C-47 #43-48716, "Luck Of the Irish" Restoration Thread

[flightsimer]

Any chance of getting the aircraft recertified in the Standard category?

Right this moment, no as we have to get it flying ASAP as we still have to make payments on the plane for the next five years. We ended up selling our mohawk to get this plane, but it wasn't enough.

However, I would like to see us have it put back into the standard category at some point, but it may take a while for that to happen.

For reference, it has taken over a year for us to get the FAA to come and inspect our Cessna 150 and it's nearly there with the new certificate in hand (just needs one final inspection).

flightsimer - I don't know the antenna systems that well...I have a football antenna and one that looks like the one that is photo'd on C-47 - like a Y - an ARC A-13, but don't know if they are in any working order... Great looking project...

The football one is the ADF antenna which we ended up having one in the museum. I will have to look up which antenna the ARC A-13 is, but I believe its close to what is on it now. Will let you know though.

Please wear cheapo light weight rain gear when you use stripper! one teeny speck on a calf or elbow will have the participant expressing direct appraisals at full volume that would make a sailors parrot blush.
Looks like you've got pretty sound base to work from! picture size works for me-

Lol you are not kidding! I was wearing jeans and was sitting on the anti-skid on the wing when I was stripping the fairing. Somehow, I managed to sit on some of the old paint and it went through my jeans and underwear and burned my a$$ lol. Did this three times before I finished!

[flightsimer]

Picture size is perfect Thanks for starting this thread. It's awesome to see it being restored!

Will keep it the same then.

We also don’t know what her tail Letter was.

Hi

Found it at the moment in the diary for the month of october 1944. With the assignments for the new airplanes of the 75th TCS.
716 'B' Capt Frome, Lts D'Aigle and Nolan, T/Sgt. O'Connor, S/Sgt. Harris

SWEET! Now we know all the standard military markings! Just need to find out specifics for this plane now!

[Pathfinder]

Were you able to contact Capt. Frome?

[flightsimer]

Were you able to contact Capt. Frome?

Yes, I did talk to him over the phone a couple of weeks ago and will be sending him a letter, as he didn't really want to talk over the phone.

I typed up the letter that night, but failed to mail it because I wanted to collect a few things and get some current photos to send with it. I have since gathered what I wanted and will probably be mailing it tomorrow or Wednesday when I'm off.

I am also going to try and get in touch with his daughter as I believe she could be of some or great help as well.

[mustangdriver]

http://www.djangostudios.com/images/por ... iginal.jpg

My I please suggest this paint scheme as he is from Pittsburgh, and a very deserving veteran.

[The Inspector]

http://www.djangostudios.com/images/portfolio/noseart_c47_original.jpg

My I please suggest this paint scheme as he is from Pittsburgh, and a very deserving veteran.

And reignite the 'indignant mother at the air show' controversy again?

[Fouga23]

Wasn't "Do It" painted on a C-47 last year?

[mustangdriver]

It was recreated on a C-47, however the amount of time it will stay painted as such is in great question.

[Red Baaron]

It was recreated on a C-47, however the amount of time it will stay painted as such is in great question.

So the Grissom Museum might not keep this paint job that is fairly new and they stopped work on the B-17. What, if anything, are they trying to accomplish there?

[mustangdriver]

They do not have the funding, volunteer force, or interest to take care of aircraft. That's just my opinion.

[flightsimer]

http://www.djangostudios.com/images/portfolio/noseart_c47_original.jpg

My I please suggest this paint scheme as he is from Pittsburgh, and a very deserving veteran.

While I like the idea of honoring a Pittsburgh Native, I don’t think most will go for it simply for the reason that we know the entire history of our specific plane during WWII. I will still bring it up, but I believe most will want to put this plane back into its original form.

I actually just finished reading the entire War Diary of the Squad and will be posting some info on a separate post. And this history seems to be a very rich one in my opinion, not that I'm saying another plane's history is not, as they all contributed to the same cause.

[patelie]

I actually just finished reading the entire War Diary of the Squad and will be posting some info on a separate post. And this history seems to be a very rich one in my opinion, not that I'm saying another plane's history is not, as they all contributed to the same cause.

Tyler
It's the history recorded which is rich, in comparison with other squadrons diaries

[Pathfinder]

You guys have the now-rare opportunity to ASK the man who flew it what it looked like.

If it turns out it had "Dragon and his Tail" painted down the fuselage--well then go for it---

But if it was factory OD over gray--then absolutely go for it.

The best review you could ever hope for is him saying..."That is EXACTLY what she looked like in '45."

[flightsimer]

You guys have the now-rare opportunity to ASK the man who flew it what it looked like.

If it turns out it had "Dragon and his Tail" painted down the fuselage--well then go for it---

But if it was factory OD over gray--then absolutely go for it.

The best review you could ever hope for is him saying..."That is EXACTLY what she looked like in '45."

Exactly! I am secretely hoping though that she had at least a Name or best case a Name and Nose art.

[Mark Allen M]

So you say this particular C-47 was assigned to the 75th TCS, do you know what group? Or did I not see that noted here somewhere? I have many, many photos of wartime C-47's that may help in your search for the scheme your plane carried.

M