The DC-3 Aviation Museum
C-53 / DC-3 Ozark
Powerplant: - 2 - 1,200 hp Pratt & Whitney - R - 1830 - 92
Twin Wasp - 14 - Cylinder Radial Engines.
Weight, Empty: - 18,200 lbs.
Max speed: - 230 MPS
Range: - 1,500 Miles
Wing Span: - 95' 6''
Lenght: - 63' 9''
Height: - 17' 0''
Prairie Aviation Museum
Box 856
Bloomington, Illinois 61702
C-53/DC-3 Ozark
History
1942
03/11/42 Manufactured by Douglas Aircraft as a C-53
03/20/42 Accepted to United States Navy at the Norfolk, Va.
NAS(Naval Air Station). Assigned to UA-l(Fleet Tactical Support)
04/15/42 Service from NAS Ft. Worth, Texas
1945
09/12/45 Service from NAS Jacksonville, Florida
1946
01/46 Service from NAS New York, New York
02/46 Reassigned to Fleet Air Wing, Headquarters 5
04/46 Joined the United States Marines, Headquarters MAG 21
(Marine Air Group)
05/46 Service from the Hedron MAW 21(Marine Air Wing)
08/46 Stricken from duty
1947
03/47 Sold by the United States War Assets Administration to
Continental Airlines. Registered as N73726
1949
08/31/49 Sold to Southern Airlines
1957
05/14/57 Registration changed by Southern airlines. Registered as
N7OSA
1966
08/25/66 Sold to National aircraft Sales, Dallas, Texas
1967
08/22/67 Sold to Jack Richards Aircraft, Texas. Registered as
N763A
1968
01/23/68 Sold to H.H. Coffield, Rockdale Flying Service,
Rockdale, Texas
1983
Sold to Tradewinds Aircraft, San Antonio, Texas
1984
02/84 Sold to Prairie Aviation Museum, Bloomington, Illinois.
Restored to ferry flight condition by Bill Wilson and sons
Stan and Wade in Texas
11/19/84 Flown by PAM members George Carpenter, Bill Leff,
and Dave Maisak to the Bloomington-Normal Airport
1985
04/85 Preservation including corrosion removal, and exterior-
interior cleaning by PAM members
09/16/85 Loaned to Ozark Airlines.
Restoration of exterior to Ozark colors.
Used for Ozark's 35th Anniversary celebration and Open House.
12/15/85 Returned to Prairie Aviation Museum display area
1985 - 1991
Engine restoration
1991
6/91 Fly to Smartt Field, St Charles, MO
Confederate Air Show
8/91 Springfield Air Show
1991 - 1996
Wing Restoration,etc
1996
2/96 Wing Attached
5/96 Flown Certified Airworthy
6/96 Engine Removed - Sent to Clinton, AR
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