Douglas C-47 Skytrain

"C-47" redirects here. For other uses, see C47 (disambiguation).

C-47 Skytrain C-53 Skytrooper
Role	Military transport aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Douglas Aircraft Company
Designer	Douglas Aircraft
First flight	23 December 1941
Primary users	United States Army Air Forces Royal Air Force United States Navy See operators
Number built	>10,000
Developed from	Douglas DC-3
Variants	Douglas XCG-17 Douglas AC-47 Spooky

The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.

Design and development

The C-47 differed from the civilian DC-3 in numerous modifications that included being fitted with a cargo door and a strengthened floor.

During World War II, the armed forces of many countries used the C-47 and modified DC-3s for the transport of troops, cargo, and wounded. The U.S. Naval designation was R4D. More than 10,000 aircraft were produced in Long Beach and Santa Monica, California and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Oklahoma City plant produced 5,354 C-47s from March 1943 until August 1945.

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

U.S. Navy C-117Ds at RAF Mildenhall in 1967

Lawson Field, Ft. Benning, Georgia

Super DC-3 (R4D-8)

In response to proposed changes to the airworthiness requirements that would limit the continuing use of the large numbers of DC-3s and surplus C-47s in commercial use in the United States, Douglas offered a late 1940s conversion of the DC-3, modified to improve takeoff and single-engined performance, to meet the new Civil Air Regulations, and with increased speed to compete with newer airliners. The new model, the DC-3S or "Super DC-3", was 39 in (0.99 m) longer, allowing thirty passengers to be carried. It also had larger tail surfaces and new outer wings with a greater sweep back at the trailing edge to accommodate a rearward shift in the center of gravity. More powerful engines, either 1,475 hp (1,100 kW) Wright R-1820 Cyclones or 2,000 hp (1,490 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-2000s incorporated into larger engine nacelles, were installed along with shorter, jet ejection-type exhaust stacks. Minor changes included wheel well doors and a partially retractable tail wheel along with flush rivets and low drag antennas, that all contributed to a top speed of 250 mph. With greater than 75% of the original DC-3/C-47 configuration changed, the modified design was virtually a new aircraft. The first DC-3S made its maiden flight on 23 June 1949.

Although the changes fully met the new FAR 4B airworthiness requirements, and significantly improved performance, there was little interest from commercial operators in the DC-3S, which was too-expensive for the smaller operators who were its main target, with only three being sold to Capital Airlines. The U.S. Navy, however, had 100 of its R4D aircraft modified to Super DC-3 standard as the R4D-8, these later being redesignated C-117D.

Operational history

The C-47 was vital to the success of many Allied campaigns, in particular those at Guadalcanal and in the jungles of New Guinea and Burma where the C-47 (and its naval version, the R4D) made it possible for Allied troops to counter the mobility of the light-traveling Japanese army. Additionally, C-47s were used to airlift supplies to the embattled American forces during the Battle of Bastogne. Possibly its most influential role in military aviation, however, was flying "The Hump" from India into China. The expertise gained flying "The Hump" would later be used in the Berlin Airlift, in which the C-47 would play a major role, until being replaced by the C-54.

In Europe, the C-47 and a specialized paratroop variant, the C-53 Skytrooper, were used in vast numbers in the later stages of the war, particularly to tow gliders and drop paratroops. In the Pacific, with careful use of the island landing strips of the Pacific Ocean, C-47s were even used for ferrying soldiers serving in the Pacific theater back to the United States.

C-47s in British and Commonwealth service took the name Dakota, from the acronym "DACoTA" for Douglas Aircraft Company Transport Aircraft. The C-47 also earned the informal nickname Gooney Bird in the European theater of operations.

The United States Air Force's Strategic Air Command had Skytrains in service from 1946 through 1967.

C-47s unloading at Tempelhof Airport during Berlin Airlift

The Pakistan Air Force used C-47s to transport supplies to the Pakistan Army soldiers fighting in the Indo-Pakistan War of 1947 against India.

Several C-47 variations were used in the Vietnam War by the United States Air Force, including three advanced electronic warfare variations, which sometimes were called "Electric Gooneys" designated EC-47N, EC-47P, or EC-47Qs depending on the engine used. EC-47s were also operated by the Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian Air Forces. A gunship variation, using three 7.62mm miniguns, designated AC-47 "Spooky" often nicknamed "Puff the Magic Dragon" also was deployed.

The Royal Canadian Air Force and later, the Canadian Armed Forces employed the C-47 for transportation, navigation, and radar training, as well as for search and rescue operations from the 1940s to the 1980s.

After World War II thousands of surplus C-47s were converted to civil airline use, some remaining in operation in 2012 as well as being used as private aircraft.

Variants

Main article: List of Douglas DC-3 family variants

Paratroop C-47, 12th Air Force Troop Carrier Wing, invasion of southern France, 15 August 1944

Interior view of Douglas C-47, Hendon Aerodrome, England

Aircraft of the 6th Special Operations Squadron including a C-47T in use by the U.S. Air Force

C-47B Skytrain -serial 43-49942

An ex-USAAC C-47A Skytrain which was displayed at Cotswold Airport, Gloucestershire, England was recently purchased by Kermit Weeks and returned to the U.S. in August 2011. This aircraft flew from a base in Devon, England, during the D-Day Normandy invasion and shows "invasion stripes" on her wings and fuselage.

N1944A parked on ramp near a C-47 in Icelandair colours in Reykjavik, Iceland in 2011. The C-47 in army colours is en route to the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin from its previous home at Cotswold.

C-47

Initial military version of the DC-3 with seats for 27 troops, 965 built including 12 to the United States Navy as R4D-1

C-47A

C-47 with a 24-volt electrical system, 5,254 built including USN aircraft designated R4D-5

RC-47A

C-47A equipped for photographic reconnaissance and ELINT missions

SC-47A

C-47A equipped for Search Air Rescue; redesignated HC-47A in 1962

VC-47A

C-47A equipped for VIP transport role

C-47B

Powered by R-1830-90 engines with superchargers and extra fuel capacity to cover the China-Burma-India routes, 3,364 built

VC-47B

C-47B equipped for VIP transport role

XC-47C

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

C-47D

C-47B with superchargers removed after the war

AC-47D

Gunship aircraft with three side-firing .30 in (7.62 mm) Minigun machine guns

EC-47D

C-47D with equipment for the Airborne Early Warning role; prior to 1962 was designated AC-47D

NC-47D

C-47D modified for test roles

RC-47D

C-47D equipped for photographic reconnaissance and ELINT missions

SC-47D

C-47D equipped for Search Air Rescue; redesignated HC-47D in 1962

VC-47D

C-47D equipped for VIP transport role

C-47E

Modified cargo variant with space for 27–28 passengers or 18–24 litters

C-47F

YC-129 re-designated, Super DC-3 prototype for evaluation by USAF later passed to USN as XR4D-8

C-47L/M

C-47H/Js equipped for the support of American Legation United States Naval Attache (ALUSNA) and Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) missions

EC-47N/P/Q

C-47A and D aircraft modified for ELINT/ARDF mission, N and P differ in radio bands covered, while Q replaces analog equipment found on the N and P with a digital suite, redesigned antenna equipment and uprated engines

C-47R

One C-47M modified for high altitude work, specifically for missions in Ecuador

C-47T

Designation applied to aircraft modified to a Basler BT-67 standard

C-47TP Turbo Dakota

Refit with modern turboprop engines and fuselage stretch for the South African Air Force

C-53 Skytrooper

Troop transport version of the C-47

XC-53A Skytrooper

One aircraft with full-span slotted flaps and hot-air leading edge deicing

C-53B Skytrooper

Winterised version of C-53 with extra fuel capacity and separate navigator's station, eight built

C-53C Skytrooper

C-53 with larger port-side door, 17 built

C-53D Skytrooper

C-53C with 24V DC electrical system, 159 built

C-117A Skytrooper

C-47B with 24-seat airline-type interior for staff transport use, 16 built

VC-117A

Three redesignated C-117s used in the VIP role

SC-117A

One C-117C converted for air-sea rescue

C-117B/VC-117B

High-altitude superchargers removed, one built and conversions from C-117As all later VC-117B

C-117D

USN/USMC R4D-8 redesignated

LC-117D

USN/USMC R4D-8L redesignated

TC-117D

USN/USMC R4D-8T redesignated

VC-117D

USN R4D-8Z redesignated

YC-129

Super DC-3 prototype for evaluation by USAF redesignated C-47F and later passed to USN as XR4D-8

CC-129

Canadian Forces designation for the C-47 (post-1970)

XCG-17

One C-47 tested as a 40-seat troop glider with engines removed and faired over

R4D-1 Skytrain

USN/USMC version of the C-47

R4D-3

Twenty C-53Cs transferred to USN

R4D-5

C-47A variant 24-volt electrical system replacing the 12-volt of the C-47; redesignated C-47H in 1962, 238 transferred from USAF

R4D-5L

R4D-5 for use in Antarctica. Redesignated LC-47H in 1962

R4D-5Q

R4D-5 for use as special ECM trainer. Redesignated EC-47H in 1962

R4D-5R

R4D-5 for use as a personnel transport for 21 passengers and as a trainer aircraft; redesignated TC-47H in 1962

R4D-5S

R4D-5 for use as a special ASW trainer; redesignated SC-47H in 1962

R4D-5Z

R4D-5 for use as a VIP transport; redesignated VC-47H in 1962

R4D-6

157 C-47Bs transferred to USN; redesignated C-47J in 1962

R4D-6L, Q, R, S, and Z

Variants as the R4D-5 series; redesignated LC-47J, EC-47J, TC-47J, SC-47J, and VC-47J respectively in 1962

R4D-7

44 TC-47Bs transferred from USAF for use as a navigational trainer; redesignated TC-47K in 1962

United States Navy R4D-8

R4D-8

R4D-5 and R4D-6 aircraft fitted with modified wings and re-designed tail surfaces; redesignated C-117D in 1962

R4D-8L

R4D-8 converted for Antarctic use, redesignated LC-117D in 1962

R4D-8T

R4D-8 converted as crew trainers, redesignated TC-117D in 1962

R4D-8Z

R4D-8 converted as a staff transport, redesignated VC-117D in 1962

RAF designations

Royal Air Force's Dakota IV in RAF Transport Command colours, owned by the UK Air Atlantique Classic Flight

Dakota I

RAF designation for the C-47 and R4D-1

Dakota II

RAF designation for nine C-53 Skytroopers received under the lend lease scheme. Unlike the majority of RAF Dakotas these aircraft were therefore dedicated troop transports, lacking the wide cargo doors and reinforced floor of the C-47.

Dakota III

RAF designation for the C-47A.

Dakota IV

RAF designation for the C-47B.

Airspeed AS.61

Conversion of Dakota I aircraft

Airspeed AS.62

Conversion of Dakota II aircraft

Airspeed AS.63

Conversion of Dakota III aircraft

Operators

See also: List of C-47 Skytrain operators

Portuguese Air Force C-47A

Swedish Air Force Tp 79 (C-47A)

A Royal Air Force Memorial Flight Dakota with open parachute door at Duxford, England, in 2008

C-47 in USAAC markings with invasion stripes, Rotterdam 1985

Argentina Australia Belgium Benin Biafra Bolivia Brazil Burma Cambodia Canada Chad Chile Republic of China People's Republic of China Colombia Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo Cuba Czechoslovakia Denmark Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Ethiopia Finland France Gabon Nazi Germany East Germany Germany Greece Guatemala Haiti Honduras Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Israel Italy Côte d'Ivoire Jordan Japan Kingdom of Laos Libya Madagascar Malawi Mali

Mauritania Mexico Monaco Morocco Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea Norway Oman Pakistan Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Rhodesia Romania Rwanda Saudi Arabia Senegal South Africa South Korea Somalia Soviet Union Sri Lanka Spain Sweden Syria Thailand Togo Turkey Uganda Uruguay United Kingdom United States Venezuela Vietnam South Vietnam Yemen Yugoslavia Zaire Zambia

Accidents and incidents

Memorial in remembrance of a 1954 C-47 crash, Alaska Veterans Memorial

Further information: List of accidents and incidents involving the DC-3

Specifications (C-47B-DK)

Data from McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920

General characteristics

• Crew: 3
• Capacity: 28 troops
• Payload: 6,000 lb (2,700 kg)
• Length: 63 ft 9 in (19.43 m)
• Wingspan: 95 ft 6 in (29.41 m)
• Height: 17 ft 0 in (5.18 m)
• Wing area: 987 ft² (91.70 m²)
• Empty weight: 18,135 lb (8,226 kg)
• Loaded weight: 26,000 lb (11,793 kg)
• Max. takeoff weight: 31,000 lb (14,061 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-90C Twin Wasp 14-cylinder radial engines, 1,200 hp (895 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 224 mph (195 kn, 360 km/h) at 10,000 ft (3,050 m)
• Cruise speed: 160 mph (139 kn, 257 km/h)
• Range: 1,600 mi (1,391 nmi, 2,575 km)
• Ferry range: 3,600 mi (3,130 nmi, 5,795 km)
• Service ceiling: 26,400 ft (8,045 m)
  
• Climb to 10,000 ft (3,050 m): 9.5 min

See also

Brigadier General Anthony C. McAuliffe, artillery commander of the 101st Airborne Division, talks to paratroopers on D-Day minus 1, behind them are a Waco CG-4 glider and C-47s.

Related development

• Douglas AC-47 Spooky
• Douglas DC-3
• Douglas XCG-17
• Lisunov Li-2
• Showa/Nakajima L2D
• Basler BT-67
  

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Curtiss C-46 Commando
  

Related lists

• List of aircraft of World War II
• List of military aircraft of the United States
• List of military aircraft of the United States (naval)
  

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Donald, David. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. New York: Barnes & Noble, 1997. ISBN 0-7607-0592-5.
• Flintham, Victor. Air Wars and Aircraft: A Detailed Record of Air Combat, 1945 to the Present. New York: Facts on File, 1990. ISBN 0-8160-2356-5.
• Francillon, René J. McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Since 1920. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-370-00050-1.
• Gradidge, Jennifer M. The Douglas DC-1, DC-2, DC-3 - The First Seventy Years (two volumes). Tonbridge, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 2006. ISBN 0-85130-332-3.
• Pearcy, Arthur Jr. "Douglas R4D variants (US Navy's DC-3/C-47)". Aircraft in Profile, Volume 14. Windsor, Berkshire, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1974, pp. 49–73. ISBN 0-353-83023-1.
• Yenne, Bill. McDonnell Douglas: A Tale of Two Giants. Greenwich, Connecticut: Bison Books, 1985. ISBN 0-517-44287-6.

External links

• Manual: (1943) T.O. No. 01-40NC-1 Pilot's Flight Operating Instructions C-47 Airplane
• The Assault Glider Trust
• Warbird Alley: C-47 page
• American Aeronautical Foundation, C-47B "Aluminum Mistress"
• The SNAFU Special C-47A aircraft recovered and restored