News Bulletin

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- An engine failed on a DC-3 cargo plane shortly after takeoff Wednesday, forcing the crew to ditch the craft in the Caribbean Sea off the U.S. Virgin Islands.

All four people aboard made it onto the plane's life raft, and a passing boat took them to shore, said Ricardo Castrodad, a spokesman for the U.S. Coast Guard. The four are residents of Puerto Rico, authorities siad.

A crew member suffered a cut to his head, but there were no other injuries, Castrodad said.

The plane, operated by Four Star Air Cargo, had taken off from St. Thomas and was en route to Puerto Rico when the engine failed, officials said.

"We will of course cooperate with all the authorities in investigating this," said Richard Diamond, president and CEO of the St. Thomas-based cargo company.

No decision has been made yet about recovering the airplane from the sea, Diamond said. The water in that area is 70 feet deep.

The Coast Guard said it will send a team to determine whether the plane poses any environmental threats. The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the accident.

READY TO ROLL: A 717 jetliner made for AirTran Airways
waits on the tarmac in Long Beach next to a Douglas Aircraft DC-3, propeller at left.
The first DC-3 entered airline service in 1936.
(Brian Vander Brug / LAT)

Era Ends as Jetliner Takes to the Sky
The plane, a Boeing 717, is the last big passenger aircraft to be built in Southern California.
By Peter Pae, Times Staff Writer
May 24, 2006

As hundreds of people on the tarmac waved goodbye, Boeing Co.'s last 717 airliner took off Tuesday from Long Beach Airport, marking the end of 90 years of commercial airplane production in Southern California.

The new twin-engine jetliner made for AirTran Airways was the 15,599th commercial or military plane built at the sprawling manufacturing complex at the airport since 1941.
"They're calling it a celebration, but it feels more like a funeral," said Alvin Frye, an aircraft inspector who was hired at the plant in 1965.

Frye, 62, was among 3,000 current and former workers who gathered to mark the plant's last aircraft delivery and relive its storied history. While typical aircraft delivery ceremonies are cheerful and filled with balloons, Tuesday's occasion was solemn and eerily quiet, except for a stand where employees were briskly selling shirts embossed with 717 logos at half price.

The Long Beach plant, owned by Boeing, was built by Douglas Aircraft Co. and still has a large "Fly DC Jets" sign out front. For decades it thrived, producing some of the world's most popular airliners, including the DC-3, DC-8 and MD-80.

After the delivery ceremony some spectators stayed to watch the last plane take off, including Jerry Callaghan, who helped design the 717. Callaghan, who is now retired, recalled that he was standing at the same spot a decade ago when he witnessed the first flight of a 717.

He said Tuesday that he felt as if he were seeing his child "go off and leave the nest. This is it. Everything has to come to an end," Callaghan said as he was hugged by his wife, Joan.

Boeing announced last year that it would close the 717 line because of slow sales of the single-aisle jetliner. It was a plane that Boeing inherited when it acquired McDonnell Douglas Corp. in 1997, but the 717, originally called the MD-95, never caught on with major airlines.

The Long Beach complex was part of Southern California's golden era of aviation as pioneers took advantage of the temperate climate and lots of open space to test their new flying machines.

In 1916, the Loughhead brothers formed a firm that became Lockheed Aircraft and two decades later built planes for Amelia Earhart. In the '20s, Donald Douglas set up his firm behind a Los Angeles barber shop. A few years later a small San Diego firm started by Claude Ryan built the plane that Charles Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic. Other Southland aviation pioneers included Jack Northrop and Howard Hughes, who built companies that bore their names and flourished.

At its peak during World War II, the Douglas Aircraft plant in Long Beach employed 50,000 people and a new plane was completed every two hours. Its prosperity spawned new communities, such as Lakewood, to house workers.

Among the early residents were couples such as Billy and Evelyn Dewees, who attended Tuesday's ceremony wearing their old McDonnell Douglas employee badges.

Evelyn started working at the Long Beach plant in 1954 building the C-133 and then the C-124 military cargo planes. Billy was hired three years later.

Evelyn's starting pay was $1.24 an hour, plus a bonus of 8 cents an hour for working the swing shift. That beat the going rate of 80 cents an hour for an office job, she recalled.

"They treated us well," she said, noting how aerospace helped spawn a middle class in the area. "And we got good pensions, better than most."

Aerospace manufacturing in the Southland peaked in the late 1980s before the end of the Cold War triggered a major retrenchment that led to consolidation of the industry as competition from overseas grew.

"We lost all of that in the early 1990s," said Joseph Magaddino, head of Cal State Long Beach's economics department. "Almost half a million [aerospace] jobs were lost in the region."

With the loss of airliner production, local aircraft manufacturing employment is now about 40,000, down some three-quarters from its peak. Much of the Southland's aerospace work has shifted to military research and development.

One reason for the 717's demise was that its cockpit configuration is different from that of other planes in Boeing's family of jetliners. Some former 717 workers lamented Tuesday that the plane never got the marketing support to make it successful. In all, 156 of the 717s were built, short of the 200 Boeing said would need to be sold for the plane to be deemed profitable.

About 1,800 people worked on the 717 assembly line five years ago, but only 160 were left to build the last of the planes. At least one hangar is likely to stay open for 717 maintenance work and will employ a skeletal crew.

Some workers on the 717 assembly line retired, while others such as Frye were shifted to another Boeing factory in Long Beach that builds C-17 transport planes. But that facility will be closed in 2008 unless the Air Force orders additional planes.

Although jetliners will no longer be assembled in Southern California, it is still home to thousands of suppliers that make parts for Boeing and Europe's Airbus, the only two makers of big commercial airliners.

The region also remains the site of the nation's top advanced aerospace research and development firms, which design satellites, rockets and robotic planes.

At Lockheed Martin Corp.'s famed "Skunkworks" in Palmdale, for example, more than 4,000 engineers work on top-secret aircraft programs.

And Torrance is still home to the nation's largest helicopter maker, Robinson Helicopter Co.

But for many longtime residents, Tuesday's 717 ceremony marked the end of an era. A large section of the Boeing complex in Long Beach has already been bulldozed to make room for homes and offices.

"We've lived here for 55 years and to see all of that disappear is very sad," Evelyn Dewees said. "It's like losing a child."

DreamFlight™
24611 Spadra Lane
Phone: 949.472.9612
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
Fax: 949.472.9300
From the Desk of John Pappas
e-mail: dreamflight@sprynet.com

Web site: www.vintageflight.com

DreamFlight’s Douglas DC-3 ‘Rose’ was selected by the Boeing Aircraft Company to be the centerpiece aircraft of the Salute to Long Beach Aviation Heritage May 22, 2006. As the final two Douglas Aircraft designed airliners were being delivered, the long aviation history of commercial airliner production at Long Beach California has ended.

DreamFlight’s DC-3 ‘Rose’, as the representative Douglas Prop Airliner, stood proudly in front of the VIP Reception Pavilion and Dinner Presentation where over 500 guests were treated to a video recollection of the fascinating history of the Douglas Aircraft Company at Long Beach.

Many of the guests toured ‘Rose’ before and after the dinner and saw, first hand, how commercial passenger aviation began in the 1940’s and 1950’s.

DreamFlight’s ‘Rose’ served in WW II as a C-53 Paratroop aircraft and then with Pan American World Airways in her early years. Now operated by DreamFlight in So. California, ‘Rose’ is a favorite at special events, air shows and other special occasions ~ birthdays, anniversaries, retirements, etc. She is flown for personal use and has appeared in movies, television series and was featured on the Travel Channel ‘Fantasy Flights’ episode celebrating one of the many weddings held while flying in this beautiful aircraft.

Following the fly-off by the airliners, ‘Rose’ departed the Boeing / Douglas facility as the last propeller airliner to ever leave the Douglas production facility at Long Beach.

DreamFlight is proud to be a part of this historic event and proud to have been selected by Boeing – the World’s Leading Commercial Aircraft Company – to be the featured airliner at the Reception and Dinner festivities.

DreamFlight can be reached at www.vintageflight.com or
by calling John Pappas at 949 472 9612

KEY DATES
The Long Beach production facility has produced more than 15,500 planes over the past 65 years. Some key dates:
October 1941: Long Beach facility opened by Douglas Aircraft Co. The site would become part of Boeing in 1997 merger with McDonnell Douglas.
December 1941: First plane off assembly line is a C-47, a military version of the DC-3.
1941 - 1945: Douglas employs more than 40,000 workers in Long Beach on three full shifts.
May 1958: Maiden flight of the first Douglas commercial jetliner, the four-engine DC-8.
February 1965: First flight of DC-9 twinjet with aft-mounted engines; 976 DC-9s would be delivered through 1982.
1971: The DC-10 trijet family enters service; six models of the DC-10 would be produced.
October 1980: The MD-80 twinjet series enters airline service.
1990: The MD-11, a twin-aisle trijet, is introduced.
October 1995: The MD-95 program is launched.
August 1997: McDonnell Douglas merges with The Boeing Co., and Douglas Aircraft Co., which was the commercial airplane manufacturing segment of McDonnell Douglas. Renamed the Douglas Products Division.
Early 1998: Boeing renames the MD-95 and introduces it into the short-range jetliner market as the 717-200.
August 1998: Douglas Products Division is renamed the Long Beach Division of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
September 1998: First flight of 717.
September 1999: First delivery of 717.
December 1999: The last of 1,191 MD-80s is delivered.
May 2001: Boeing announces it will cut 2,100 people from the 3,500 who work on the 717 program.
January 2005: Because of poor sales, Boeing announces it will shut down 717 plane production once all of the 717s under order are assembled.
December 2005: Boeing faces uncertainty over the last remaining plane production programs in California, the C-17 Globemaster III. The Pentagon contract will be completed in 2008.
May 23, 2006: Final deliveries of Boeing's last two 717 commercial airplanes.

BEIJING -- China will permit the U.S. Defense Department to search a site in northeastern China for the remains of two American pilots who died 50 years ago on a Korean War-era mission, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

It marks the first time China has cooperated on a search for the remains of Americans who died in China during the Cold War.

Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a news briefing that China decided to permit the search to promote "friendship between the two peoples and in a humanitarian spirit."

The Pentagon and advocates for the missing hope China will provide more information about the fate of others, including U.S. soldiers captured by Chinese troops during the 1950-53 Korean War.

An eight-member search team from the U.S. Army's Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii is scheduled to leave July 15 and investigate the crash site near the town of Antu in Jilin province.

The two pilots, Robert C. Snoddy of Eugene, Ore., and Norman A. Schwartz of Louisville, Ky.,
were about to pick up an anti-communist Chinese spy in the Manchurian foothills when their
C-47 was shot down on Nov. 29, 1952.

China has told the Pentagon only that their charred bodies were buried at the snow-covered crash site. Two CIA agents traveling aboard the plane were captured and imprisoned by China for two decades.

At the time, China and the United States were fighting each other in Korea and the CIA was attempting to undermine the fledgling communist regime on its home territory.

The Chinese government has rejected repeated requests for access to Korean War-era files that might provide clues about captured U.S. troops. China administered most prisoner-of-war camps during the war.

An estimated 8,100 U.S. servicemen are missing from the Korean War, with the remains of 1,200 believed to be buried at POW camps along the Yalu River dividing China from North Korea.

I had a wonderful time at the 440th Troop Carrier Group reunion in Milwaukee
the first week of September. All of that though has been overshadowed by the
events of the past week and I am just now getting back to business.

Before I left for the reunion I got word of a new book out about the 440th
Troop Carrier Group. So I called the author, Charles Everett Bullard to order
one and to see if he remembered dad as they were both in the 98th Troop
Carrier Squadron. We had a great conversation and I placed an order for his
book, the publisher has just released it. It came in the mail today and I've
had some time to leaf through it and read some sections, Bullard did a great
job!

The name of the book is: "LITTLE ONE AND HIS GUARDIAN ANGEL: One Man's Story
of the 440th Troop Carrier Group During World War II". Bullard was a combat
crew chief, his knickname was Little One for his size. He made most of the
440th's combat missions. The book is hard bound, 225 pages with maps and
photos. Interestingly he quotes Ambrose's famous paragraph from "D-Day" and
proceeds to comment on the paragraph for a full page, (p. 109) and says among
other things about Ambrose, "Anyone saying the pilots were not trained in
night flying simply doesn't know what he is talking about." and details his
experience with the 440th's training of pilots. He also references that
members of his squadron have asked Ambrose for an apology but as of the
book's writing none have been forth coming.

Finally, Bob Mock is having the original 440th history reprinted: "DZ Europe:
The Story of the 440th Troop Carrier Group", spiral bound, I saw a sample of
the reprint at the reunion and they did an excellent job the photos came out
as good as the original. I believe it it $26.00 + $3.00 shipping. Bob can be
contacted at:

Now available online in its entirety. More than 50 pages of historically documented
response to the shame and dishonor cast on more than 5000 veterans
of the Normandy invasion, June 6, 1944, by Dr. Stephen E. Ambrose in his best
sellers, "BAND OF BROTHERS" & "D-DAY".

and makes a great companion reading to the upcoming Hanks-Spieilberg
production of "BAND OF BROTHERS" mini-series for HBO TV
that premiers in Normandy, France on June 6th, 2001.

Not only does this historical study examine Dr. Ambrose's shamefull
defamation of the veterans of the USAAF 9th Troop Carrier Command
it also examines his infringement on the integrity of the 3rd Infantry Division
in his book, "BAND OF BROTHERS"

From: CPTHS70@aol.com
Date: Sun, 18 Feb 2001 22:05:30 EST
Subject: January 29, 2001 Article On Dr. Stephen Ambrose

X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows 95 sub 243

NOTE: corrected e-mail address for Guy Lawrence.- Lawrenceg@caller.com

His Ambrose article is at:
http://www.caller.com/2001/january/29/today/local_ne/16256.html">"http://www.caller.com/2001/january/29/today/local_ne/16256.html"
Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Historian to speak at theater

February 18, 2001

"Historian To Speak At Theater"

Dear Mr.Lawrence,

I read with interest, your article on the upcoming speaking engagement by
Dr. Stephen Ambrose on behalf of The Friends Of The Corpus Christi Public
Libraries.

The past year Dr. Ambrose has become embroiled in two contoversies regarding
problems with his writings. To be fair to the potential purchasers of of
tickets for the library fundraiser the information regarding the Ambrose
controversies should be part of the Corpus Christi public forum so the public
is fully aware of what they are getting for their money.

First and most significantly, veterans of the U.S. Army Air Force, 9th Troop
Carrier Command WWII are currently investigating bringing a defamation and
libel suit against Stephen Ambrose for the blatant character assasination of
that Command in Chapter 11 of Ambrose's book, "D-Day June 6, 1944: The
Climactic Battle of WWII".
Throughout the year 2000, veterans and historians of the Troop Carrier
presented the facts of the Troop Carrier at D-Day and tried to engage Dr.
Ambrose in a dialog to have the facts of their history corrected, to date
Ambrose has refused. The Troop Carrier were the combat aircrews that manned
the 821 C-47s that delivered the 82nd & 101st Airborne Divisions, some
13,000, into Normandy on the first assault of the invasion. The Troop Carrier
were, along with the paratroopers the first cassualties of the invasion. The
veterans, more than 5000 at the invasion feel that Dr. Ambrose is morally
obligated to either document his sources from the official records or
apologize publically to those he has so defamed.
Dr. Ambrose painted the service of these men with a wide brush of cowardice.

On June 2, 2000 the Tallahassee Democrat ran the following article, "These
WWII Vets Say Historian Ambrose Wronged Them" at:
"http://www.tdo.com/opinion/berlow/0602berlow.htm"

Tallahassee Democrat Online II

I have thousands of documents in my possesion, that show beyond any doubt
that Dr. Ambrose didn't examine any records of the Troop Carrier nor, by his
own addmission (on tape), admitted that he hadn't interviewed any Troop
Carrier pilots prior to launching the attack on their very honor.

Second, refer you to the latest controversey about his most recent book on
the Transcontinental Railroad. The following article, "Rail Buffs Blow The
Whistle On Ambose Book Errors" at:
"http://www.sacbee.com/news/news/local02_20010101.html"

Rail buffs blow whistle on Ambrose book errors
from the January 1st issue of the Sacramento Bee newspaper.
The thesis that the railroad historians wrote that was the articles basis can
be read in full at:
"http://www.xmission.com/~dstrack/utahrails/ambrose.htm"
The Sins of Stephen E. Ambrose.

From the above information one can rightly suggest that this type of gross
historical error maybe endemic in Ambrose's work. The issues regarding the
WWII combat veterans of Troop Carrier are far more complex than I have the
time or space to relate in one e-mail. Veterans of the TC and 9th Air Force
Association boycotted the opening of the National D-day Museum, directed by
Ambrose and the controversey extends into the Hanks/Spielberg production of
"Band Of Brothers" for HBO. BoB is a repetition of the same badly researched
history of the Troop Carrier.

To surmmerize the feelings of the Troop Carrier veterans, many incidently,
trained in Texas. "We left too many of our comrades on the fields of North
Africa, Italy, Normandy and Europe to let anyone no matter how famous or
incompetent to desecrate their memory." Col. Charles H. Young who commanded
and led the 439th Troop Carrier Group into Normandy and who resides near
Grapevine, Texas had this recent comment on Ambrose, " I wish Ambrose could
have been my co-pilot on the Normandy mission then we all could have seen how
a brave man behaves." Ambrose has never served in the US military.

I emplore you on behalf these men, including those they left behind to make
available to your readers the details of this controversey regarding
Dr.Ambrose which has gained over the past months an ever widening audience
and call on Dr. Ambrose to apologize to these incredeble fighters whose
efforts and sacrafices are well documented in the history of the US Army Air
Force.

Sincerely,

Randy Hils
3080 Whirlaway Trail
Tallahassee, FL 32308

850-894-0512

cpths70@aol.com

Dear Troop Carrier Veterans, Families and Friends,

Having read a great number of books, official documents and
studies on OPERATION NEPTUNE I also read a great deal of inacurate material
about Troop Carrier in those popular history books. Stephen Ambrose
continues to come under fire from myself and others because he was the most
prolific in his errors.

Over the past year I have accumulated thousands of pages of correspondence
and documents. I have expended hundreds of hours researching, writing and
answering querys from interested parties, including family members and have
spent hundreds of dollars in those pursuits.

At present I am writing a magazine article that must be ready within the next
few weeks to meet publication deadlines for magazines that will be looking
for material for D-Day anniversary articles. The working title of the article
is: "OPERATION NEPTUNE: Mission To Myth". In the article I will present what
has been lacking about every account I have read about D-Day, the Troop
Carrier perspective, the untold story.

I can write the article from the information that I have on hand and I spent
the last several days pulling that information from my files which have been
kept in the order I recieved the material as when I started I never
envisioned writing anything. What I realized in reviewing all of the
published history about Troop Carrier and NEPTUNE is that there are few first
person accounts from pilots and crewmen as to their experience on the
Normandy first mission. I would like the article to be as much as possible,
the words of you men who were there and ask your assistance in bringing the
story of Troop Carrier and D-Day into the light.

If you are willing to help any accounts or thoughts on your experiences
will be greatly appreciated. If you can, please include the following
information: Notes from memory or personal papers that would include how you
were selected for TC, your training, your a/c number, chaulk number, who or
what your passengers were, what base you few from, weather problems, the
clouds, air turbulence encountered, what was required as a pilot to hold
formation, loading or overloading of your a/c, did you make it thru the
clouds in formation or did you come out alone or in small groups, once clear
of the clouds how did you find or attempt to find your DZ, did you turn
around in the face of oncoming formations to search for your DZ, what was
your speed at the green light and why, what was your altitude and why, what
kind of power was required to hold an overloaded a/c in a tail high attitude,
did you experience any kind of handling problems and why, what were your
operational orders and what was your opinion of the planning for the mission.
Was your a/c damaged, Did you witness any other a/c being shot down and did
you identify them, any anecdotes about you, your buddies or your crews? And
anything else you might think is helpfull. I am also looking for photos taken
just before the Normandy mission of crews, a/c and paratroopers and photos of
a/c damage from the mission for inclusion in the article.

If any monetary reward comes from this article, my intention is to use it to
further the formation of the discussed TC Historical Society. Additionally I
am sending copies of all my research to the US Army Institute Of History, The
FSU Institute on WWII and the Pima Air & Space museum archives so that future
historians will have ready access to accurate history on the Troop Carrier
Groups of WWII.

If you can't write, a cassette tape of you experiences can be transcribed or
if you wish e-mail me and I would be glad to interview you by phone if you
send your phone number. Finally as a side note on researching my dad's
service with TC, were any of you involved in or have any knowledge of flights
into Germany or Berlin during the week after VE-Day to spirit out secret
german documents or equipment? These flights probably would have been
controlled by Army Intelligence or OSS.

I thank you sincerely for any help you can give with my above requests and
wish each of you the very best.

Sincerely,

Randy Hils

cpths70@aol.com

Hello All,

...We just received a copy of the latest
Issue of LOGBOOK

...great DC-3 info and Pictures
featured is:
historic Aircraft
also:
many never before shown pictures of various DC-3's

...for information to get your copy see:
http://www.logbookmag.com

or:

LOGBOOK
P.O. Box 19109
Omaha, NE 68119-0109
U.S.A.

From: "DreamFlight" - dreamflight@sprynet.com
Subject: DC-3 Ground School & Flight Training
Date: Wed, 1 Nov. 2000 19:01:03 -0800

Hi everyone ~ just a quick note to advise you that:

If you are interested in this DC-3 Flight program
I can assure you that you will learn the systems
of the DC-3 and learn to fly it safely and efficiently.

You may take the Ground School without taking the flight training.

We also offer flight training in your aircraft.
If you want to bring it here,
we can train you in it during the same time
or
we can make arrangements for training at your location.

Please contact me at:
dreamflight@sprynet.com
if you would like more information
Best regards, John Pappas

(The DC-3 Aviation Museum receives no remuneration for this notice...
We just think it is a fine operation..."Bear")

From: Bob Prior - rwprior@aol, com
Subject: R4D-5 Need pictures of interior and donation of any usable parts

The National Warplane Museum at the Elmira-Corning regional airport
is restoring their R4D-5 back to it's origional WWll configuration. Hope to be back in the air by fall of '99.
Need pictures of interior and donation of any usable parts would be appreciated.
This will be a FLYING show airplane.
I am one of the Museum's crew chief/ flight engineers, rated in the R4D-5,PBY-6A, and B-17G.
The Museum is committed to restoring and flying vintage WWll aircraft.
Bob Prior

From: "Coert Munk" - c.munk@teuge-airport.nl
Subject: Dak News
Date: Sun, 17 Oct 1999 08:41:56 +0200

Hi all

Additional news from Europe is that s/n 33445 9Q-CUK of Transport A?rien Zairois that is flying in Sweden since Spring 1999 is registered as ES-AKE using first name of owner Ake Jansson (first DC-3 on Estonian register).

Re N32MS: The correct name of the Museum in Best (NL) is Bevrijdende Vleugels (Wings of Liberation).
As far as I know, the tail number shown is 290321
(being the date of birth of Jan Driesssen, the founder of the museum)
and the correct name is "Darlin' Dorien".
Dorien is the daughter of Jan Driessen.
Check details on http://aztec.asu.edu'dakota'home.html

Kind regards
Coert

From: "Tony Harratt" - tony@harratt.freeserve.co.uk
Subject: Dak News
Date: Sat, 16 Oct 1999 14:38:41 +0100

Hi, friends,

Having been quite inactive with my various projects during the summer months, the autumn has arrived and with it shorter days so more computing time . Here's some news snippets from the UK and wider about DC-3s.

N147DC temporarily carried Aero Argentina's colours and the registration LV-FYI between 15th and 18th June 1999 during TV film work at Shoreham airfield in southern England.

Meanwhile;eat Framlingham, Suffolk, England, the 390th Bomb Group Memorial and Air Museum are hoping to get their DC-3-201A fuselage under cover at some stage in the future. The airframe, N4565L named 'Aisling', is in pretty good external condition and the cockpit is very well equipped.

Another American registered UK resident N47FK owned and operated by the Dakota Club has been putting in appearances at airshows around the UK while G-DAKK, operated by South Coast Airways, put in an appearance at Birmingham Airport's 60th birthday celebrations on 4th July 1999.

Did you know that at Ton Son Nhut in Vietnam C-47 '524' was still extant earlier in the year in Vietnamese Air Force colours? She's one of many, many warbirds still in situ dating back to the Vietnam war. Many of these birds are in remarkable condition and, in some cases, still hangared. There is a British preservation company negotiating purchase of some of the more exotic and easily restorable airframes.

In the Netherlands (Hi, Coert!) a new museum at Best, Bevrijende Vleugels (Liberating Wings) has C-53 N32MS on display and hopes to have her airborne someday (2004?). She wears the number '90351', is coded UA and is named 'Darling Dorian'.

Ex-Belgian AF C-47 OT-CWA (ex-USAF 43-49240, SOC 1973) has spent some time as a pig shed in Belgium before being purchased by Jan-Marie van Boxmeer in 1992. He intended to restore it but that failed to materialize. The Belgian AF has been seeking a C-47 to restore for gate guard duties at Melsbroek but they consider that after 25 years in the open it's too big a project. It's currently rusting away in a field near Diest in Flanders.

Finally, the Brussels Aviation Museum continues to display C-47 K-16/OT-CWG.

One item I forgot in my wash-up of recent happenings DC-3 wise was this one:

An ex-Turkish AF DC-3 has been restored at the Luftwaffe maintenance facility at Jever. It has been painted as 'Fassberg Flyer' and carries the USAF serial 315208 in yellow on the tail. The aircraft was airlifted out of Jever to Fassberg by a CH-53 helicopter to Fassberg where it was reunited with its wings and transported by road to the Berlin Airlift Memorial Museum.

The aircraft had arrived at Jever from Turkey in June 1998 through the courtesy of Airbus Industrie who arranged for one of their Beluga transport fleet to deliver the 'plane.

From: "J. Hartman" -
Subject: INFO: Succesful Dutch DC-2 campaign

For those who didn't already know:
The Dutch National Aviation Museum "Aviodome"
has succeeded in gathering enough funds to acquire
the DC-2 NC39165 c/n 1404 , former U.S. Navy Bureau No. 9993,

but only JUST before the deadline.
See http://www.dc2.nl and click on the "English" icon for more info about this campaign.
Included in the acquisition is a spare engine, but no other spare parts.
The Aviodome will have to buy these at a later stage
as it is planned to keep the "Uiver", as this aircraft is affectionally known, airworthy
for at least five more years. Next spring the aircraft will be flying again,
although there are no firm plans or commitments yet.
Note: Dutch list members will be able to watch a documentary on the Trans
Atlantic crossing of the DC-2, which will be aired on RTL5 Sunday the 21st
of November at 20.30 hours. The documentary will last for almost 60 minutes.

submitted by: Erik Jan Hartman

John Alan Gronemeyer - john.a.gronemeyer@lmco.com - Fort Worth, TX USA

Anyone who might know - The DFW Wing of the CAF
is trying to begin a parachute static line installation. in their DC-3
We are starting from scratch and we need help.
We need info on how to get drawings, parts, installation, and continue our standard CofA.
Please help!

One of Ours sets it to print!

"The EC-47 Experience"
the Book.
By: James C. Wheeler MSgt Ret. USAF
EC-47 Flight Mechanic, 1966/67 at Nha Trang

"The EC-47 Experience", a History of the EC-47, the Aircraft, it's Special Elecrtonics
Equipment, it's Top Secret Mission, it's People and it's Losses. The book tells what we
did, how we did it and gives some results of our efforts. The Mission in Southeast Asia
lasted from mid 1966 to May 15th, 1974 when the LAST mission, (Cover Photo) landed.
It contains personal memories, data from recently declassified documents and some
eighty photographs. What a great gift to preserve the memories and history.

To order, send $11.95 plus $3.00 Packing & Shipping
Additional books, to the same address with this order shipped "FREE".
Send Check or Money order to:
James C. Wheeler
HC 62 Box 6
Clarksville, AR 72830

Date: Sun, 29 Nov 1998 14:45:33 +0000 (GMT)
From: Tord
To: steve@staso.com
Subject: USAAF guys
Steve Staso is trying to trace some USAAF Dakota crews
operating into Belgium from Cirencester, UK,

I had a similar problem a few years back - someone (unknown to me)
in one of the veteran organisations put an ad in the AirForce Monthly,
the USAF official magazine (NOT the UK mag with the same name)!

And I found two guys still alive and well -
the Swedish Airforce own tries through diplomatic means had failed ...
The US military attache at a nearby embassy should
be able to help with the magazine's address!

My guys could possibly been involved in your friend's operation,
as these boys supposedly had been involved in similar clandestine operations
in continental Europe earlier in the war.
They were stationed in Sweden Dec-Aug 44/45 - flying Norwegian troops,
politicians and infiltrators into northern Norway to boost the Soviet operations
there, and preventing the area becoming Soviet permanently.

OSS seems to have been deeply involved, if Colonel Balken's diary notes are to be believed
(the Norwegian flying pioneer Balken, ex-NoN, ex-UK Ferry Command, USAAF,
et cetera, being in charge. Balken was Byrd's pilot in command on many a revolutionary flights).

Tord S Eriksson,
Sweden

From: "Tony Harratt"

Hello, again,

As promised here is some more DC-3 news from this side of the pond.

First up - a new site for you all to go visit and bookmark -
http://www.eurofly.co.uk/dakota/
This is a UK society preserving an airworthy DC-3. Lots of pictures. I'll say no more so I'll not spoil any surprises for you all.

Now...a brief update of DC-3 military action in Central America. The Honduran AF (Fuerza Aerea Hondurena) are still operating seven C-47's from Base Aerea Teniente-Coronel Hernan Acosta Mejia (HAM) at Toncontin which is the home of their transport squadron. Six of the C-47's are in camo while serial no. 305 is in a special white, blue and silver colour scheme for VIP transport duties. A study is under way to have the Dak's replaced but this may be with Basler BT-67's with the airframes being used as down payment on the Basler upgrades. More news on that when it happens.

Back in Europe...and a Dakota has gone on display in Slovenia as a memorial to the British, American and Soviet crews who flew sick and wounded partisans and civilians from Slovenia during WW II. The DC-3 is on display at Otok and has been identified as '71253' (suggestions welcome for a real ID) having been withdrawn from service in 1984. Having been extensively vandalised the aircraft was obtained by the Technical Museum of Slovenia and restoration work carried out by members of Slovenia's 15th Air Brigade. Unveiled in a smart olive/sand camo livery and wearing RAF roundels and tail markings (but no serial) the memorial was unveiled to mark the 55th anniversary of the first British/American military mission to the partisan army HQ. There is a possibility that the aircraft will be moved to a hangar at Prilozje airfield because of the continued threat of vandalism.

Also in Europe...two DC-3's were used to help mark the opening of Oslo's new main airport at Gardermoen in October last. Sweden's Flygande Veteraner sent along their 1943 vintage SE-CFP while the Dakota Norway example, LN-WND, dating from 1942 also put in an appearance. Both planes flew over the airfield to help mark the opening before flying in formation to Torp, the home of Dakota Norway.

Dutch Dakota Association PH-PBA has recently left Coventry, home of Air Atlantique following its restoration at the English airfield. Official handover to Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands took place on November 13.

...and that, folks, just about wraps up the latest DC-3 news and gossip from me.

Take care,

Anthony Harratt
England

Tony Harratt - a.harratt@virgin.net

Hi, friends,

As promised here is some DC-3 news.

The republic of France continues to take her role in Africa very seriously. A military exercise, Guidimakha '98, was held earlier last year centred on The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Mali, Senegal and Mauritania. Forces from Senegal, Mauritania and Mali participated with support from France, UK, USA and further support from Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Ghana and Cape Verde.

The Mali airforce (Force Aerienne de la Republique du Mali) sent along an immaculate Basler Turbo-67 (BT-67) which was based in Tambacouda, Senegal during the exercise. The aircraft, serial TZ 390, was in pristine condition. Colour scheme was all white upper surfaces and silver undersides with cheatlines along the centre fuselage and engine cowlings in the Mali national colours of blue, yellow and red. The aircraft carried the serial on the tail together with a Mali AF roundel (from the outside - blue, yellow, red).

TZ390 is reportedly brand new to the Mali AF (it certainly looked like new in the photo's I was privileged to see) and is believed to be the third such example delivered to that country. The aircraft was apparently much in demand because of its enlarged rear cargo doors.

This aircraft is believed to be a replacement for a recently crashed DC-3.

For those interested, Guidimakha means 'king of the mountain' in the Sininke language.

Other news to follow later in the week as and when more time allows.

Until then, friends, take great care.

Anthony Harratt
England

Tony Harratt - a.harratt@virgin.net

Subject: DC-3 Survivors

Here's some information about surviving DC-3's in some of the more
remote parts of the world. Information gleaned from the British Aviation
Review and used with permission and thanks.

Hi, friends,

Thailand
++++++
Displayed outside at the Royal Thai Air Force Museum at Bangkok/Don
Muang is C-47 L.2-8/90 [ex USAAF 44-76517].

At Lop Buri RTAF base C-47's 492, 559 and 865 can be found along with
C-47B's 545, 876 in a reported 'preserved' condition. Dumped at the same
base are 224/40223, 501 and 734 which are all C-47B's.

Another preserved C-47A can be found at Phitsanuloke. This is number
152.

U-Tapao also has its fair share of preserved Daks. The following have
all been noted there: 43-48777, 43-49213, 202/43-49925, 2102/44-76418
and 45-1127.

The reports do not state which liveries any of these aircraft are in.
Anyone holidaying in the area or resident want to provide an update or
photographs?

Israel
++++
The Israeli Defence Force/Air Force Technical Training School at Haifa
has C-47A 05 displayed. This is ex USAAF 42-100957.

Also preserved in Israel at the Air Force Museum are C-47A 04/4X-FNL and
C-47B 038/4X-FNZ. The former is in store and the latter on display.

Colombia
+++++++
Apparently still active in this country at Bogota/El Dorado is Policia
Nacional Colombia are Turbo-3's PNC211 and PNC212.

More to follow later in the week, friends, when I've had time to read
through everything.

Until then, take great care,

Tony

From: AirAmBrat@aol.com
Subject: "Flugpionier In China"
Greetings All,

For those of you that are avid aviation fans and collectors of books on the
history of aviation I wanted to let you know that Max Springweiler's book
"Flugpionier In China" has just been translated from German to English. A
limited printing of 1000 copies, sponsored in part by Air America and CAT,
will be available for shipment by mid September on a first come, first served,
basis. Dr. Larry Sall, University of Texas/Dallas Special Collections
Department, which houses the Air America and CAT archives, translated the
300+ pages of text for this project.

In the early '30s many in China came to know an olive drab C-47 which was
brightened by the flaming cross logo of the Luthern World Mission - it's name
was "Saint Paul". A radio telegrapher's key on an arm of the right seat
belonged to the copilot/radio operator/flight engineer/load master/mechanic.
This crewman with five hats was Max Springweiler.

Max became a legendary "Old China Hand" and was known and respected
everywhere in China and Southeast Asia. Before the "big war" he had been a flight
engineer for Eurasia, the Chinese subsidiary of Lufthansa. A gracious and
modest man, few who were with him at the time of the "Saint Paul" missionary
flights from 1931-1949 knew that he had been decorated with China's Order in
Silver for his exploits in the Sino Japanese war. When the missionary flights
ended in late 1949 the crew received the "Saint Paul" in lieu of a salary.

Some months later the Korean war began and CAT (the airline originated by
General Chennault) found itself under the aegis of the USAF 315th Combat
Cargo Squadron. Short of planes, CAT leased the "Saint Paul" and offered jobs to
the owners. Max became CAT's manager of long-range charters.

Intended to be a legacy for his daughters and grandchildren, Max completed his
autobiography shortly before his death. A publisher snapped it up, titled it
"Max Springweiler: Pioneer Aviator in China", and distributed it throughout
Germany. This book, along with others, pinpoints CAT's unique place in the
continuing drama of aviation history and should be a nice addition to any
collector's library.

The books are $30 each (includes shipping and handling) and the best part is
that $25 of that is tax deductable since the proceeds are all going to the
AAM/CAT Archives Endowment at the University of Texas/Dallas History of
Aviation Collection. All the production costs for the book are being covered
by Max Springweiler's daughters and friends.

I will be placing an advance order for the books on 8/1/98. If anyone would
like to purchase a copy please contact me asap.

All the best!

Leigh Coleman Hotujec
AKA - The Air America Brat
SEA 62-74
"http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/6836/index.html"

"Anthony Harratt" - a.harratt@virgin.net

Well, here we are again busy catching up with news and gossip from the world of the DC-3.

Military DC-3 Operators
+++++++++++++++++

This short review picks up where previous reports ended
We'll continue in South America before moving to Central America and the Caribbean.
The review concludes with some news about other military DC-3 operators.

BOLIVIA

The Fuerza Aerea Boliviana (FAB) has a single airworthy C-47 Dakota, which is a BT-67 turbo conversion. This aircraft, which carries the civilian serial of TAM 38, is FAB 1038 attached to Escuadron 721, part of Grupo Aereo 72, is based at the former international airport at Santa Cruz, El Trompillo, in the south of the country. The aircraft was deleivered in 1991 and is used primarily in the anti-narcotics role.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

San Isidro on the southern coast of the Domican Republic is home to the Escuadron de Transporte Aereo of the Fuerza Aerea Dominicana. This unit operates three DC-3's in the transportation role the oldest of which was received from the USAF as long ago as 1954. This aircraft carries the code FAD 3406 on its tail and is painted in a green and grey camo scheme. This air arm is in dire need of re-equipping if it is to continue as an effective unit.

EL SALVADOR

Details about El Salvador's (Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena) DC-3 operations are sketchy. At least one (of two) Basler T-67 Turbo Dakotas operates in the AC-47 gunship role (Spooky). These were deleivered from the US in December 1984 to supplement three other C-47's (since withdrawn).

Two other Basler conversions are available in the T-67 configuration to operate in the VIP transportation role. Both these aircraft have been specially adapted.

All four of the FAS Dakota's operate with Escuadron de Transporte from Ilopango.

GUATEMALA

Out of an original establishment of 18 the Fuerza Aerea Guatemalteca retains four Douglas C-47's and a further three Basler T-67. These seven Dakota's are split between two squadrons. The Basler variants operate with Escuadron de Apoyo Tactico from General Danilo Eugenio Henry Sanchez Air Base at Santa Elena, Peten. The C-47's are attached to the Escuadron de Transporte operating out of La Aurora Airbase in Guatemala City.

The Basler's sport a rather nice colour scheme of white upper fuselage and grey underside (similar to early US Navy schemes) with three darker blue cheat lines separating the two colours. The tail also features these three blue cheat lines. One of the Basler's is coded 530 (on the tail).

HONDURAS

It is thought that as many as five C-47 (T-67 Basler conversions) still operate with the Fuerza Area Hondurena attached to the Escuadron de Transporte operating from Base Aerea Coronel Armando Escalon Espinal at San Pedro Sula. Also attached to this Escuadron is a single AC-47. It is not known if this is a Basler conversion.

TAIWAN (REPUBLIC OF CHINA)

The Chung Kuo Kung Chuan (republic of China Air Force) has finally replaced its ageing DC-3/C-47 transports withdrawing the last in January 1996. It is thought that the last to be withdrawn was 7231 from the RoCAF Acadamy.

THAILAND

The Royal Thai Naval Air Division (Kongbin Tha Han Lur Thai) continues to use C-47's in the transport role although several have recently been withdrawn from service. These aircraft are attached to 201 Squadron, part of 2 Wing at U-Tapao.

SOUTH AFRICA

The money just ran out...The South African Air Force have shelved plans for a maritime patrol version of the DC-3 (Basler, yet again!). One airframe, SAAF serial 6882, was used as a development aircraft. Development included the removal of almost all windows in the cabin area, nose radar and a small hump (further radar?) on top of the fuselage just aft of the cockpit.

Faring slightly better is SAAF C-47TP serial 6828 which is undergoing trials at the SAAF's Test Flight & Development Centre. This aircraft has been developed as an 'EW' trainer. It's electronic intelligence (ELINT) parentage can be clearly seen by the addition of various antennae and radar humps on the fuselage. This C-47 is also window-less in the fuselage area.

No. 6828 looks rather fetching in an air superiority two-tone grey colour scheme.

...ends

"Anthony Harratt"? - a.harratt@virgin.net

I'll try to keep DC-3 fans up to speed with what's going on with the venerable Dakota here in Europe
and around the world as soon as data hits my desk.
Here's a few more updates for things that have been happening while you've been away

Dutch Dakota Association
+++++++++++++++++++

Following the sad crash involving the DDA's DC-3, PH-DDA, operations have been suspended
but are almost ready to start again with
two 3's,
a pair of DC-4's
and a DC-2.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Martin's Air Charter (now Martinair), PH-DDZ
is now in a pristine condition wearing Martin's very eye-catching white and silver colours
complete with dark blue/red fuselage stripe and tail.

Flight testing is due to start at the end of May 1998 with ops starting up later in the summer.
The aircraft has, it is reported, been restored to a very high standard.

Meanwhile, the second '3, PH-PBA is currently with Atlantic at Coventry
having its interior finished off ready for an official handover, also in May.

The DDA plan to give their two Gooney's around 130hrs airtime annually
utilising pilots who are current or retired airline captains.

The Association now boasts over 300 volunteers and over 4,000 members
which is open to anyone with an interest in the work of the DDA.
They can be contacted at the following address:

Dutch Dakota Association,
PO Box 75090,
1117 ZP Schiphol,
The Netherlands.

British Colombia Aviation Museum
+++++++++++++++++++++++++

The newest addition to the roster at the BCAM is C-117D, C-GJGQ
which is one of four such machines acquired by Sky Freighters of Errington, BC.
These 'planes were formerly flown by Millardair.

The aircraft travelled west in strange circumstances around four years ago.
The first was flown in using new engines which were then stripped out and returned to Ontario
by road before being fitted to the next C-117D.
Once this bird had arrived the whole process was repeated until all four were in situ.

C-GJGQ was used as a spares machine being cannibalised by Sky Freighters.
It is thought that Sky Freighters are up for sale so it is not certain how long
the C-117 will remain at the museum.

Delta Rebuild a Dakota
+++++++++++++++++

Following Piedmont, Continental, Mexicana and numerous other airlines,
Delta are going to put a DC-3 back in the air in the original colours of Delta's DC-3 era.
The plane is expected to be the centrepiece exhibit at a new museum
housed in one of Delta's original 1940's hangars on the northside of Hartsfield Intl., Atlanta.

Delta have acquired 'Ship 41', NC28341 which was their second (of five) DC-3's,
for restoration to flying condition under the direction of museum manager James Ray.

So far, two other DC-3's have been butchered for fuselage parts
(sadly, details are not currently know).
Restoration is going well with engine installation having been reached by spring 1998.
Once completed 'Ship 41' will be flown on special occasions.

...ends

The English airshow season looks like being a veritable feast
for propliner fans
especially with the Berlin Airlift anniversary being celebrated this year.
There's a host of good things promised and,? I'll do a review in the autumn.

Stig Jakobsen / Danish Dakota Friends

Your website is one of the top favorites among us Danish DC-3 people.
Along the way I intend to make our pages more interesting to view also for
English/American DC-3 folks.

For the next few months however we concentrate on our flight programme,
because after a delay due to some technical problems
we are actually FLYING now.

Our DC-3 will be airborne along with aircrafts from other NATO countries.

Short round trips available for passengers.
the DC-3 trips cost: 20 USD for membership plus 20 USD for a trip.

several years ago we had a DC-3 meeting in Sweden, where the DC-3 "head count" showed:
Norway: one
Sweden: two
Finland: one
Denmark: one (our)
France: one
I am pretty sure these will all attempt to go to Berlin plus hopefully
others from Mid-European countries and England.

Stig Jakobsen / Danish Dakota Friends

Anthony Harratt, - England - a.harratt@virgin.net

Floating Dak

The only remaining DC-3 on floats will soon be offered for auction at
Polk City, Florida. The owner, Dick Folsom, of Greenville, Maine, spent
over 14 years converting N130Q which obtained an experimental type
certificate in September 1990. Dick has been flying the plane for the
past seven years.

Built as a C-53D it was delivered to USAAF on 12 July 1943 as 42-68834.
It was transferred to the 8th Airforce in England in October of that
year. After the war it returned to the US in November 1945 and became
one of Eastern's Great Silver fleet as NC86562. It remained with Eastern
until 1952 when it passed through a succession of private and corporate
owners until acquired by Dick and friends in 1976.

A rare set of Model-78 Edo floats were found and it was decided to
convert the DC-3 into an amphibian.

The original amphibian DC-3 was C-47D 42-5671 built at Douglas's Long
Beach Plant in July 1942 and designated XC-47C. After conversion by the
Edo Aircraft Corp it was flight tested but crashed in November 1943. It
proved difficult to taxi and could only take-off and land on smooth
water. Five C-47C's were subsequently built and us as air-sea rescue
transports in the Pacific and Alaskan theatre during World War II. The
only known production C-47C surviving is N45860/42-108868 which was
built in May 1944 and is now owned by Southern Flyers in Florida.

Dakota Changes in the UK

The UK's sole commercial DC-3 operator, Air Atlantique, has changed its
name to Atlantic Airlines. To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the
Berlin Airlift, the airline has repainted G-AMPZ in RAF Transport
Command colours of the late 1940's. This particular plane was
constructed during the last year of WW II and was serialled 44-76450
being delivered to the USAAF on 16 March 1945. It later became KN442
with the RAF at Montreal on 24 March 1945 and in April it was with 525
Squadron RAF at Lyneham. It later moved to RAF Stoney Cross before being
declared surplus to requirements upon which it took on its current civil
registration.

Atlantic have also been involved with the military here in England
recently with G-ANAF being leased by RACAL to undertake trials with the
new Searchwater 2000 Airborne Early Warning radar which will be fitted
to the next generation Sea King helicopters. 'AF has sprouted a radome
under the fuselage just aft of the cockpit.
This work is likely to last for three years.

G-ANAF is also an ex-RAF machine having formerly carried the serial
KP220.
She was originally built as C-47B-35DK 44-77104 for the USAAF.

...ends...Anthony Harratt,...England

North Korea to repatriate remains
believed to be U.S. soldiers

SEOUL, South Korea -
North Korea will return remains believed to be those of two American soldiers
killed in the Korean War, the American-led U.N. Command said Thursday.

The remains, to be handed over Friday,
are the latest to be returned since North Korea began repatriating bodies in 1990.
The United States was given access to the communist North in 1996 to search for remains.

The remains will be handed over at the village of Panmunjom inside the demilitarized zone
separating the two Koreas, the command said.

The remains were found by American forensic experts in the northern county of Kujang
and are believed to be those of soldiers of the 2nd U.S. Infantry
and other divisions who died in November 1950, the command said.

More than 50,000 American soldiers were killed in the war;
about 8,100 are still unaccounted for
So far, 216 sets of remains have been returned.

Dave Hose 192 Woodfield Rd. Toronto Ont. M4L2W7

Dave shared this with me and I thought it was classic: Great memories.."Bear"

One of the best "come-back"comment I have heard
happened about a week or two ago
at Toronto Pearson YYZ on the tower frequency.
The controller talking to a DC-3 in the pattern, Said :
"Douglas NXYZ your radio sounds great"
The pilots comeback was:
"the radio has been upgraded since roll out".

Royal Aviation, Mesa - AVATRBR AVATRBR@aol.com
08 May 1998

Bob Reid, IP DC-3, Royal Aviation, Mesa

As you may recall our firm Royal aviation, is in Saudi restoring the C-47 (HZ-AAX)
that was given to the King in 1944 by President Roosevelt.
As part of this effort we are teaching the Saudi Pilots how to fly
our C-47....N88874... here in Mesa Arizona...

The 4 Pilots along with 4 mechanics are here for about three weeks and will return to Riyadh
upon completion of their training.

These people are hand picked and represent the some of best pilots and mechanics
in the Kingdom.

They are responding very well to the instructors and have proven themselves to be very good students.

If there is any interest in meeting them Royal will be having a farewell event
toward the end of next week..
These men are currently flying C-130 in Kingdom.
They are very interested in our country and culture and would enjoy speaking
with fellow DC-3 enthusiasts.
Thanks,
Bob Reid, IP DC-3, Royal Aviation, Mesa

The instructor pilots are:
Bob Reid, President of Royal and his trusty sidekick,
Ed Melone, world famous airline Capt. with Continental.
Ed has reached 60 and so has Bob so they are now considered not-competent By the age 60 rule
to fly as airline captains. Ed is still in the employ of Continental as a flight engineer
but continues to retain his flying abilities by instructing in the 3 and flying his SNJ-5.

relayed by: "dstc47" - dstc47@indigo.ie

Subject: Malmo Gathering of DC3s

The magazine Aircraft Illustrated (Nov 97) contains a
number of articles of special interest to the fans of the DC3.
In particular a well illustrated report of the Malmo Gathering in August.
For the record attendance was:
F-GDPP C47A France DC3 Assoc
SE-CFP C47? Swedish Flygande Veteraner Assoc
OY-BPB C47A Danish Dakota
9Q-CUK C47B Vallentuna Aviation
OH-LCH C53B Airveteran OY
LN-WND C53D Dakota Norway

The next article has two photographs of the one and only flying LI-2,
RA01300, in flight at the Moscow Airshow in August.

And for added bonus a short story about the Australian DC-2 , VH-CDZ which
is to be restored.

As this UK magazine is not that easy to get, phone number for Ian Allen LTD
the publisher is 01932 857257, fax , Telephone same code and 828769. I have
no commercial connection with the magazine.

relayed by:

Anthony Harratt - a.harratt@virgin.net

Subject: South American DC-3's

The quarterly military aviation publication World Airpower Journal has
published its Fall 1997 edition (Vol. 30). This edition includes
Part One of an analysis of South American air power. I have condensed the
referrals relative to the DC-3 and variants which I hope you will find interesting.

Colombia appears to be the sole South American country in this part of
the review still operating the DC-3. A number of units are listed as operators.

Located at Palanquero is Escaudron Aerotactico. This unit is tasked
primarily with the anti-terrorist or anti-narcotics roles. They are
equipped with Turbo 67 AC-47 Dakota's which have been recently received.
These fixed-wing aircraft support a variety of rotary types. The DC-3's
are attached to Escaudron Aerotactico 313 and Escaudron Aerotactico 412
which are part of Comando Aereo de Combate (CACOM) 2 and 3 respectively.

The AC-47 has been in use for some time. The programme was funded by the
US Government with five examples being delivered in 1988. One was lost in
an accident shortly after its arrival. In 1992 the four remaining DC-3's
were sent to Basler's at Oshkosh for conversion and by 1996 three had
been returned to service.

These aircraft are painted in an all-over mid grey colour scheme similar
to current US military practice. Serials are not available at this time
but an illustration in the article depicts a Basler variant bearing the
number FAC 1686. Guns, painted orange, are clearly visible in the two
windows immediately in front of the left-hand passenger door.

Grupo Aereo del Sur (GASUR) is a transport wing not directly aligned
under the Comando Aero de Transporte Militair (CATAM), the purely
military transport command of the Fuerza Aerea Colombiana (FAC). This
unit can be found at Base Aerea Ernesto Esguerra at Tres Esquinas and
operates a single C-47. This airplane (FAC 1670?) operates in a silver
colour scheme with a thin blue cheatline. The rudder is painted in
Colombia's national colours, yellow, blue and red.

The other wing utilising DC-3's in Colombia is the Policia Nacional (PNC)
who have two Basler Turbo C-47's operating with their Bogota detachment.
These aircraft operate in an all-white colour scheme with two blue
cheatlines below the windows and along the engine cowlings. A small
Colombian flag is carried on the rudder at the top. One of the 'planes
carries the serial PNC 212.

Relayed in Oct.1997 by:

Anthony Harratt - a.harratt@virgin.net (reported Oct 1997)

Here is a short news item gathered from the pages of Air Forces Monthly,
November 1997 edition, which may be of interest to potential DC-3 purchasers.

SAAF Downsizing...
++++++++++++++++++

The South African Air Force has decided to dispose of a number of
redundant aircraft including five C-47 turboprop transports [designated C-47TP].

The aircraft for sale are: 6835 [1,737.4 hours], 6853 [6,648.9 hours],
6858 [2,248.4 hours], 6879 [13,168.3 hours] and 6890 [8,992.1 hours].

The best buy looks like 6858 with significantly less airframe hours than
the others.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Another UK magazine, Aircraft Illustrated, has a three page article on
the DC-3 Meet & Big Birds Fly-In held at Malmo-Sturup Airport in Sweden
on 9/10 August in its November 1997 edition. The article is illustrated
in colour. Some of the participants in this event were OH-LCH [Finnish
Airlines silver livery], SE-CFP Fridtjof Viking [SAS silver livery],
LN-WND [Dakota Norway], 9Q-CUK which is restored in stylish Swedish
national colours with the SAS cheatline and F-GDPP [the furthest traveller].

The same edition of AI is of further interest to Gooney fans because of
another colour article by Adrian Balch featuring the worlds sole
airworthy Lisunov Li-2, RA01300.

"Mullowney, Jeff" - JMullow@obiwan.Intecom.com

Subject: CD Album Cover

Over lunch, I saw a CD album cover. Title was "The Journey." The group
is "Immature." Anyway, what caught my eye was the cover photo is the
group standing in front of a DC-3. The Gooney has speedpak gear doors,
but is definitely not a Super DC-3: the tail is wrong.

But what is most striking about this bird is that both propellers have
spinners that almost completely cover the engines. This is the same as
Hawker did with the Fury and Sea Fury (those models powered by Bristol
Centaurus radials).

Is this a manipulated image? Or is there a Gooney Bird out there with
this mod? Anybody know? Thanks.

- Jeff Mullowney
cuhead@cyberramp.net (home)
jmullow@intecom.com (work)

relayed by:

Anthony Harratt - a.harratt@virgin.net (reported Oct 1997)

Source - Propliner Magazine issue 70

Philippine Operator Seeks Backer
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Commercial Air Transport Inc. of Manila, Philippines was founded in 1971
by Captain Hayde Alix using a DC-3 that he had personally rebuilt. This
plane was used to haul fish between Roxas and Manila. The popularity of
the service led to a daily flight.
The airline gradually expanded and a maintainance facility was
established at Manila. Spiralling costs led to the fish run being
suspended shortly after the acquisition of DC-3 RP-C325, Skymaster
variant. It is thought that this airframe has not flown since August
1995.
Captain Alix hopes to restart operations soon with Philippine Post Office
contracts supporting the fish operations. He is seeking a second
Skymaster and some financial support.

relayed by:

Anthony Harratt - a.harratt@virgin.net (reported Oct 1997)

Air International, featured a report on the recent NBAA
(National Business Aviation Association) show at Dallas Love Field in
late September.

A record 190 new and used aircraft were displayed on the
Dallas Airmotive/Signature ramp one of which was Legend Airways DC-3
N25641.

This bird was for sale at 1.1 million US dollars. She was built in 1942
and saw action as a military freighter in the Med and Europe. Contained
in its log are work orders for the 'repair of bullet holes'. She was
restored totally a few years back and now has a luxurious cabin in the
glamourous 1940's 'Hollywood look'. The cabin has 14 club-clas seats
whilst modern sound-proofing and insulation making in, reputedly, the
quietest DC-3 in history.

Anyone interested in buying her should contact Erik L. Fleming at Legend.

relayed by:

Anthony Harratt - a.harratt@virgin.net (reported Oct 1997)

Here's a small mystery for our historian friends that I picked up from
the Oct 97 issue of Air Pictorial.

Former Garuda C-47, PK-GDH, was withdrawn from use on January 10, 1973.
It was moved to the grounds of SMT Penerbangan (Aeronautical Polytechnic)
where the aircraft still resides in Garuda colours.

Under the port wing of the aircraft is the registration PK-GDF in the
normal registration position. Now, PK-GDF is supposed to be registered as
PK-OAZ with Airfast (and is still flying).

Did PK-GDH give its wing up on retirement to PK-OAZ? Or is ' OAZ flying
with a wing from another Gooney?

Any suggestions, anyone.

relayed by:

Anthony Harratt - a.harratt@virgin.net
England

Here is a news item about a DC-3 in the southern hemisphere that I
thought you might be interested in.

Source - Aircraft Illustrated September 1997 edition
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Central Australian Aviation Museum at Alice Springs in Northern
Territory has acquired Douglas DC-3 VH-BAA from Mildura Warbirds Aviation
Museum. This 'plane will be repainted into the colours of Conair who
operated out of Alice Springs. The DC-3 will carry the registration
VH-EWE. This airplane was the first to ferry survivors from the Darwin
area following cyclone Tracy.

This DC-3 was originally built as 42-93199 for the USAAF being delivered
on 21.4.44. One month later it was transferred to the RAAF [Royal
Australian Air Force] becoming A65-49 [VH-CIE] with No. 38 Squadron. In
December 1946 it was acquired by QUANTAS as VH-BAK passing through
various owners until October 1960 when it became VH-BAA with Brian and
Brown Air Freighters.

It was acquired by the Warbirds Air Museum in October 1979.

A photo of sister airplane VH-BAB appears in the book 'DC-3's Down Under'
by Stewart Wilson in BBA Cargo livery [white upper fuselage, orange cheat
line around the window section and silver undersides]. The same book
features another phot of 'BAB in the earlier white/blue/silver colour
scheme.

Sam Whatmough, Brunel University, London, England
e-mail: me95slw@brunel.ac.uk

The Dakota operated by South Coast airways (G-DAKK).
The Air Atlantiques C-47/DC-3 from Coventry.
Both are normally available for pleasure flights both over London, and
further afield. Deatils and bookings for G-DAKK can be taken through
the Air Displays Interntional office at Biggin Hill on the folloing
telephone no: +44 (0)1959-572277 or fax +(0)1959-575969 or even you can
e-mail us on 101526.3235@compuserve.com.

G-DAKK is beautifully restored to 1940's period and is well worth
seeing. The show itself takes place on that Sunday and is too well
worth a visit - it promises to be a good one!

Best wishes all you DC-3 fans!

Sam Whatmough, ADI.

Wings of Liberation

A DC-3 Odyssey

An odyssey of one C-53 (DC-3) WWII war bird destined June 22, 1997 for a Dutch museum in honor and
memory of those Americans who fought for the Liberation of the Netherlands.

Drop back for periodic updates as we progress from Arizona
across the North Atlantic to the European Continent!!!!

NOTE ..When Internet access becomes hard to get:

"Since access to the internet is getting more difficult, whenever one of us calls home, we will have a message posted to the Guestbook.
So stop by the Guestbook; there may be an update message posted. "

We departed Falcon Field (Mesa, Arizona) at 9:05 AM; go to
Journey Across the Atlantic
for en route updates!

Associated Press (AP)

Not everyone feared an American Airlines grounding.

Four Star Air Cargo,

which ships everything from mail to frozen fish to parts for
the giant Amerada Hess Corp. oil refinery in St. Croix,
said it hoped for a bonanza.
``I would say they (American) have 65 percent to 70 percent of
the cargo market,'' said

Freddie Camareno, who pilots one of Four
Star's twin-propeller DC-3 aircraft out of San Juan's airport.
``We're looking forward to the extra business.''

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