Warbird Information Exchange

Sorry if this was posted elsewhere, but I don't read ALL the WIX forums....

http://www.wittmanairport.com/2013/09/w ... ding-c-47/

Contrary to the article, 42-92847 did not DROP pathfinders on D-Day, but it was pathfinder-equipped with SCR 717C radar to serve in the Group or Squadron lead capacity. It was one of several with sequential tail numbers pulled on the line for radar installations.

837 served with the PF Group late war...
841 was a second element lead on Normandy with 314 TCG.
843 and 845 flew Normandy as assigned PF aircraft.
--843 was Chalk 16 (PF 1/508 PIR)
--845 was Chalk 4 (PF 2/506 PIR) Ditched in the Channel. The co-pilot is a dear friend and still living.
847 was lead for 438 TCG on Normandy as referenced in the article.

My notes have 42-108884 (Chalk 13) in sequence with the group above, as it is the assigned construction number between 843 and 845. But it does not replace 844.

If anyone has reference to the D-Day status of 842, 844 or 846 I'd be interested to know.
Note: My good friend Pat Elie's D-Day site shows 842 as a three-plane flight leader (not a Group or Sqn leader) with 61 TCG in Normandy so I would be inclined to say it was not a PF-equipped plane. 842 was lost on 19SEP44 and the pilot and co-pilot were buried in the same Belgian churchyard as the men from 42-100981...the PF plane lost on 17SEP.

Hello Dave

perhaps the info you want
42-92842 : 53rd TCS - 61st TCG - Chalk 43 in serial 25
42-92844 : 77th TCS - 435th TCG - Chalk 13 in serial 13
42-92846 : I have the plane assigned to 37th TCS - 316th TCG but not used on D-day

PS : 841 was nicknamed "Turf and Sport" and is actually on display at AMC museum at Dover AFB

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I hope 42-92847 can be saved and restored.
And explore the air with her familiar radial engines.

A little question that has to do with this.
Is there perhaps a list of known serial numbers of C-47 aircraft who have participated in the landings?
And know more of her invasion colours/markings and herr role.
I am very curious about the role of C-47A-35-DL c/n 9798 42-23936, now known as G-DAKK, there is little known about this bird.

This appears on Aviation in Malta website:

42-23936 D01Jul43 - Oran 64 TCG 08Aug43 - 8 AF 22Feb44 - 9 AF 02May44 - Czechoslovakia 25Nov46 - OK-WDU CSA 05Sep47 - Rr OK-WHA - OK-WZB Air Res. and Test Inst (VZLU) - wfu 27Dec60 - 23936 Fr Navy '36' Esc 56S (1958?) - FYGGC (1969) - F-GEOM Ste. Stellar Bourgenais, Nantes, R22Aug85 - Canx 26Jul94 - G-OFON Classic A/ws 29May93 to 06Jun93 res but ntu - G-DAKK Air Atlantique R26Jul94 - Lindholme Acft Ltd, Jersey, R22Dec94 - South Coast Airways D 02Apr96 and L24Apr98 - General Airlines Ltd, t/a European Flyers, R130ct00 - General Technics Ltd, Reading, R29Jan02 - Stored Popham, later Lee-on-Solent Dec02.

Delivered to USAAF 1JUL43
Arrives Oran, North Africa and assigned 64TCG 8AUG43

Whether she stayed with 64TCG or went elsewhere in the MTO is undetermined but this is what the 64TCG was doing at that time:

During the month of August 1943, 64 TCG did extensive training at El Djem, Tunisia,prepatory to dropping the 509 PIB at Avellino, Italy on the night of 14/15SEP43

64 TCG supported allied forces on the Anzio beachhead in JAN44.

After 42-23936 went to England in FEB44, 64TCG moved to India for operations in CBI.

On 22FEB44 plane 936 arrived in UK and was processed by 8th AAF (just about all planes going to ETO from USA or elsewhere were received by 8th AF)

On 2MAY44 she got assignment to 9th AF--which unit is unknown

So officially she was in England in time for Normandy...

I believe that there is a two volume set of books by an author named Gradidge which details C-47s by tail number. I would love to find a copy of that!

Thank you Pathfinder.

It is perhaps this book you're looking for?
http://www.aviationmegastore.com/dc1-dc ... &art=58427


About 42-23936.
Her years after 1945 are known to me, on the information data are even more additions to give
But before 1945 is not really much to be found of herr.
It even looks a bit like that she went off the radar, from may 1944 till the end of ww2
And that's pretty important that interim period, I'm very curious what she has done in the meantime.
Are there colour schemes or pictures for 64 TCG, and perhaps markings?, and are the colors and markings for 9th AF verry different compared to 64 TCG??
Or just complete the same, but with invasion stripes?