Q - Z

This is a listing of anyone that has
assembled, flown, crewed, worked on, ridden in or admired
the DC-3/ C-47/ R4D/ Dakota
Or any of its variants
anywhere in the World

Ernest Szelepcsenyi - ernesto@istar.ca

began his DC-3 passenger status on his 14th birthday. (on his birthday flight He was allowed to sit right seat) In the years since then, he has never missed an opportunity to fly in any DC-3/C-47/Dakota he can find. (see sound Page)

The Ernest Szelepcsenyi Collection

Michael C. Yerxa, - micha59@athenet.net

- Capt. U.S.A.F.(Ret) Navigator - Appleton, WI USA
Flew as crew 64'-66', Central and So. Am. with 605th Air Commandos out of Howard AFB Panama.

Steve Sohn - sasohn@msn.com

- Served as a Squadron Pilot with the 362 Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron, Flying RC-47s and EC-47 aircraft, at Pleiku Air Base in the Central Highlands of the Republic of Vietnam.
Upon completion of this tour of duty, from 1969-1970, Served as a Squadron Pilot with the 509th Bomb Wing (SAC), Pease Air Force Base, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire until separation from USAF on 15 November 1972.

The Steve Sohn Collection

Nick Tile - gbsednrt@ibmmail.com

- used to fly around the Saudi Arabian desert in an old DC3, allegedly once owned by John Wayne - I had the left hand seat a few times and count the experience as a very special one - there's something about that old plane that is very special ...

- When I was 18 mo.old my Mother, Brother, and I flew to Panama in 1943, on a DC-3. We could only travel by day because of limited or non-existent, navigation aids and mountains in Central America.

Mother tells of landing in Guatemala City during a revolution. The Pan-Am flight crew split up the 14 passengers between them and took us from doorway to doorway, avoiding street fighting to reach our hotel. The next AM we returned to the airfield the same way. As we were taxing for take-off the Government forces were setting up machine guns on the air field to prevent take-offs. Our plane received some fire but the north bound flight was too damaged to leave. Pan Am crews really gave customer service then.
I flew in DC-3's for the next ten years in South and Central America. Even came back States side in a sleeper once. Still will if I get a chance.

My first flight was in a DC-3 operated by Lake Central Airlines, Pittsburgh to Erie PA.
From the picture you sent, I could almost smell the tarmac as I walked out to my first plane ride.

As I'm sure you already know, this is a great start on the way to keeping a valuable piece of history in the forefront... and possibly tie some fragmented pilots with a lot in common together. Keep it up.

I sure miss flying the R4D. One of my most thrilling adventures in the R4D was landing at the airfield at Gibraltar. The burble around the "Rock" was tremendous. Landing on runway 270 you had to fly to the right of the centerline and at the last moment make a sharp 90 degree turn to the left and then a sharp 90 degree turn to the centerline, all at below 100 feet. I must have made at least 50 landings at Gibraltar over a two year period of time and each approach was a challenge. Jim W.

The Cdr. James Waldron Collection

webbd@va.jaycor.com

Subject: Gooney Bird Experience

I went into the grand old bird immediately upon graduating from USAF pilot training in early 1963. That was quite a change for an "all-jet" training program! Flew TC-47Ds from Dallas NAS, Carswell AFB, and O'Hare IAP for the next 4 years in the 2223rd Instructor Squadron (CONAC). Trained for a Viet Nam tour in Cessna O-2Bs but, upon arrival at Pleiku AB, RVN, I found that the O-2s would not arrive until I was half way through my tour. My squadron, the 9th Air Commando, was then equipped with C-47Ds and U-10s. The Goons were fitted out for daytime psychological warfare leaflet dropping and for nighttime flare dropping in support of the Puff and Spooky gunships. Turns out that I as a young 1Lt was the only squadron pilot to have been through a formal C-47 course (Moody AFB, GA; spring of 1963) and I had more time than any of the other pilots except the flight commander, a W.W.II gray-haired colonel. I had found a job! What a great way to begin a 28-year Air Force career.

On June 2, 1996 we flew the OH-LCH from Helsinki (Finland) to Tallin (Estonia) and back. That kind of trips are arranged on a regular basis, and you have to be the member or a guest of a member of the DC-yhdistys (DC-Association) here. The costs of the flight are shared with the participants, but the member has to pay for their guests.

Han de Roos - han.de.roos@tip.nl- Nwe Niedorp, Holland

As a fanatic DC3-fan, My first day on Internet and I discovered this site !

Lloyd B. Sickel - Little Rock, AR USA

Flew DC-3's for American Airlines from 1944-1948, based in Memphis and Boston.

Jim Tuley - Atajay@pipeline.USA.com- Little Rock, AR USA

Flew DC-3's for American Airlines 1944-1948. Based at Nashville, TN.

Fred Thurlow - gmk@gmk.sdi.agate.net- orono, me USA

I collect DC-3 related items. I have app. 600 postcards and many other DC-3 items.

My father, Glenn W. Wright, -
was a Production Test Pilot for the Douglas Aircraft Company
in Tulsa, OK. in the 1940's.

He was first to fly many of the airplanes listed here.
In his 2,000+ hours of flying DC-3 he has many stories about his close calls and other experiences.
In fact my middle name is Douglas because of Dad's job.
During WW-II, he often performed the production test flight at the same time he was flying
the DC-3 to Tinker AFB for delivery.
Many times he has landed DC-3's at Tinker AFB on instruments in below minimum conditions
by switching his ADF between local radio stations, get the picture.
Anyone who would like to talk to an Old DC-3 Pilot is welcome to call him at 405-737-0534,
or write him a letter at

Glenn W. Wright
232 Steed Dr.,
Midwest City, OK.

Thanks, Stephen Douglas Wright.

I have a keen interest in all piston driven airliners, but especially the DC-3 and the Ford Tri-Motor.

My first airplane ride was sometime around 1948 in an Ercoupe, but my first trip in an commercial airliner was on a DC-3 from Columbus, Ohio to Chicago Midway, and then on to a second DC-3 from there to Peoria. That was in the mid 50's.

Recently I was driving across I-84 just north of New York City. Don't remember what town I was close to, but spotted a DC-3 just taking off from a nearby airport. I stopped on the edge of the interstate to watch it. Probably a stupid highway trick, but I so seldom see one of those planes that I took advantage of the situation to watch it take off, gain altitude and bank to the right and fly off. Beautiful !

C-47 restoration in Brazil

We are now starting the restoration of a C-47 that was donated by the Argentina Air Force to the Brazilian air and space museum in Rio de Janeiro.
The restoration will take place at the VARIG's maintenance facility in Rio and the Airplane will be "civilized" and painted with the former VARIG paint scheme, and kept in flying condition.
We are now facing some problems in finding parts and service facilities where we can find some of the missing parts and services. The airplane has six engines available, but they need overhauls so as much of the flight controls, hydraulics and electrical systems.

Carolyn Adams Vogler - cvogler@worldnet.att.net

Thank you so very much for honoring Jim at your wonderful web site.
He and I both shared a love for this wonderful plane.
It was the first airplane I worked as a" new hire" stewardess in the early 1960's.
Although Jim moved on to other equipment, the old Douglas seemed to follow him around.
Two weeks before he was killed he gave a checkride in a "3" in Texas
and called to tell me that in checking the ships log...
he found it was a plane he had flown many years before.

Also, I have set up a tribute page for Jim.
"Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace... Amelia Earhart"

Capt. Richard D. Upham - EAL Retired - Rudcub1@aol.com

I joined Eastern Airlines in Feb. 1946 and flew co-pilot on the DC-3's.
After flying other aircraft as well I got my Air Line Transport rating on an Eastern DC-3 in 1952.

I have a total of 3000 hours on the airplane type.
The DC-3 that hangs in the Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian is one of the "3's" that I flew.
I retired in 1982 after 37 years with Eastern. The last eight years I flew the L-1011.

Cap. Tony La Rotta - johs@colomsat.net.co

I fly a DC-3 in Colombia, South America.. In answer to your question, Will A DC-3 Fly with a dead engine and the prop not feathered.

I have had that experience on takeoff and it's not a nice experience. on a DC-3 you can experience what is called a "RUN AWAY PROPELLER" when this happens you loose control of the propeller, it goes to a high rpm angle and it doesn't allow you to feather it.
we were full weight but we managed to get it to fly and returned safely for landing.

On another occasion we were at 9000 ft. when suddenly we lost fuel and oil pressure, so we had to feather the propeller. the airplane held 125 knots, and the altitude for 1:20 minutes.
the problem was caused by a pinion that turns the fuel & oil pump.

Robert Simmering - uald26a@prodigy.com

I am interested in DC-3 aircraft. Can they still be purchased?
I remember reading an article from a magazine about an island that has numerous C-47's left from WW2.
Would they still be worth money for restoration/parts?
Thanks Robert Simmering

Gregg & Patti Smith - GSmith4369@aol.com

Found your pages fascinating. I was surprised there was no mention of Air Cruise America's DC-3 flights of Long Beach, California in your Flights page. We took a flight with them a few weeks ago, and their hospitality and commitment to promoting the legend of the aircraft was nothing short of first class. In addition to a number of gifts, we received complimentary copies of the DC-3/Dakota Journal.

Thanks again for your pages - after taking a ride on the gooney bird, we couldn't get enough!

West Sanders - wsanders@flash.net

I fly DC-3s, airshows, ferry, ect.
The Dallas/Fort Worth Wing of the Confederate Air Force
We have a R4D-6S, N151ZE.
We flew it to Europe and the UK in 1985 for the 50th anniversary of the DC-3.

Ted Wilson - "twilson@cwnet.com"@cwnet.com

I never had the pleasure of flying the DC-3 for a living, but in December of 1995 I spent some time, effort and money and got my ATP type rating in the DC-3 at Southwind aviation.
I loved every minute of it and plan to get typed in the DC-3S also. Currently I am a first officer for American Eagle on ATR-72s and am based at DFW airport.

Rasantika Merat Seta - Ika Atman Satya - ika@lipi.go.id

DC-3's in Indonesia, I'd like to inform you that Indonesia still operates DC-3/Dakota's. We have 5 DC-3/Dakota's but only three of them are still flying.

Mac Thompson - mact@glasnet.ru

I sort of retired in Bangkok five years ago, after 25 years with the US Government (USAID), and mostly in Laos and Thailand. Lots of propheads and roterheads there, also mostly retired. Several former Air America or CASI from Laos and Vietnam, and one ex-Cambodian, that I see often.

After next week, I'll be back at "home", at: mact@ksc8.th.com

Only problem with web surfing in Thailand is the cost, not like the new $19.95 per month for unlimited access in the Land of the Big PX. Thailand is like $50/month for 20-30 hours access, not too swift.

Still, If I do e-mail early in the month, and save up a few hours for second half for surfing, all within the quota.

I'll be passing your site address along, several former C-47 drivers still around. I've jumped out of The C-47 many times, free fall for fun. Some with the French and Lao Air forces in Laos, and also with the Thai Air Force.

The C-47 is still a great machine, my favorite to watch, along with the C-130....

William F. (Bill) Sears Sgt Maj. USMC (Ret). mag25sec@eagleweb.net

Joined VMJ-152 as an A/C mechanic after completing school at NAS Jax in April of '42.
Dep. CONUS aboard Lurline in Sept and joined MAG 25 on New Caledonia.
Became a member of Service Squadron 25 when it was formed, and worked primarily as check crew leader getting in enough flight time to draw flight pay.
Returned stateside in '44 to school at 87th and Anthony in Chicago to become A/C engine overhaul qualified, and finished the war at MCAS Ewa, Oahu, T. H. doing major repair on the R4D's.
Went on to many other adventures in USMC, but you would find a wistful gaze on my face if there was a "Gooney Bird" in sight.
When I went on leave in '44 I flew TWA from LA to Boston and did my own pre-flight on the DC 3 before each takeoff---hotshot mech showing off.
Semper Fi

Bengt Randers - benram@mail.algonet.se

Subject: DC3 in Stockholm, Hello Flygande Veteraner operates a flying DC3 in Stockholm.

Flygande Veteraner has a web page.
"http://www.php.at-taiwan.com/~vir00462/daisy.htm"
It has a fine foto over Stockholm.

Ellie Zuliani - EZtopar@aol.com

On Friday after I posted back and forth with you...I clicked on your DC-3 Aviation Museum

It was the best hour that I have spent since I went on line. You have done a wonderful job preserving the DC3 history and presenting it complete with "sound".

At the age of 19 I wanted to be a "pilot" and with no fear started flying in "red-baron" type double wing plane.(1959)

I was attending the Univ. of Nevada-Reno and had a friend whose family owned a big ranch.
The plane routinely was used to spot wolves and coyote who were killing off their grazing stock. They were all pilots and helped me log my hours.

With a stick to guide me and wire pedals on the floor I soared over the barren land between Reno, NV and Klamath Falls, OR for hours.

One day out of fuel and no communication- I tried to make Canby up by Alturas. I set down on the highway 395 on the plains, missing the wires and scaring a nearby farmer half to death. I was fine but swore not to pilot again.

To my dismay, this kind hearted family arrived at my dorm the very next morning and made me go up in their fancier plane. I took over the controls and landed "perfect" and that was my last pilot trick.

I since have flown all over the world except the Orient-of course commercially, but I still say you can't beat a prop plane, and sometimes I get to fly in them mostly in the Carolinas and throughout the South.

About 8 years ago I spent a couple of months in Australia and New Zealand and was lucky enough to hop a flight to Christ Church NZ on a "Grand OLE DC-3".

Capt. John A. Wagner - jonwag@worldnet.att.net

I was Chief Pilot and Director of Operations For Florida Airmotive in Lantana,Fl. for 30 years.
We started operating three DC-3's in 1976 and retired them in 1990.
We flew charter's threw the Bahamas and parts south along with supporting the US Navy from Jacksonville to Andros in the Bahamas.

I have over 12,000 hours in the grand old lady.

In 1976 we flew the 3 for a commercial (Gen.Motors) with tandem wheels to prove how tough the front end of a Chevy truck..

JOHN SWANCARA - johnswancara@CITCOM.NET

I have just completed and in PUBLICATION, a book:

PROJECT 19- A MISSION MOST SECRET. SEE BOOK REVIEW

Covering the history of a SECRET pre-WW2 project
CODE NAMED: PROJECT 19
Designed to help the British by building a large civilian Depot in Eritrea, Ethiopia,
to rebuild wrecked and shot-up RAF/RAAF P-40's to help stop Rommel.
It was authorized in November of 1941.
In operation by June, 1942, Gone by Jan. 1944.
Chapter includes in depth review, w/ pictures of many EARLY (USAAF C-47)
civilian DC-3's flown by Sargent Pilots with part civilian crews.
Includes nose art, and first person combat stories by the A/C crews!

Art Speegle - arty@flash.net

I started flying the DC-3 in 1958 for a now defunct intrastate carrier called Southeast Airlines.
After a year I went to work for Trans Texas Airways, later called Texas International Airlines.
I medically retired from Continental Airlines in 1982.
I believe the 8,000 hours spent in the DC-3 were the most enjoyable and educational hours I spent flying.

Wendy Smith - ws@intecc.co.uk

I have been a part of the family of aviation for over 20 years now, including 17 years service in the Royal Air Force, but I have never met such a close knit group as in the DC3 community.
The site is obviously put together by people who have a great love for the DC3.
I have watched DC-3/Dakota's fly many times at airshows, in Britain, Holland and the USA.
I spent 6 weeks learning to fly at Peachtree De Kalb in Atlanta, where a DC3 was based. Sitting outside at the restaurant having lunch, the whole building would fall silent whenever the DC3 took off, as every one stopped to watch. It is a very busy airport, but no other aircraft had the same effect as the Dakota.

Charles A. Rau - theraus@unicom.net

Enjoyed your page. Will visit regularly.
My father flew R4Ds with VMJ/VMR-353 of MAG15 in the South Pacific in W.W.II.
He also flew DC-3 with TWA from 1945 until he switched to Constellation in the fifties.

Any vets with information on VMJ/VMR-353 please feel free to e-mail me.

Peter Sharpe - psharpe@datec.net.pg

I first flew in a C47(to the best of my knowledge, no DC3's flew in PNG after the Second World War) February 1966 from Lae to Goroko to join Dennis Buchanan's Territory Airlines to fly light aircraft.

In 1970, after joining Papuan Airlines of Port Moresby (later taken over by Ansett Airlines of PNG) flying PA31, P166B and SC7 aircraft, I filled in as a F/O on C47's flying with a number of great guys, some of whom were household words in a country that was so reliant on air transportation.
Some were real characters and over the years, many a story has been told of their escapades.

Bob Wilhelm - wilhelm@dailynews.net

What a great airplane! And what a great web site! This alone makes the investment in the computer worth while!!! Keep it up!

I served as an airborne communications analyst (AFSC 20250) on EC-47 aircraft in Vietnam and Thailand
during 1972-73.
Was assigned to Det. 2, 6994th Security Sqdn at Da-Nang in August 1972,
then our unit was moved to Ubon, Thailand as Det. 3, 6994th in December 1972.
Our aircraft used direction-finding equipment to locate enemy radio transmissions.
We flew over South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
Our pilots and navigators were members of the 362nd Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron (TEWS).

We lost one aircraft, callsign "Baron 52" on 5 February 1973 over Laos.
Crew was all declared KIA but there exists compelling evidence that some of our crew
may have gotten out before the aircraft crashed.
Other than this one event, I have nothing but good memories about our unit
and, especially, our aircraft.

"All were manufactured before my birth
but they were and still are the best aircraft
to ever fly. Or that will ever fly."

Alan Young - ayoung@gte.net
6707 Oakwood Pl
Arlington, Wa 98223-7406

I have a few ties with the DC-3, the most current one being employed at Boeing
that recently merged with McDonnell Douglas, but the most important one being a
Loadmaster on C-47/AC-47's in Viet-Nam
from February through November 1969.
Now I have a real reason to go digging up some old pictures to submit to the web site.

John J. Trainor - KC7ATO@juno.com

Have many hours in C-47As & Bs. The old Gooney Bird always got you back no matter what.
Anyone knowing fate of C-47A 42-23777 please advise.
Had in-flight shutdowns on two occasions with this bird and still made it back on one engine.

Steve Wood, Major, USAFR - flieger@ix.netcom.com

Had the joy to fly the C-53C (DC-3A) "N32MS" from Mesa, AZ to Eindhoven,
Holland for delivery to the "Wings of Liberation" Museum. Plane was in
full invasion colors and was a dream come true!!!

GEORGE ROBINSON - ltcol@earthlink.net
JOHN BARONE / G B ROBINSON

FLYING AND RESTORING DC 3 / C-49 SN. 4138 AT WHITMAN AIRPORT
PACOMA CA. A/C IS NAMED CHATANUGIA CHO CHO-- INVITE ALL TO SEE

Flying and Restoring
DC-3/C-49 SN 4138

A/C name is: "CHATANUGIA CHO CHO"
Whitman Airport Pacoma, CA
"If your in the Area come and see us"

Brad Ryti - bryti@isd.net

Marine Colonel Joe Byrum(sp)

While serving as a crew member on a C117 #50838 I had the ride of my life.
Col. Joe was attempting to beat a typhoon out of Futenma Okinawa enroute to Subic Bay.
He performed a full power full flap short distance take off. My job was to haul in the flaps at his command . I believe other than Helicopters it was the first time time I.ve taken off west to east off of a North South runway. After the take off the only problem was keeping the pilots dry because we were shipping water through the cockpit escape hatch from the storm.

James C. (J.C.) Wheeler. Msgt. U.S. Air Force. (Retired) - jwheeler@river-valley.net

I have a website covering my 20 year Air Force Career 1955/75 and
centers primarily around my tour in Vietnam in 66/67 flying as a Flight Mechanic on the EC-47's.
I also was a member of a ferry flight crew, taking and EC-47 to Saigon in August 1966.
I have a link to your site and have had since I first put my page on line.
J.C.

My Air Force Career http://www.river-valley.net/jcwheeler

The Gooney Bird Crew http://www.river-valley.net/jcwheeler/gbc

Keith Rowson - k.rowson@virgin.net

Last summer I flew TF-NPK a C-47 on agricultural fertilizer drops.
It has been in Iceland since the war.
There is a sister ship laid up in a hangar at Reykjavik minus wings etc.
Indeed the aircraft minus wings, still has its original airline paint job.
Both aircraft are ex. Flugfelag Islands(Iceland) aircraft,
and have been there since the end of the war.

I am going to Iceland to fly the DC3 again.

William H. Segal - bazzoka@mediaone.net

In 1989 I was in Kenya I saw 3 well kept and fully operational DC-3s.
Later it was my pleasure to get a ride over Kenya in 2 directions for
about 3 hours total air time.
A little cash and they let me sit in the co-pilot seat for 1.5 hours, it was a blast.

I believe the airline is called either Kenya airlines or Nairobi airlines
regular scheduled and charter.

"Michal Setlak" - michalse@tch.waw.pl

Subject: ASz-62IR engine

I read a story about the Lisunov Li-2 (by Maarten Brouwer)
and I've a small, but interesting addendum:

ASz-62IR engines are used by PZL-M18 Dromader agricultural planes
manufactured by the PZL Mielec factory.
Quite a lot of M-18s are used in the States and in Canada,
so the
Wright Cyclone SGR-1820 came back to America...

You can find an info about M-18 at

http://www.pzl-mielec.com.pl/holding/e-c.htm

BTW -- I like your site very much, nice work!

Best Regards,
Michal Setlak, 4C (TCH)
tel. (+48)(22)6460033 ext. 218,
(+48)(22)487172 ext. 218
fax (+48)(22)481206

Don Watson - dwat6911@nstar.net

I went to your DC3 page and couldn't leave.

I flew to Europe in one of those in 1955. (I was never sure if it was a C47 or DC3).
I remember it was olive drab, though.
We flew from McGuire in NJ to Newfoundland, then to the Azores,
then to Prestwick (Scotland), and then down to Frankfurt.(Germany)

(check out his outstanding HESSEN web site..."Bear")

Everett Squire, Sr - From: "Tamzin Squire" - haukehyrst@email.msn.com

My dad, Everett Squire, Sr., flew the C-47 for many years in the USAAC/Air Force.
He was part of the 60th Troop Carrier Group (28th Squadron)
that supplied Tito's partisans, evacuated wounded and picked up downed fliers.

He has at least 3,000 hours in the C-47.
He was in North Africa, the invasion of Sicily and then moved to Brindisi for the resupply operations.
Dad was one of the Sergeant Pilots (42F-Ellington) and retired from the AF after 24 years as a major.
Anyone wishing to swap stories and information with Dad can e-mail him at this address.

Tamzin E. Squire

Eric Weiner - WinMar2@home.com

2nd Lt. Sydney L. Weiner - Stationed on Biak, New Guinea 1944-1945.
Transporting Military personnel and cargo to various stops on New Guinea
along the northern shore down to Milne Bay.

Also making flights north to the Philipine Islands.
Enjoyed flying C-47's.
I also towed targets in B-26 Marauders for gunnery training for B-24's and P-47's.

Paul Webb - pfwebb@webtv.net

Any retired DC-3 Pilots out there from Lake Central and/or Southern...
I am retired now after 40+ years,
I started out in 1953 with Lake Central at INDY in the Customer Service field.

Sobola, Mike - michaels@ids.com

As an aviation buff and private pilot (VFR/SEL) I've always been
fascinated with the DC-3. My father flew in them in WWII, and could
tell stories of their ruggedness and reliability.
(I love the sound of those big radial engines!)

Al Stroth USAF (Retired) - alstroth@uswest.net

Thanks for a wonderful visit from my past experiences with the DC-3 and C-47.
As a Aircraft Airframe Repairman and Technician from 1959 thru 1973,
I had many times worked on the old "Goonies" and loved it.
Although I have not had the opportunity , to see any of them fly for years,
it brought back memory's of my first flight on one also. Thanks for letting me hash over the past.

From: BOBSAERO@aol.com
Date: Wed, 9 Dec 1998 00:29:03 EST

Subject: Looking for information about DC-3-201E C/N 3252

A friend of mine and I aquired the cockpit of this aircraft in 1976.
It is an Ex -Eastern airlines aircraft.It was NC19968 and Easterns ship "366".
In 1943 it bounced off of Lake Ponchartrain, tearing off the left prop and nose case
assembly. It continued flying and landed safely.
We have brought the cockpit of this aircraft to Western Aerospace Museum in Oakland, California.
We are seeking pictures of this aircraft in Eastern,or Trans-Texas markings.
also the rest of the story.
In Gradidges book , the last entry is AIRWAYS ENTERPRISES INC.,SAN JUAN.PR(1974) CANC.
How did it end up in a scrapyard at Oakland Airport?Any idea?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. , Thanks, Bob Swanson

Steve Staso, Capt, USAFR steve@staso.com

Can you point me in the right direction for some help.

I'm assisting a gentleman from Cirencester, Glos, U.K.
He was working at RAF Kemble as a civilian Radion Technician
in September, 1944 when a squadron of USAAF C47's swept in for a short
operation supporting the British ground troops in Belgium.

He made some acquaintances with the USAAF troops
and would like to reminisce the old days.

He is willing to pay for an ad in the "reunion" sections of
appropriate magazines.

- How can I put him in touch with any US troops of the operation?
- Where should I post this kind of question?

Thanks in advance.Steve Staso, Capt, USAFR
steve@staso.com

William Segal - bazzoka@mediaone.net
Howdy my name is Bill and I just happen to live on the final to Cloverfield Airport less than a 1000 yards from Former
Douglas Aircraft Corp.
For 50 years it has been my pleasure to watch all DC-3's come and go as well as 4,6,7.

This is my first visit here but somehow it feels like home.

Santa Monica California was a Company town.
I remember that during the war it took 1hour for the West LA bus to drive the short 1/2mile down Ocean park Blvd. on its way to the Santa Monica YMCA where I played after school.

Douglas had about 27,000 people working.

These were different times than today. Your site reminds me of the inspirational nationalistic feelings we youngsters had
when the skies were filled with airplanes by the 100s and thousands.
The DC-3 was built in Santa Monica California.Yet I don't think there is one here.
I always wanted to fly in one but it took a Safari in Kenya for me to get a ride.
After the wait it was the smoothest ride I ever had in any prop plane
(when I was a kid if you wanted to fly to San Francisco or San Diego you flew on prop jobs from pacific Southwest Airlines).

But I think the DC-3 is best..
While in Africa, I realized they used the DC-3 and I forced them to give me 5 different rides,
including 2 in the co-pilot seat!

L. Col. Boardman C. REED, USAF Ret.
Mrs. Lorraine Reed
P.O. Box 337
Brownsville, CA 95919

I am a few days short of 86, a retired Light Colonel, USAF,Pilot / Aircraft Commander over sixty years
(B-17Fs over Germany / F-51Ds in Korean combat) .. . "stuff like that there".

Noting your museum is DC-3 oriented, my wife and I have been close friends of the Pearcys...
their house guests in England, and our house guests over here.
I have a complete collection of Arthur's books, some of which mention my name.
And yes, I am very familiar with Douglas Aircraft,
having flown in a Liberty-engined "M-2" Mailplane (same one now in Nat']. Air & Space Museum),
many old 0-38 military biplanes, etc.,
and flown (piloted) B-18As, B-23s
(before they ever had those hated "popular" names),
war-time DB-7Bs, A-20G, many A-26Bs and 'Cs,
and of course lots of
C-47As, 'Bs, and 'Ds, and a C-53D.
And, Just to make you drool: ever had a ride in a Douglas 0-43A, 0-46A, RD-3 "Dolphin",
TBD-1, AD-4O, DC-2, C-33,or even a DC-5 (R3D-2) ?

I have!
And at the time, even as a young man,
I was well aware of their historical significance.

Enough of this ego trip!

R(obert) Brown Ritter - britter@home.com

This is a great site devoted to a great airplane. I flew the C47 in WW2
with the 314th Transport Squadron,
31st Transport Group stationed at Grove, Biggin Hill, Cherbourg, Chartres, etc.
I would like to hear from any of the old gang!
My ship was #118696.
All the best to you DC3, C47 fans. It is the best aircraft ever!

Gerry Schwam - Schwam1@aol.com

1539th wing ATC based in Shanghai China 1946/47
at Kaingwan Airbase with one C-47 old 749
all attached to the Army Advisory Group to the National Chinese

Bernard Samstag - bsamstag@flash.net

Thanks for the enjoyable page on the DC3, which was the first plane I
flew in (as a child) in the mid-thirties back in Pittsburgh. The Navy
flew me to Honolulu in grand style in a Connie, but used a C47 to make
the rest of the trip to Tokyo in 1950. As plush as the Constellation
was, I remember enjoying the noisey ride (with the box lunches) in the
C47 much more. Thanks for preserving a fine portion of history.

Bill Riddle MAJ, USA(Ret) - riddleb@fhu.disa.mil

I flew C-47 - 17168 at Lexington-Bluegrass Army Depot.
It is U.S. Army Materiel Command
C-47 - 17168 had radar
We also had a VC-47 (V=VIP Transport) which had come from Andrews AFB, and
which supposedly had been the ambassador to Yugoslavia's aircraft.
I would have to look in the log book to get the tail number.

 JAMES R. WILLIS - JamesWillisHST@aol.com

A little background -- I was a student at Santa Monica Junior College and was hired by Douglas Aircraft Co.
as a Aircraft Loftsman.
Worked in the Lofting department at the Santa Monica Plant from October 1940 until March of 1941.
Worked on lofting many C-47 items: The cargo door, The shrink scale engine cowling, wing and tail assemblies
and all by my self the updated urinal that was installed on the back wall of the rear baggage compartment.

I Flew C-47s, C-49s as a transport pilot during WWII.
Flew Dc-3s for American Airlines and Eastern Airlines.
When recalled to active duty in the Air Force iin 1951 to 1953 I flew a C-117B #2547 assigned to the Allied Air Forces in Northern Europe, stationed at Fornebu Airport in Oslo, Norway.
I have about six thousand hours in DC-3 type aircraft. another 22000 hours in other aircraft.

JRW

Gene Schenck - GSch692897@aol.com

Gene Schenck spent many years in the Navy on the ground and in the air
Working/Learning/ on the R4D.
What a great and dependable aircraft it was.
Gene retired from the Navy in 1974 as AMCS (Senior Chief) .
The Training/Experience served Gene well as he went on to the Boeing Company
as Manufacturing/Flight Test Engineer.

"Uncle Bob" Irvine & The Gang - scimmia@webtv.net

Great site honoring " The Greatest ".
I'm the current owner of PBA's 136 PB,
just completing a 6 year heavy overhaul / restoration with the help of some very dedicated friends.
The old girl was purchased in '93, ferried to Vancouver WA, stripped, wings pulled, etc. etc.
She is now in Eastern pre WW II livery and re-registered with original NC 18121
as when " Captain Eddie" accepted her in Dec. 1937.
Hope to test hop in the next week or two.
Still the high-timer at 91400.2

Charles Tardif - chtardif@videotron.ca
DC3 - (C47 in RCAF Canada)

I was in the Royal Canadian Air Force between 1954 & 1957 as an Electrical
Technician specializing in BR&T (Bomber, Reconnaissance & Transport).
I worked mostly on DC3 (called C-47 in the RCAF) maintaining & Overhauling the
Electrical System of that workhorse of the time.
I loved working and flying on that airplane more than others that I also worked on at the time,
like the Lancaster (British bomber) C-119, and DC4.

I am glad to have found your DC3 site just by chance, IT IS FABULOUS. Thank
you so much for the memories. - Charles Tardif

Gilbert M. Subido

The plane that I worked on was the
'Balls 9'
(Acft. designation #009) EC47 in the USAF at NKP and Udon Thailand.
I belonged to the 56th OMS. She purred like a kitten,

I still remember tho' wiping up the oil from the engine cowlings
which was SOP (Standard Operating Procedures) after each flight,
and those damn rear engine panels inside the forward wheel wells
were a bear to get off and put back on.
Man, those were days never to be forgotten.
She just kept going and going, die hard plane. I was an aircraft maint tech.
there in Thailand, on the Bravo I and II Crew.
I'm glad that I found this site, I thought that I was the only one that romanticized
about this phenomenal piece of machinery.
( Gilbert, We need a new email address please...'Bear' )

Rob Wilsey - Tinotter@aol.com

I have had the distinguished pleasure of skydiving from Mr. Douglas.
May their beautiful flowing lines and raw throated radials forever grace our skies.

Frederick J Witney - fjw2943@iprimus.com.au

As an engineer I worked on DC 3 s mainly engine and airframe.
My first encounter with the Dak was at CROYDON AIRPORT ,when I was a trainee aircraft fitter
Transair had a fleet of DC3s.

Later in life I was employed by Conair , in Alice Springs AUSTRALIA.,
we did maintenance the Dakota and other aircraft in the fleet.

Years later, I heard that the Central Australian Aviation Museum in Alice Spring NT had purchased an aircraft from Warbirds Mildura .
I contacted the museum and was offeredthe job of assembly and painting .
The aircraft had no wings and tail surfaces fitted and was a bare paint striped hulk .
The volunteers at the museum,under the guide of a competent retired Telecom technician
had done a huge amount of work over a long period of time.
This involved fitting fuselage to wing centre section , paint striping and starting to refurbish interior,
a great achievement .

I was employed by CAAM by way of a grant from the NT government and spent 20 weeks approximately
( I did three trips to the Alice from my home town of Jindera /Albury NSW AUST.)
The aim was to get aircraft assembled, up onto its undercarriage
and painted in the airline colours of Conellan Airways, CONNAIR.
this has been achieved with much help from a few volunteers .
The aircraft is fully assembled
(engines ,props most of the control surfaces we covered with polyester,
I worked out the Connair logo and colour scheme and painted the port side and did all the signwriting ) .
We had two big cranes lift the Dak back up onto its undercarriage and lock it into safety ,
this all being done in a Bellman hanger constructed for the museum by NT govt.

The dakota is a static display only and I have tried to use all correct fasteners
and aircraft procedures during my assembly time .
The DC 3 can be viewed at the CAAM in the oldtown site airfield at
ALICE SPRINGS NT AUSTRALIA..
Contact Perry Morey on 011889515686
for information on the aircraft's history.

Tom Saluzzo - Freightdog30@aol.com

I am a DC-3 Copilot/mechanic for a small company that has 3 DC-3's

Peter Robbins - pagris@dove.com.au

The first Aircraft I flew in was a DC3 probably an old Biscuit Bomber ret
and I always remember the good old days when the plane would limp
into Leigh Creek South Australia oil pouring out of one or the other motors
after having flown an RPT flight from Adelaide to the Channel country,
SW Queensland and return. That was in the early 1950s

KENNETH VANTREESE - WDConcept@aol.com

I HAD THE PLEASURE OF FLYING N700
WHILE ASSIGNED TO 18TH AIRBORNE CORP HEADQUARTERS AT FORT BRAGG 1N 1972.
THE DUTY WAS DROPPING THE ARMY JUMP TEAM.
DICK DELCONTE AND MIKE NOVACELL WERE CHECKING ME OUT
WHEN I WAS REASSIGNED OVERSEAS.
ANYONE KNOWING ABOUT THESE GUYS PLEASE CONTACT ME AT:
WDCONCEPT@AOL.COM

Ben Wagg - sent in by "Leigh Kenward" - leigh.kenward@virgin.net

I would like to add my good friend Ben Wagg....an absolute DC-3 enthusiast

Mike Radowski - mradowski@austin.rr.com
Captain, USAF Retired

I flew AC-47s in Vietnam from April 1967 to April 1968
first from Danang then from Phu Cat.
I was assigned to the 4th Air Commando Squadron,
Logged over 300 sorties
and have a total of just over 2,000 flying hours in the C/AC-47.

Bryson Uloth - v_dubber@yahoo.com

Long time DC-3 admirer,
Now maintaining two R4D/8 (C-117)
Cargo aircraft for Gateway Airlines of Brantford, Ontario.

Stanley (Stan) P. Richardson, Jr. - P38andP51@aol.com

Your web site is a wonderful tribute to a wonderful aircraft, the DC-3.
Although a military pilot by training, I spent many happy hours flying DC-3's as a civilian.
Come to the Pearson Air Museum, Vancouver, Washington
to see a beatuifully restored DC-3 in Eastern Airlines colors.
It is the first DC-3 purchased by and delivered to EAL.
It was accepted by then EAL President, Eddie Rickenbacher,
from the Douglas Airplane Factory in California.

Jean-Pierre Sonck - jean-pierre.sonck@esc.eu.int

Here enclosed a photography of KAT40 taked in Kipushi city airport
(katangase border of this province) in october 1962. .
Jean-Pierre Sonck - Has written an article concerning the katangase aviation
Published in the french monthly magasine "Avions"

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Dom Sasco - d.sasco@sympatico.ca

I had my first flight in a Dakota in 1960 from RCAF Stn Dorval (Montreal) to Sydney, NS.
From 1971 to 1977 I flew as a Remote Sensing Equipment Operater on Dakotas 12931 and 12942
of the Canadian Forces Airborne Sensing Unit.
We flew our aircraft in support of the Canadian Centre for Remote Sensing,
a division of the the Department of Energy, Mines and Resorces.
CCRS supplied the sensors and recording medium (film, magnetic tape, etc)
and the military supplied the aircraft and crews.
Our projects took us from an ice island in the Beaufort Sea to the Bahamas
and from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts of Canada.
It's funny how a particular aircraft, its memories and sounds, stay with someone.
I haven't flown in one for 25 years but the other day on the golf course
I heard that unmistakable sound and right away I knew it was a Dak.
It sure was a pretty sight as she passed directly overhead about 1000' off the deck.
Ah! the memories.
My time on the Dak was among the best in my 31+ year career
as a Photographer in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

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Gene White - K7YQM4@charter.net

I noticed on the header caption: anyone who has admired.....
While growing up on a farm in the state of Missouri in Morgan county,
I lived 40 miles East of Knobnoster airbase that was in Warrensburg, Mo.
I was 10 or 11 years old at the time.
I used to regularly see from 25 to 50 C-47's or DC-3 training glider pilots.
I would hear the roar of the engines and see the lights of these planes pulling 3 gliders apiece
and run out in the backyard to watch them go over the farm and wave to the pilots.
I just happened on this website. What a thrill to see it.
I hold no claim to serving in WWII, but I am a member of Air Force Mars.
K7YQM , Grants Pass, OR

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Doug Tossell - Doug48@peoplepc.com

I flew as radio operator on the EC47 birds out of Pleiku and later DaNang from 1969 to 1970.
We flew over Laos, Viet Nam and into Thailand.
I logged 113 missions and just over 700 hours.
I still think the C47 is the best airplane ever built!!.....

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Tom Rochford, LtCol. USMC (ret) - TFRochford@aol.com

Tom Rochford, LtCol. USMC (ret) primarily a fighter/attack pilot
became a PC for the R4Ds at MCAAS Beaufort, SC in 1960
and in 1968 flew some night flare drops in support of the ground units in R4D-8s
when a member of III MAF staff.
There's lots of nostalgia attached to the trusty ole "Hummer".
Semper Fi.

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1LT Francis N. Siedor -
submitted by: "Chris Siedor" - csiedor@goretti.org

1LT Francis N. Siedor flew a C-47 with Col Robert Travis (TravisAFB)
on a War Bond tour in the fall of 1942 on the west coast.

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Technical Sgt. Homer Willett - HWillett@aol.com

I originally was a crew chief on the forerunner to the C-47, the C-39.
I became a crew chief on a C-47 in summer of 1942 .
I participated in the North African , Sicily and Italy invasions.
I remained a crew chief until my discharge in 1945.

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Richard Stith - rstith@swbell.net

Richard T. Stith, Jr., Major USMCR, ret. Was a member of SCAT,
flying from New Caledoia to the Solomon Islands
in 1942 as a 1st pilot. in R4D's

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Charles L Scholl - Greenpony65@aol.com

CREW CHEIF AND FLIGHT ENGNEER C-47

I was stationed at Loan AFB France in 1955 to 1957
on 7 Aug 1956 I went on flying status on C-47 as flight engineer,
on 4 Dec 1956 l was awarded my aircrew member wings (150 hour)
I was on EC-47 with 360th TEWS at
TAN SON NHUT AFB VIETNAM Oct 1968 to Oct 1969

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SGT. Carl Readicker Jr. U.S.M.C.
: Tribute to my father -
From: BReadicker@aol.com
SGT. Carl Readicker Jr. U.S.M.C. served in the south pacific
as a radio operator aboard R4D from 1943 to 1946.

Pilots names were:
Pearson,
White,
Bour,
Yogtner, and
Murphy.
They flew to places called Bougainville, Zamboanga and Biak.
In airplanes with tail numbers like
7149, 7199, 2409,2438, 9085, and 9080.
He left this world loving his family, his country and his airplane.

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George Watts. - From: KathyTitus57@msn.com

DC3 Mechanic/Pilot

I would like to add the name of my stepfather to your site.
His name is George Watts.
He was in the Air Corp as a mechanic from 1934-1940.
He worked on The DC-3 for Douglas Aircraft Co.then flew DC3's for TWA.

George Watts is 85 and losing his sight due to macular degeneration, but he is still very physically fit
and active and his mind is as sharp as ever.
He doesn't have access to the internet and he now lives in Missouri.
I'm sure some of the people listed on your web site have probably met him.

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Wilbur (Bill) H. Weedin Col. USAF Ret.

Wilbur (Bill) H. Weedin Col. USAF Ret. Graduated from flying school as a
Staff Sgt. Pilot Class 42E Kelly Field, TX. Flew a Gooney Bird across the
Pacific to New Guinea October 1942 returned to the USA in July 1944. Flew 277
combat missions 660 combat hour while in New Guinea.

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Paul (Hookey)Wynn - Major, USMCR (ret)

I first flew a DC-3 In 1942 in Ft Worth Texas when I went thru American Airlines training school.
There were a number of Marine and Navy pilots going thru this school at that time.
After finishing that course, I was sent to United Air Lines as
a co-pilot flying from Chicago to New York LaGuardia airport
with a United Airline Capitan named Cliff Brigham.

I was then sent to Miramar in San Diego, then flew to Hawaii, then on to New Calidonia
where I joined MAG-25 SCAT IN 1943. I returned home in 1945 and flew several diffirent aircraft,
including the DC-3 (our designation was R4D). My last flight in the R4D was August 1945. I really loved the R4D
as it was one of the finest airplane ever built. I was a commercial pilot for 20 years after I left the Marine Corps
but I never flew and airplane I liked as well as the R4D.

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