Douglas C-47 Skytrain – Billeder & Video

Den Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota (RAF designation) is a military transport aircraft developed from the civilian Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remains in front line service with various military operators.

Kilde: Douglas C-47 Skytrain på Wikipedia

The Douglas C-47 Skytrain was a military transport aircraft developed from the civilian DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in service for decades after the war. The C-47 was capable of carrying up to 28 passengers or 6,000 pounds of cargo. It could also tow gliders or drop paratroopers into enemy territory. The C-47 was known for its reliability, versatility and ruggedness. It earned the nickname “Gooney Bird” from its pilots and crew.
C-47 var involveret i mange bemærkelsesværdige missioner og operationer under krigen, såsom Berlin Airlift, D-Day invasionen, Burma kampagnen og luftbroen af forsyninger til Kina over Himalaya. C-47 tjente også i Koreakrigen, Vietnamkrigen og forskellige humanitære og civile operationer rundt om i verden. Nogle af C-47'erne blev modificeret til særlige formål, såsom kanonskibe, elektronisk krigsførelse, rekognoscering og medicinsk evakuering. C-47 blev pensioneret fra US Air Force i 1975, men nogle af dem flyver stadig i dag som civile fly eller museumsudstillinger.