C-47A "That's All-Brother" Fate

[Pathfinder]

Two great things in the youtube video above:

1: My dear friend Jim Martin of G/506/101st Abn.
2: The sequence of 847 rolling at 3:05 to 3:08 and its SCR-717C radar pod is visible.

[Alan Brooks]

That makes 2 Goonies the CAF is trying to raise funds for:
http://www.sbsun.com/arts-and-entertain ... transplant
Any idea what they did with Black Sparrow?

When I was in Midland a couple of weeks ago, she was sitting by herself on the ramp.

To my understanding, Black Sparrow will be going to Basler............

alan

[jspott]

They raised $54,000 in 24 hours!

[SaxMan]

Anyone has her post-war history?

There are still quite a few C-47s out there that flew on D-Day, which really is not surprising considering the size of IX Troop Carrier Command and RAF Transport Command.

[Fearless Tower]

I'm surprised the NMUSAF or the Smithsonian didn't grab this one long ago - was its history not generally known?

Me too. I'll probably catch a lot of flak, but while I am all for keeping warbirds in the air, I think this particular airplane would best serve in NMUSAF or the Smithsonian.

[Pathfinder]

NMUSAF already has a C-47D masquerading as an A (a dash-13 litter carrier as I recall it on the museum floor before it got hung on the ceiling).....what would they do with another one.....?

[JohnTerrell]

Here are some photos I have of the aircraft ("That's All-Brother") from how it looked in 2005, when it participated at the Wings of Freedom Airshow in Bay City, WI, configured as a Vietnam-era "Spooky" gunship. From what I've heard, the guy that owned it tried for years to sell it, but never had any interested parties come forth, so he parted ways with it to Basler - it has been known to be a D-Day vet for a number of years (at least back to 2005, as it was stated as such at the 2005 Wings of Freedom Airshow), but it being the lead ship in the D-Day invasion was not known until more recently it seems - had it been known some years back, I'm sure the previous owner would have certainly had some interested buyers prior to it going to Basler.

[Chris Brame]

NMUSAF already has a C-47D masquerading as an A (a dash-13 litter carrier as I recall it on the museum floor before it got hung on the ceiling).....what would they do with another one.....?

Send it off to another museum like they did with their first B-17, ex-drone director 44-83624 (and soon enough they will do with their second, Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby).

[Steve Nelson]

Just a little correction:the NMUSAF C-47 is still on the floor, but with the tail propped up so the aircraft sits level (which just looks wierd to me.)

Considering how long the Gooney served with the USAF, and how many other "multiples" the museum has in Dayton (at least three F-4s, two F-105s, two F-111s, two F-101s, two P-47s,etc.) I'm surprised they only have one C-47.

SN

[Pat Carry]

The airplane is not, nor was it ever for sale.

everything is for sale!

[JohnB]

Considering how long the Gooney served with the USAF, and how many other "multiples" the museum has in Dayton (at least three F-4s, two F-105s, two F-111s, two F-101s, two P-47s,etc.) I'm surprised they only have one C-47.
SN

Don't forget (at least last time I was there) two F-82s, 2 F-94s, 3 F-86s...and finally 2 HH-3s (one special ops ac, one painted in the more common...and appropriate for the museum... ARS SEA scheme).

[Fearless Tower]

NMUSAF already has a C-47D masquerading as an A (a dash-13 litter carrier as I recall it on the museum floor before it got hung on the ceiling).....what would they do with another one.....?

Send it off to another museum like they did with their first B-17, ex-drone director 44-83624 (and soon enough they will do with their second, Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby).

Exaclty....just like the Smithsonian gave up Enterprise when they got Discovery.

[TheBigBadGman]

Like some of you, I'm shocked that this aircraft has gone this long without this information getting out.

By all means, get it to Dayton. Imagine if someone jumped up and said they had an original Doolittle Raider, would you be content to let the Air Force keep its faux-raider on display?

I'm glad the CAF jumped on this but "airborne classrooms" just bother me. Putting in 'hidden speakers' to attract kids (and other gimmicks) seems to demean the seriousness of artifacts such as this. But that's just my opinion.

[Chris Brame]

Considering how long the Gooney served with the USAF, and how many other "multiples" the museum has in Dayton (at least three F-4s, two F-105s, two F-111s, two F-101s, two P-47s,etc.) I'm surprised they only have one C-47.

Don't forget their C-39 (38-515) - that brackets the C-47; sort of like the A-36 and P-51D - or Swoose and Memphis Belle.

[Steve Nelson]

Yep..I was just providing a few examples. Of course, I know a C-47 takes up a good bit of floor space.

Heck, if she was going to a static museum and NMUSAF didn't have room, she'd look great at the Airborne & Special Ops museum in Fayetteville (although they already have this nice Gooney on display.)

SN