R4D/C-47/DC-3 at auction, Tennessee

[Craig59]

https://bid.aumannauctions.com/lot-details/index/catalog/32930/lot/5193933?url=%2Fauctions%2Fcatalog%2Fid%2F32930%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3k2r-SE4OWLj7JMrUYYJjJIfdrLSV1yOKR3EuaCw6vs7w8qhfRY4HywQo

According to Baugher:

17135 (MSN 12331) ex USAAF 42-92521. Delivered to US Navy on 1/21/44. Transferred to US Marine Corps 8/4/44.HDN MBDW 04Aug44. MAW-4 Nov44. VMR-353 Dec44. MAW-3 29Jan45. San Diego Feb45. Jacksonville Apr45. MAR Far W Jul45. MAG-15 Oct45 MAG-25 10Nov45 VMR 153 Nov45 Com Air Phil Apr46 CASU-4.58 Sep46 Fasron-120 Nov46. VRU-3 Feb47. VR-7 Jun47. Fasron-11 Nov47. Fasron-111 Jan48. San Diego Apr48. Columbus Jun48 . In 1962 redesignated as C-47H and named “Lemoore.” On 8/16/71 became N9382 and went to Naval Arctic Research Laboratory at Point Barrow, AK, still in Navy livery. Offered for sale in 1977, being purchased 8/17/81 by Northern Air Cargo/R. G. Sholton, Anchorage, AK. Converted to DC-3C.
3/87: I. F. L. Group Inc, Orchard Park, MI; operated as freighter.
Unknown date: Aeromarine Airways Inc, Miami, FL.
Unknown date: Richards Field Airport, Miami, FL.
9/19/11: Ferried to Portland, TN. Disassembled and towed to Days Gone By Museum then reassembled.[url][/url]

[Randy Wilson]

I may have seen this aircraft in the NARL hangar in 1975-76 but I'm away from my logs right now. I flew my Piper Apache into the NARL strip just east of Pt. Barrow with my graduate advisor to coordinate the use of an Army Mohawk's Side-Looking Airborne Radar, imaging onto the coast in the Prudhoe Bay area. That's another story. I think the aircraft was described to me as an R4D-8, or "Super" with higher hp Wright R-1820 engines, but I could be mistaken. It had the black fuselage with the Arctic orange nose and other extremities, as best I can remember. It was mid-March, I think, and the Arctic Ocean was still frozen solid not far from the E-W runway. Let's just say the crew from Ft. Huachuca, Az looked a bit taken by the scenery. I may have a picture of the aircraft in the hangar but I'm not where I can research that just now. Just FYI.

Randy

[marine air]

Thanks for posting. I live in the area and it is gathering interest. I'd bid on it if I had a partner. Tired of buying things 100%. It will fly again for someone.

[Mick G]

Pretty strong bids for what it is

[wendovertom]

Looked at he whole auction - quite a collection of vehicles- part of me is sad to see someone's idea die. Funny how everything is bid up to just slightly under the asking price. I see there is a potential WIX tour bus offered in there

Tom P.

[marine air]

I think the deal is once you place a bid, it automatically suggests or requires an incremental next bid. I think they paid around $110k to $125k when they bought it. Pretty rare to be able to buy a ferrible aircraft, bring it home, let it sit outdoors for ten years and get your money back. The last DC-3 in this area that sat for about ten years sold for $17k. The one before that, ten years ago brought $5500 and it was rough.

[Chris Brame]

Sold for $147,000 - new owner's got a tough job ahead.

[BK]

The plane was towed (wings removed) to the local airport yesterday. From a Facebook post:

https://www.facebook.com/NickBeresNC5
"SO WHAT WAS WITH THAT BIG OL’ PLANE ON THE ROAD EARLY SUNDAY IN PORTLAND, TENNESSEE?
Several of you messaged me asking.
Well, the police there posted these photos say:
——
Over half a decade ago we escorted the Arctic Research Plane to Days Gone By Museum in Portland.
We once again escorted her back out to be taken to its new home.
A bitter sweet moment for some of the officers that were present at that time, and for Portland.
——
The Portland Sun reports:
A tractor pulled the Douglas DC-3 down Broadway to the Portland Municipal Airport.
Word is it made be restored to perhaps fly again.
This historic aircraft was used by the Office of Naval Research in Barrow, Alaska from 1971-1977.
Before that it flew during WWII in the Pacific theater."

[Chris Brame]

Hmm. Who bought it? Basler?
ETA: Anyone else here buy anything? I got about a dozen vintage model cars for way under market value .
My boss was bidding on the 1933 Pierce-Arrow limo, but it was in tired shape and went for nearly as much as a restored one .

[marine air]

Hey Chris Brame, it's not a difficult rebuild. Two companies are building up DC-3's to like new standards. Basler and Preferred Air Parts have turbo prop STCs. A guy in Tullahoma let his DC-3 "Mr. Douglass" sit outside for 25 years. It flew a couple of months ago. He shipped parts down to the Miami area and everything came back like new and quickly, and at low cost. It cost him $200k including engines, props, all new fabric, and engine mounts and new landing gear.
This R4D/C-47 started life as an Army C-47A, was transferred to the Navy, then transferred to the Marines in WW II sometime thereafter it was transferred back to the Navy from like 1947 to 1977. It was on a CFR Part 135 Freight certificate until bought by a collector 10 years ago. It has a Basler type cargo floor with rail system. The only corrosion anywhere on the plane was the underside of the outer wing panels. Our guess is that when they moved it from the Airport to the Business park with the wings removed, the wings laid on the ground for some time. The airplane has low time engines and nothing was scavenged or replaced with junk like on the Tallichet C-47s. The cockpit controls and instruments are intact. The paint was horrible. The tires and landing gear are good. Can you think of a better warbird candidate for restoration? Maybe it will fly in 2023

[marine air]

edit.

[Mick G]

Hey Chris Brame, it's not a difficult rebuild. Two companies are building up DC-3's to like new standards. Basler and Preferred Air Parts have turbo prop STCs. A guy in Tullahoma let his DC-3 "Mr. Douglass" sit outside for 25 years. It flew a couple of months ago. He shipped parts down to the Miami area and everything came back like new and quickly, and at low cost. It cost him $200k including engines, props, all new fabric, and engine mounts and new landing gear.
This R4D/C-47 started life as an Army C-47A, was transferred to the Navy, then transferred to the Marines in WW II sometime thereafter it was transferred back to the Navy from like 1947 to 1977. It was on a CFR Part 135 Freight certificate until bought by a collector 10 years ago. It has a Basler type cargo floor with rail system. The only corrosion anywhere on the plane was the underside of the outer wing panels. Our guess is that when they moved it from the Airport to the Business park with the wings removed, the wings laid on the ground for some time. The airplane has low time engines and nothing was scavenged or replaced with junk like on the Tallichet C-47s. The cockpit controls and instruments are intact. The paint was horrible. The tires and landing gear are good. Can you think of a better warbird candidate for restoration? Maybe it will fly in 2023

Preferred Airparts DC3 conversion program has pretty much been on hold since the fatal crash several years ago. Sounds like they are going to take thier last half finished project and complete it using existing wings from a customer's aircraft. Ralph Pettersen goes into detail in his website.