C-47

[cardboard_killer]

[80 years ago today] "• The Douglas C-47 has its first flight. One of the most important aircraft of the war, more than 10,000 examples of the modified DC-3 airliners will be built. It has a strengthened floor to protect against small arms fire, a cargo door able to pass a Jeep or small artillery piece, and a specialized hoist. It also has a tail shackle for glider attachment and an astrodome in the cabin roof for celestial navigation. More than 2,000 will be lend-leased and the Navy version is designated R4D. A specialized variant for dropping paratroops but lacking the cargo door and cargo hoist (Douglas C-53) has already been ordered and will enter service first, but only 380 will be built as it will be found to be less versatile than the C-47. Numerous civilian DC-3s have already been requisitioned as the C-48/C-49 series. These will be used strictly as transports in non-combat situations.

 

- The Japanese are producing license built versions of the civilian DC-3 as the Nakajima L2D and the Soviets as the Lisunov Li-2.

 

Early Douglas C-47

British paras in 1944 and 60+ years later"