"In the future, war will be waged essentially against the unarmed populations of the cities and great industrial centers."
- Italian General Giulio Douhet
The Douglas DC-3 was one of the most noteworthy aircraft ever built. It probably did more than any other plane to introduce a whole new segment of the population to air travel and establish air transportation as a normal way of traveling. More than five times as many passenger miles were flown in 1941 than in 1935 in the United States, and much of that can be attributed to the popularity of the DC-3. Douglas also produced a number of military versions that played a vital role around the world, especially in World War II.
The DC-3 was the first airliner to make a profit by carrying just passengers without the support of mail contracts or other forms of government subsidies. Its production, along with continued production of the DC-2 that lasted until September 1939 for the military version, ensured the prosperity and financial soundness of Douglas Aircraft for many years.
When the war began, many commercial Douglas Sleeper Transports (DST) and DC-3s were pressed into military service as the C-47. These planes were attractive because of their large load-carrying capacity. Their normal range was 1,500 miles (2,414 kilometers) but adding fuel tanks extended the range. The Army Air Forces became the largest purchaser of DC-3 military derivatives, acquiring some 10,000 aircraft. The large number of planes produced made it necessary for Douglas to add a third manufacturing facility in Oklahoma City to its new plant in Long Beach and existing Santa Monica plant.
Both the Army Air Forces and the U.S. Navy used large numbers of C-47s and other military DC-3 derivatives in a variety of support roles. Some variants also participated in major airborne operations including those in Sicily, New Guinea, Normandy, southern France, and Nijmegen in the Netherlands. Those used by Britain and other Commonwealth Air Forces were known as "Dakotas." The C-47 Skytrain was nicknamed "Gooney Bird" because of its awkward appearance. These planes traveled reliably over water and in areas with few or no navigation aids or accurate maps and survived in every environment from the heat of Africa to the cold of Alaska, flying in all types of weather. The Skytrains, Skytroopers, and Dakotas served the Allies in every theater of World War II. Allied Supreme Commander General Dwight Eisenhower credited them with being the single most important airplane contributing to the Allied victory. This particular DC-3 airliner was used by Eastern Airlines in January 1937. Sold Out!
Dimensions:
Wingspan: 23-3/4 inches
Length: 16-3/4 inches |
