.
CC-129: Canadian Forces
designation for the C-47 (post-1970)
XCG-17: One C-47 tested as a
40-seat troop glider with engines removed and faired over
R4D-1 Skytrain: USN/USMC
version of the C-47
R4D-3: Twenty C-53Cs
transferred to USN
R4D-5: C-47A variant 24-volt
electrical system replacing the 12-volt of the C-47; redesignated C-47H in 1962, 238 transferred from
USAF
R4D-5L: R4D-5 for use in
Antarctica. Redesignated LC-47H
in 1962. Photos of this type show the removal of underslung engine oil coolers
typical of the R-1830 engine installation; apparently not needed in the cold
polar regions.
R4D-5Q: R4D-5 for use as
special ECM trainer. Redesignated EC-47H
in 1962
R4D-5R: R4D-5 for use as a
personnel transport for 21 passengers and as a trainer aircraft; redesignated TC-47H in 1962
R4D-5S: R4D-5 for use as a
special ASW trainer; redesignated SC-47H
in 1962
R4D-5Z: R4D-5 for use as a
VIP transport; redesignated VC-47H
in 1962
R4D-6: 157 C-47Bs transferred
to USN; redesignated C-47J in
1962
R4D-6L, Q, R, S, and Z:
Variants as the R4D-5 series; redesignated LC-47J, EC-47J, TC-47J, SC-47J, and VC-47J
respectively in 1962
R4D-7: 44 TC-47Bs transferred
from USAF for use as a navigational trainer; redesignated TC-47K in 1962
R4D-8: R4D-5 and R4D-6
remanufactured aircraft with stretched fuselage, Wright R-1820 engines, fitted
with modified wings and re-designed tail surfaces; redesignated C-117D in 1962
R4D-8L: R4D-8 converted for
Antarctic use, redesignated LC-117D
in 1962
R4D-8T: R4D-8 converted as
crew trainers, redesignated TC-117D
in 1962
R4D-8Z: R4D-8 converted as a
staff transport, redesignated VC-117D
in 1962
Dakota I: RAF designation for
the C-47 and R4D-1
Dakota II: RAF designation
for nine C-53 Skytroopers received under the lend lease scheme. Unlike the
majority of RAF Dakotas these aircraft were therefore dedicated troop
transports, lacking the wide cargo doors and reinforced floor of the C-47.
Dakota III: RAF designation
for the C-47A.
Dakota IV: RAF designation
for the C-47B.
Airspeed AS.61: Conversion of
Dakota I aircraft
Airspeed AS.62: Conversion of
Dakota II aircraft
Airspeed AS.63: Conversion of Dakota III aircraft