Battle Stations
Douglas
C-47 Skytrain
Maximum
speed 230mph
Service ceiling 23,000ft/7,000m
Armament usually none. AC-47 generally had 3 x 7.62
mini-guns; other variants had specialised armament
In 1935, the American aircraft designer Arthur E Raymond planned the Douglas Sleeper Transport (DST) as an enlarged and improved DC-2. He had no inkling that, in addition to becoming the standard airliner of its day worldwide, it would also be the most widely used military transport in history.
The basic features of the C-47 Skytrain – adapted from the Dakota airliner and known as the 'Gooney Bird' – included a modern all-metal stressed-skin construction, efficiently cowled engine, wide-span split flaps, retractable landing gear and constant-speed three-blade propellers.
During World War II, there were numerous versions: some civil aircraft pressed into military use, some paratrooper carriers and tugs and – the vast majority – utility C-47 versions, each with a strong cargo floor and large double doors.
Most C-47s had cleats for towing gliders. Impressed aircraft were powered by R-1820 Cyclone engines, but the standard engine of the wartime version was the R-1830. Unusual variants included a glider version and a twin-float amphibian.
Total US military production reached 10,048 by June 1945, followed by small batches of redesigned Super DC-3 versions including the R4D-8 and USAF C-117.
In the post-war years, many C-47s remained in daily service with air forces around the world. Some were used as research and countermeasures platforms. During the Vietnam war, the AC-47 – dubbed 'Puff the Magic Dragon' – was developed in several versions to deliver suppressive fire against ground targets. Another significant variant was the EC-47 series used for multi-spectral sensing, electronic-systems training and electronic reconnaissance.
