C47 Miscellaneous

[sdennison]

Need help WIX brain. My uncle flew C47's in New Guinea and wound up flying a war bond tour in a C47 called Miscellaneous that had flown 2000 missions. I'm looking for the story on the aircraft. Any help?

[Dan K]

Need help WIX brain. My uncle flew C47's in New Guinea and wound up flying a war bond tour in a C47 called Miscellaneous that had flown 2000 missions. I'm looking for the story on the aircraft. Any help?

Scott, "Miscellaneous" rang a familiar bell in the old gray matter.

Although I don't have any of her story for you, Air Classics magazine for June 1981 posted a nearly full-page photo of Miscellaneous and her flight crew during a stop at Clover Field in Santa Monica. Are you familiar with this photo? The crew pictured are Capt. Frank C. Libuse, Capt. Gene R. Glotzbach, Mst Sgt J. W. Gibbons, and Tech Sgt William E. Boffa. Date of the pic is August 12, 1944.

[sdennison]

Need help WIX brain. My uncle flew C47's in New Guinea and wound up flying a war bond tour in a C47 called Miscellaneous that had flown 2000 missions. I'm looking for the story on the aircraft. Any help?

Scott, "Miscellaneous" rang a familiar bell in the old gray matter.

Although I don't have any of her story for you, Air Classics magazine for June 1981 posted a nearly full-page photo of Miscellaneous and her flight crew during a stop at Clover Field in Santa Monica. Are you familiar with this photo? The crew pictured are Capt. Frank C. Libuse, Capt. Gene R. Glotzbach, Mst Sgt J. W. Gibbons, and Tech Sgt William E. Boffa. Date of the pic is August 12, 1944.

Frank Libuse's was my Uncle. The story I am trying to confirm was about before it returned to the States omen desk jockey Col. Somehow got it into a dive an it took two to pull it out. The g load was so great the wings were stressed into a huge dihedral position. The tour was to all the Douglas plants to show how strong a plane they were building and sell war bonds.

I saw it once but can't remember where.

[Dan K]

Much egg on my face, Scott...why-oh-why don't I do a WIX search first?

Here's the link to a thread from 2010 that concerned your Uncle Frank and "The Pullout". The pic with Frank holding the spear is the one Air Classics used.


viewtopic.php?p=344225


I found one more online pic of Frank and C-47 on tour. Check out page 10 of the pdf:

http://legendsofflightnurses.org/TheSto ... 21-159.pdf


One detail that I could not find from your posts was what unit(s) Frank belonged to. A brief, period newspaper blurb (from when "Lt. Frank C. Libuse" was awarded his first Air Medal) indicated he was part of the "Bully Beef Express". I believe that was the nickname of the 6th Troop Carrier Squadron. Does that match the information you have?

Lastly, "Old Miscellaneous" was 41-7732. Baugher lists her with a civil id of NC68307.

[Chris Brame]

Checked the Douglas Production List, Part 01 and got this:

4211 C-47-DL xxx 41-7732 VHC-DL VHC-CA?? VHC-DH?? (NC68307) [WFU]

The reg in parentheses means the registration was announced or reserved; does that mean maybe it was purchased surplus and registered but parted out instead of put into use?

What were the "VHC-" listings - radio call signs used in the SWPA?

[Pathfinder]

VHC appears to represent civil registration allocated to what was called the Allied Directorate of Air Transport (ADAT), which undertook many transport duties for the U.S. & Australian forces in Australia & the South-West Pacific.