C-47 Returned to Active Service?

[mrhenniger]

At some point in the last year or two there was a post about a C-47 given a Basler conversion and returned to service with the USAF with the original USAAF serial assigned. Does anyone remember this story? What is the serial of the C-47? As I vaguely remember it was assigned to some kind of over seas task.

I am sure someone here is in the know.

Mike

Last edited by mrhenniger on Wed Jan 02, 2013 2:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[mike furline]

This thread viewtopic.php?f=3&t=40483&start=15&hilit=basler

or viewtopic.php?f=3&t=37553&hilit=basler

[marine air]

I heard about it in the news a couple of months ago. It's a very hot political topic right now, so you can guess where an asset like that was called for but not granted by the state department.

[AirJimL2]

N707BA is owned by the State Department and has been seen in Afghanistan. Are you thinking of a different airplane?

Jim

P.S.: One more link. http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?p=273489

[marine air]

Nope. Another newer , getting hotter, area. Assets were requested form the State Dept. including a State Dept. "DC-3" and were denied. Mentioning a DC-3 is what caught my attention watching the CNN interview.

[mrhenniger]

Thanks for the ID!
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Douglas-BaslerBT-67 - Basler, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA, s/n 44-76714, c/n 16298, c/r N707BA

Clearly you gents are aware of an "issue" that I am not. Can someone point me to a new article?

Mike

[cooper9411]

The 2 C-47's that have been sitting at Fremont Ohio airport (14g) have some activity going on.
N137PB (Douglas C-52, DC-3-395) cn 4128, has been sold to the Northern Illinois Aviation Museum with a 2 year window for removal from the airport. Last I worked on this one (2007) both engines started pretty easily, gear swing performed, most systems operated but some needed service from sitting for so long.

The other 1, N85SA (Douglas C-53-DO, #42-68710) cn 11637 reportedly was used to drop paratroopers over Normandy is under going restoration with the possibilty of being airworthy (?). Depending on corrosion. Elevators are removed currently for inspection and recovering. All I ever did to this one was pull the props through once or twice a week and replace landing gear "bungees".

The airport has started a foundation called: Saving LuLu Belle Inc.,
I'll try to get back over that way and get some recent pictures to share.