From the Collection
The Douglas C-47 was used as a cargo transport to fly the notorious “Hump” over the Himalayas, as well as an assault aircraft carrying paratroops and towing gliders into combat.
Primary Image:U.S. Army Signal Corps photograph, from the collection of The National World War II Museum
The Douglas C-47 was used as a cargo transport to fly the notorious “Hump” over the Himalayas, as well as an assault aircraft carrying paratroops and towing gliders into combat. Known also as “Skytrain,” “Dakota” (British designation), R4D (U.S. Navy) and “Gooney Bird,” the Douglas C-47 (USAAF) went through many modifications during its long service life, largely with respect to engine power ratings, but also with structural modifications for specific tasks like reconnaissance and navigation training. It was even tested as a floatplane and as an engineless glider, a task it performed well, but too late in the war to matter. By war’s end, 10,692 of the DC-3/C-47 aircraft had been built. From its pioneering of military airlifts over the Hump, to its perfecting of the technique during the Berlin Airlift, the C-47 has been prized for its versatility and dependability, factors that explain its remarkable longevity as an active carrier worldwide.
dividing bar
The National WWII Museum’s C-47, serial number 42-93096, was built at the Douglas Aircraft Manufacturing plant in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. “096” was delivered to the US Army on April 8, 1944, at which time it was assigned to the 806th Army Air Force Base Unit at Baer Field, Indiana. The following month “096” was assigned to the 8th Air Force and transferred to the European theater of operations. Immediately after arriving in England on May 28, 1944, the aircraft was transferred to the 9th Air Force. One week after arriving in England, “096” carried pathfinders from the 82nd Airborne Division into the Normandy Invasion. The plane then dropped pathfinders from the 101st Airborne Division into Holland during Operation Market Garden. “096” also flew with the rest of its group to drop supplies to the 101st in Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. During this mission “096” sustained minor damage from German ground fire, but the plane was repaired and placed back in service in a matter of days. The plane’s final combat mission occurred on March 24, 1945, when it dropped paratroopers from the 17th Airborne Division across the Rhine River during Operation Varsity.
-
Gift of Vincent Yannetti, from the collection of The National World War II Museum
-
Gift of Robert Millett, from the collection of The National World War II Museum
-
U.S. Navy Official photograph, Gift of Charles Ives, from the collection of The National World War II Museum
-
The National WWII Museum’s C-47, serial number 42-93096, hangs proudly abovethe Louisiana Memorial Pavilion.Anonymous donor, 2006.181
After the war, “096” participated in the Berlin Airlift before being transferred to the Finnish Air Force. After decades of service as both a military and civilian transport plane, and a reprisal of its participation in Market Garden for the movie A Bridge Too Far, “096” became a part of The National World War II Museum’s collection in 2006. It is on permanent exhibit in the Louisiana Memorial Pavilion.
Purchase made possible by an anonymous donor, The National WWII Museum Inc., 2006.181
Topics
European Theater of Operations
D-Day and the Normandy Campaign
Travel
The National WWII Museum’s most popular tour provides an in-depth itinerary exploring America’s most famous WWII battle.
Registration Closed
Call for more info
Explore Further
-
Article Type
Article
James Allen Ward: The Pilot Who Risked It All to Save His Crew
A young New Zealander airman receives a Victoria Cross for his daring feats.
-
Article Type
Profile
Frank Kameny: WWII Veteran, Patriot, and LGBTQ+ Activist
Frank Kameny saw combat in Europe during the war, only to return home to face discrimination from the very country he served.
-
Article Type
Article
Jewish Resistance in Amsterdam
Though they resisted in many ways, Amsterdam’s Jewish population suffered immensely in World War II.
-
Article Type
From the Collection
Garland Kerlec’s Fuse Pin Diary
Technical Sergeant Garland Kerlec used the bomb fuse tags to make a sort of diary of his combat flights, recording the date, target, as well as some commentary on the nature of the mission.
-
Event Recap
Beyond the Beaches: D+1 and the Battle for Normandy
At this free daylong public symposium, guests heard from leading historians on the challenges, battles, and victories that followed the June 6 Allied landings and made the liberation of Europe from Nazi oppression possible.
-
Article Type
Article
D-Day: The Allies Invade Europe
In May 1944, the Western Allies were finally prepared to deliver their greatest blow of the war, the long-delayed, cross-channel invasion of northern France, code-named Overlord.
-
Article Type
Article
'A Pure Miracle': The D-Day Invasion of Normandy
This column is the first of three D-Day columns written by war correspondent Ernie Pyle describing the Allied invasion of Normandy.
-
Article Type
Article
The Airborne Invasion of Normandy
On June 5, 13,400 American paratroopers boarded C-47 aircraft for the largest airborne operation in history. Problems began as they crossed into France.