CAF C-47 "Black Sparrow"

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Fri Jun 12, 2015 6:25 pm

Does that mean she's slated for "Basslerization?" A little sad..I miss seeing her at airshows around our region. But at least she'll live on.

SN

wls3 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 12, 2015 9:35 pm

A couple of old Black Sparrow patches from my CAF collection.

And a photo,

TAdan · **Posted:** Sat Jun 13, 2015 6:29 am

Black Sparrow was the first warbird I ever flew on. Kind of sad to hear she is being traded to Bassler. Flew on her at the Reading WWII Weekend, I remember there was a D-day vet on board for that flight too. I still have a certificate from the flight around somewhere.

Fouga23 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 13, 2015 12:52 pm

Look at it this way; Black Sparrow will probably get converted and live on for many many years. And a historically important airframe will also return to the sky. Win-win if you ask me.

TAdan · **Posted:** Sat Jun 13, 2015 4:53 pm

Fouga23 wrote:

Look at it this way; Black Sparrow will probably get converted and live on for many many years. And a historically important airframe will also return to the sky. Win-win if you ask me.

Yup, I agree. I'm sure all the Bassler birds have had interesting careers prior to their conversion.

Flying Pencil · **Joined:** Sun May 04, 2008 11:31 am **Posts:** 161

CAPFlyer wrote:

Am I correct that she is part of the deal for the D-Day aircraft that they just successfully crowdfunded the rest of the needed funds for?

I'd hate to see Black Sparrow "go" (although it'll come back as a BT-67), but if it's because the CAF or one of its units is able to preserve "the" plane that led D-Day, then I'm all for it.

Was the Sparrow involved in WW2 missions?

Noha307 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 18, 2016 7:17 pm

Flying Pencil wrote:

CAPFlyer wrote:

Am I correct that she is part of the deal for the D-Day aircraft that they just successfully crowdfunded the rest of the needed funds for?

I'd hate to see Black Sparrow "go" (although it'll come back as a BT-67), but if it's because the CAF or one of its units is able to preserve "the" plane that led D-Day, then I'm all for it.

Was the Sparrow involved in WW2 missions?

The original Black Sparrow (43-15033) was "the lead aircraft of the 302nd Troop Carrier Squadron" and was "scrapped in 1976". The CAF's airframe (44-77013) was "delivered on 25 May 1945" and spent almost all of its military career with the US Navy.

Source: History of Douglas C-47 Serial Number 44-77013

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CAF C-47 "Black Sparrow"

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