Douglas C-47 Skytrain: American Military Transport Aircraft (Photos)

Airfield Construction in the CBI: Though roaring motors assail their ears, Chinese airstrip builders are too busy to glance up at an arriving Douglas C-47 Skytrain (though several manage to take a glimpse at the photographer).

 

C-47 (43-16229), "The Nez Perce", converted in the field to glider ("CG-47" or "XCG-17") configuration. 1946.

 

Douglas XCG-17 assault glider, converted from C-47-DL (41-18496), under tow during flight testing.

 

C-47 Skytrain crash landed after dropping supplies to Bastogne, Belgium, December 1944.

 

U.S. Army Pathfinders and USAAF flight crew prior to D-Day, June 1944, in front of a C-47 Skytrain at RAF North Witham.

 

U.S. airborne troops loading into a C-47.

 

Troops of 101st Airborne Division watching C-47 Skytrain aircraft delivering supplies to their unit, Bastogne, Belgium, 26 December 1944.

 

Douglas XCG-17 glider (converted C-47 41-18496) on ground with detail of tow-hook installation. 1944.

 

 C-47 cockpit in flight.,

 

C-47, Flying Tigers, China.

 

Douglas C-47B Skytrain 8Y-S 'Stoy Hora' assigned to the 98th Troop Carrier Squadron, 440th Troop Carrier Group. Carried paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division during the Normandy invasion.

 

C-47 cockpit, 14 Feb 1944.

 

C-47 43-15992 with the Air Transport Command insignia on the fuselage side ahead of the national insignia.

 

XC-47C: C-47 tested with Edo Model 78 floats for possible use as a seaplane.

 

C-47 instrument panel page from the C-47 flight manual.

 

C-47 at LaGuardia. P-47 in the background.

 

 C-47 major components (exploded view) from the C-47 flight manual.

 

Two USAAF C-47A Skytrains (based on the Douglas DC-3) from the 81st Troop Carrier Squadron, loaded with paratroopers on their way for the invasion of southern France (Operation Dragoon), 15 Aug 1944. The aircraft in the back is a Douglas C-47A-65-DL (s/n 42-100550), the other is a C-47A-90-DL (s/n 43-15661). (USAF photo)

 

Interior view of a Douglas C-47 Skytrain. 

 

Douglas C-47/R4D Skytrain.

 

C-47, USAAF, 1944. (USAAF photo)

 

 

C-47 Dakota, RAF.

 

British Paratroops of 1st (British) Airborne Division give the 'V'-sign and "thumbs up" inside one of the C-47 transport aircraft. 17 Sep 1944. (Imperial War Museum photo K 7570)

 

 American C-47 aircraft flying over Gheel in Belgium on their way to Holland for Operation 'Market-Garden' , 17 September 1944. (Imperial War Museum photo BU 918)

 

 

An USAAF C-47 aircraft, hit by flak returning from the Market-Garden drop, burns after crash-landing into a knocked-out German Jagdpanther in a field near Gheel in Belgium. (Imperial War Museum photo BU 921)

 

 British paratroops drop from Douglas Dakota aircraft over Oosterbeek, just outside Arnhem, during Operation 'Market Garden', 17 September 1944. (Imperial War Museum photo BU 1162)

 

A C-47 releases parachutes with ammunition and rations for American troops in the field about 1500 yards from the Japanese line on the Myitkyina front. 1944. (Imperial War Museum photo CBI 35851)

 

Crossing the Rhine 24 -31 March 1945: C-47 transport planes release hundreds of paratroops and their supplies over the Rees-Wesel area to the east of the Rhine. This was the greatest airborne operation of the war. Some 40,000 paratroops were dropped by 1,500 troop-carrying planes and gliders. (Imperial War Museum photo EA 59364A)

 

C-47 s/n 42-15565 NM-(?) with national insignia variation with yellow outline. Insignia Specification Number 24102-K (Amend #3). Date issued into service: 8th Air Force Operation Memo number 9, October 1, 1942. As seen in the North African Theater Operation Torch. The yellow band would often vary in thickness. The design is inspired by the outermost ring among RAF Type A.2 and C.1 roundels. Note the damage to the left wingtip.

 

A USAAF Douglas C-47 transport plane in flight, ca. late 1942/early 1943. Note that the wartime censor has removed the serial number. (USAAF photo) 

 

 

 

 

 

C-47 "Evelyn Lee". Garbutt Field: LIFE photo taken by George Silk in October 1943. 

 

C-47 "Blonde Baby". Garbutt Field: LIFE photo taken by George Silk in October 1943. 

 

C-47 "Texas Honey". Garbutt Field: LIFE photo taken by George Silk in October 1943. 

 

C-47 "Puddle-Jumper". Garbutt Field: LIFE photo taken by George Silk in October 1943. 

 

C-47 "Lookin Fer Trouble". Garbutt Field: LIFE photo taken by George Silk in October 1943. 

 

C-47 "Bubbles". Garbutt Field: LIFE photo taken by George Silk in October 1943. 

 

C-47 "Beach-Comber". Garbutt Field: LIFE photo taken by George Silk in October 1943. 

 

C-47 "Passion Wagon". Garbutt Field: LIFE photo taken by George Silk in October 1943.