Radials at Pontiac, Michigan

[Larry Wielgosz]

The C-47s/DC-3s & C-54/DC-4 were taken at the Pontiac Airport, Michigan in Oct.1998. I was told they were used to move auto parts around.














Larry

Last edited by Larry Wielgosz on Sun May 23, 2010 10:33 am, edited 1 time in total.

[dc8jet]

Larry that airport is Pontiac Michigan not Willow Run. All those aircraft are gone now replaced by CV-580s,CV-5800s and 727s. Notice the cars behind the DC-3 wing in the first shot. You could just park the car and walk out and shoot. The Good Old Days!

[C5Bgal]

At that time, I lived about 5 miles from the then Oakland/Pontiac Airport (I now live just 3 miles away from it ). On nice summer evenings, I'd park in the parking lot and watch the DC-3's take off and look at the beautiful blue glow from the exhaust.

They often flew over my house on final and at that point, they would put their wheels down. I sure do miss them!

The black and orange plane was affectionately called "The Pumpkin" and I was told it had previously been based in Alaska, which explained the paint job. Correct me if I'm wrong on this.

Thanks for posting those photos!

[dc8jet]

I have seen pictures of that aircraft with Artic Research Laboratory titles. I think it's still around around hauling cargo out of Florida.

[Steve Nelson]

Neat pics! I think I saw one of those Gooneys undergoing some maintenance at Kal Aero's (now Duncan) facility here in Battle Creek back in the '90s.

SN

[Larry Wielgosz]

Thanks for correcting me. I'm glad you did. I got off the airplane in Detroit and met my friend. He was wearing an eye patch due to getting aircraft soap in his eye while washing an aircraft at Selfridge. He threw me the keys & off we went. I recall going to Selfridge (of course), Yankee Air Museum - Ypsilanti, Pontiac Airport (I'm told), Kalamazoo Air Zoo, Grissom AFB Indiana - museum, and then the USAF Museum at Dayton. All in a week from what I remember, maybe a little longer.

I took some photos of some Beech 18 (C-45s). Five different aircraft. I can make out a control tower in the photo. Any idea - could this be Pontiac also? I do not have these scanned.

I have a photo I took of the C-47 Artic Research Lab. in the boneyard back in 1977-79. It was the only one there. I can't make out a tail number other than the # 605 on the nose. I wonder if it's the same aircraft.

Thanks again for correcting me.

Larry

[dc8jet]

Larry when you get a chance post those Beech-18 shots and maybe we can figure out where they were taken. I know at one time there were a lot of Beech-18s living at Pontiac. Karl

[Larry Wielgosz]

Karl

I can but I do not think they are currently scanned. If you're not in a hurry I'll get it done. Thanks.

Larry