How many C-47 veterans of WWII still fly?

[jonesy]

For some time now I've come to really appreciate all things associated with airborne ops of WWII. One of these is the C-47 Skytrain and I'm ashamed to say that I have hardly any shots of the veterans which have been on the display circuit here in the UK. Typically, my chances of getting further shots are diminishing with the Wings Venture C-47 now sold and Drag 'em Oot currently not flying.

I just wanted to know how many flyable C-47 veterans are out there especially still in wartime colours?



Regards,
Neil.

[Mudge]

Deleted. I misunderstood the question and posted a stoopid reply.

Mudge the feeble minded

[Bearcat SA]

In South Africa we have 5 airworthy piston Daks ...soon to be six
Then the SAAF continues to operate at least 10 Daks converted to turbine and there is at least one civvy Turnine Dak that operates in the survey role. There are also quite a number of airframes around which could be returned to service with enough $$$
Here is a pic of a friends DAK ZS-CAI parked next to a Canso Cat N427CV that I took on the 9 Oct 2011 at Rand Airport (FAGM) near Johannesburg

[Ztex]

42-32832 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force on 11 February, 1943 She participated in Operations Husky, Avalanche, Overlord, Market Garden and Varsity.

Now flying in her WWII colors as N5106X here in Texas

[jonesy]

Zane, she looks great. Where does she operate from and do they have a website?

[FG1D Pilot]

The CFM museum's C47 is a veteran. She's not painted in her original markings however.

http://www.cavanaughflightmuseum.com/Skytrain.htm

[K5DH]

Greatest Generation Aircraft's DC-3 "Southern Cross" is a WW2-veteran C-49J and flies regularly. GGA also operates B-25 "Pacific Prowler" and is restoring B-26K Counter Invader "Special K". GGA is based at the Vintage Flying Museum hangar at Meacham Airport in Fort Worth, Texas.

[ErrolC]

Both flyers in New Zealand are ex-USAAF Pacific warbirds. On the down-side, neither are (currently) in wartime markings. On the up-side, they are regularly available to take rides in. I can recommend taking ZK-DAK Ardmore (Auckland) - Omaka (Blenheim) for http://www.classicfighters.co.nz/

Ardmore-Wanaka was a bit long-haul. The 1970s airline seats are comfy, with generous legroom.
ZK-AMY normally does day trips to these shows from Christchurch.

http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?ac ... ost=135630

http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?ac ... ost=135750


WoW06_02_037 Wing River by errolgc, on Flickr

[Jerry O'Neill]

Combat Veteran here in Connecticut, just painted this past June!

Douglas C-47A-40-DL 42-24064, c/n 9926, N-74589 now in it's original D-Day night markings!
It flew the CHICAGO mission which was the 0400 glider lift to LZ E on June 6, 1944.
Before:


After:


They used a brush for the black and the white paint. I hope you can see the brush strokes in this photo.


She does look fantastic!
Jerry

[patelie]

42-32832 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force on 11 February, 1943 She participated in Operations Husky, Avalanche, Overlord, Market Garden and Varsity.

Now flying in her WWII colors as N5106X here in Texas

Hi

61st TCG - 53rd TCS - Chalk #41 in serial 25 - Mission Boston
Pilot : 1st Lt. King, Donald E.
Co-pilot : 2nd Lt. Timmins, James
Radio-op : S/Sgt. Stone, Paul H.
crew chief : T/Sgt. Decker, Robert D.

Carrying elements of 3 / 507th PIR into Normandy

[Tom_W]

Great pic of '211 there Neil we're hoping to get one of her original pilots over to see her in the hangar at Oshkosh later this year.

There are many Veterans still flying out there, though fewer are in WWII markings and even fewer are in their original WWII colours, here's the start of a list not including those in the posts above:

42-100591 - N3239T - VAC Titusville
42-100884 - N147DC - Aces High, UK
42-68830 - N45366 - CAF
43-15935 - N33VW - Cavanaugh Air Museum
43-16369 - N2805 - 'Spooky 770' Topeka, Kansas
43-30652 - N345B - Geneseo

I've seen a slowly growing trend towards people wanting to get these old girls back into something like their WWII colours and long may it continue

Tom

[Rod Schneider]

Great pic of '211 there Neil we're hoping to get one of her original pilots over to see her in the hangar at Oshkosh later this year.

There are many Veterans still flying out there, though fewer are in WWII markings and even fewer are in their original WWII colours, here's the start of a list not including those in the posts above:

42-100591 - N3239T - VAC Titusville
42-100884 - N147DC - Aces High, UK
42-68830 - N45366 - CAF
43-15935 - N33VW - Cavanaugh Air Museum
43-16369 - N2805 - 'Spooky 770' Topeka, Kansas
43-30652 - N345B - Geneseo

I've seen a slowly growing trend towards people wanting to get these old girls back into something like their WWII colours and long may it continue

Tom

You can add 42-92606 - N99FS - Owned by Don Brooks, Douglas, GA, veteran of Overlord and Operation Market Garden.

[Ztex]

A couple mentioned previously

Southern Cross


Cavanaugh's machine

[jonesy]

Great pic of '211 there Neil we're hoping to get one of her original pilots over to see her in the hangar at Oshkosh later this year.

There are many Veterans still flying out there, though fewer are in WWII markings and even fewer are in their original WWII colours, here's the start of a list not including those in the posts above:

42-100591 - N3239T - VAC Titusville
42-100884 - N147DC - Aces High, UK
42-68830 - N45366 - CAF
43-15935 - N33VW - Cavanaugh Air Museum
43-16369 - N2805 - 'Spooky 770' Topeka, Kansas
43-30652 - N345B - Geneseo

I've seen a slowly growing trend towards people wanting to get these old girls back into something like their WWII colours and long may it continue

Tom

Thanks Tom. She was photographed doing its final display in the UK. Is she now going to be a museum pieve or is there plans to fly her?

Does anybody know more about N59NA 'Bones'? It looks like she resides in Bennettsville, SC with owner Mr. Barry Avent. Now I'm coming over to Charleston next month for a week long course and I'd love to do a detour. Hopefully persuade the owner to do an air to air shoot possibly.

Neil.

[CAPFlyer]

Don't forget the CAF's R4D-6S "Ready4Duty" N151ZE (c/n 50783)!

Veteran of the Caribbean and South Atlantic hunting subs.



Also, Airborne Imaging's two birds I believe are also Vets - N737H (c/n 6062) and N92578 (c/n 9028)