Saturday, December 29, 2012

More C-47 Pics.

My post on the C-47 below generated some email, including these pictures:
Resupply of Bastogne, December, 1944.
Restored C-47 at airshow.
C-47 interior.
C-47s towing WACO CG-4A gliders.
Another view of C-47s towing on single ropes (they could pull up to four with VERY careful piloting in all craft.
Walter Cronkite, who went into Holland in a glider with the 101st ABN, described the experience as a "life-long cure for constipation."
How the C-47 would fly in and snatch a glider off the ground to bring wounded and special personnel out of a combat zone.
As part of my research for Absolved, I did a lot of research on glider warfare, including interviews with former glider pilots and glider infantry. I have a copy of the original Army Air Corps training film for snatch operations. It is narrated by a young Ronald Reagan.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

My father served in the Airborne in WWII, and his brother, my uncle, jumped into Normandy on the eve of D-Day. These photos remind me of their many stories, and are a testimony to the greatness and bravery of all who served, then and now.

CPB

Anonymous said...

Stumbled across this last nite;
OP High Jump, 1947
6 Dakotas on a Carrier.
JATO assisted Carrier Takeoff at 36:00
http://youtu.be/skjjfKwHFFs

Allen said...

I bet someone who had to actually DO that glider snatch came up with the Fulton Recovery System.

another similar system, in reverse, is the "brodie device" used on light aircraft

http://youtu.be/zZpTm5LgHQA

I can imagine a copy of the "brodie" used in a canyon or between 2 buildings to make spotter planes "disappear". a few miles away set up a fake crash site..and it will be DAYS before anyone will even be looking for the missing plane.

Anonymous said...

In the early 60's I flew as a passenger several times in the navy's version of the C-47, the R4-D. The aircraft sported a slightly modified vertical stabilizer, squared off top, and slightly bigger engines. Interestingly, the aircraft commander (pilot) was one of the two remaining enlisted pilots. I've always loved that aircraft. Slower than hell, but supremely reliable.

JB, USN (ret)

The Old Coach said...

One thing about the DC-47/DC-3 is the unique sound. Nothing else like it. I grew up with them, and I will still run out to see when I hear one going by. (At 68 years old!) C-45's were also unique. If I ever hit the Powerbsll, that's the second thing I'll buy, (after an armory full of M1As). Third will be a place with an airstrip. At my age, I'll have to hire a crew, but with that kind of money I will. Full time.

Anonymous said...

I got to ride in one from Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base to ChiangMai Thailand for R&R. The seats were not very comfortable, molded aluminum on the sides of the plane. Bought a handcarved teakwood chest in Chiangmai for $50 and it was too big to fit thru the plane doors so I had to take the train to Bangkok then North back to Udorn. A train going 29 MPH is a real treat especially when I could see Marijuana fields for miles and miles while heading back to Udorn. Some things make memories that last a lifetime.

Anonymous said...

When I was a high school kid in South Florida my dad would occasionally notice a DC3 flying overhead and remark "I wonder if that's Petey." The aircraft was operated by Provincetown-Boston Airways on routes all around South Florida and yes it was sometimes flown by my dad's high school friend "Petey".

Later on, my dad was able to introduce me to his old friend Capt. Manuel J. "Pete" Fernandez. Capt. Fernandez had the 3rd highest number of confirmed kills in The Korean War.