Gary said I should post this update - C-47A 43-15137

[Steve Rister]

Yep, thats the one I spotted headed east on I-20 last Friday (11/9). I noticed it just east of Big Spring going the opposite way.

[Junkyard36]

Van -

Wow - that is one amazing coincidence. Congratulations on both of your acquisitions and please keep us posted on how the restoration turns out!

Mike

[Quest Master]

Update for C-47A 43-15137: Most of this year was spent doing research on this aircraft, but it has paid off. Yesterday I spoke with Donald Markey - the Navigator of this C-47 during the June 5th/6th invasion of Normandy. He was more than thrilled that this aircraft (well part of it) still existed. One of the most interesting "take aways" from our conversation was that this wasn't "his" aircraft! He was assigned to her at the last minute since she was the lead aircraft in the "V" and they didn't have a Navigator. Through a bunch of research, not all of the C-47s that flew into Normandy had Navigators, but rather only the lead aircraft in each "V"! His aircraft was originally C-47A 43-15133 "Chalk 41" which ended up as the right wing aircraft in this formation. I'll post more updates as they come to light.

[CAPFlyer]

Just as an FYI, this was standard practice within the USAAF during WWII. From the research I've gained over the years on the C-47 & R4D, the C-47s typically only had 2 pilots and a radio operator as "front end" crew. A navigator was only carried when it was the lead ship of a formation going long distance without navigational aids or where precision flying was required and the PNF could not do the job himself (such as some complex multi-drop missions). Even over the Hump, most C-47s left their navigators behind.

The R4D, on the other hand, tended to fly a navigator more regularly as they did a lot of overwater flights both for SAR and for the R4D-6S's that were modified for anti-submarine patrol in addition to their supply runs to the Carribean and South America. When flying in the continental US or overseas (especially after the war), they tended to eliminate the navigator and operate the aircraft with the same crew as an airline did - pilot, co-pilot and sometimes a radio operator.

[Quest Master]

It has been a while since I've found any new research about C-47A 43-15137, 306th Troop Carrier Squadron, 442nd Troop Carrier Group.
What I've previously found out:
- She flew into Normandy June 6th 1944 as Chalk 40, Serial 26, Mission Boston, carrying B Company, 1/507th Parachute Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division.
- She flew into Holland September 17th 1944 as Chalk 76, Serial A-10, carrying I Company 3/506 Parachute Infantry, 101st Airborne Division.

NEW INFO!! (exact Chalk rosters and details not yet available):
- 18 September 1944, Serial A-53, (B/326 Eng + 506 jeeps), DZ W
- 19 September 1944, Serial A-81, (B/907 GFA + HQ/907 GFA)
- 20 September 1944, the squadron dispatched 9 aircraft for a resupply mission.
- 24 March 1944 OPERATION VARSITY, C-47A 43-15137, Serial A-20, Chalk 48 towing glider containing 224 Med, LZ N. Crew of C-47A 43-15137 were Pilot 1st Lt Rufus Y Norris, 0696654; Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Gilbert F Klenke, 0720666; Engineer S/Sgt Albert F Meilutis, 33678110 and Sgt Joseph J Calder, 12084314. The pilots of the glider towed on the Rhine mission were: F/O Laverne J. Dawson and F/O Cuthbert B. Joyner. Glider number is unknown.

http://www.questmasters.us/C-47A_43-15137.html

[TAdan]

That is an impressive record Van. Glad you were able to save this one.

[Quest Master]

Thanks!
Every once and a while....a new tid bit of history surfaces with a lot of work!
Still having a tough time figuring out her nose art. I posted a thread earlier of the only known picture of her with no bites:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=54561