Douglas C-47A [43-15509]  [@ RAF Duxford]

Without question, the transport workhorse of the Allies in World War II was the Douglas C-47, the military version of the immortal DC-3. The rugged C-47 was renowned in every theatre of war; but it is best remembered for its part in the Allied airborne operations in Europe in September 1944, culminating in the gallant failure of the British 1st Airborne Division at Arnhern. In fact, the first Douglas commercial transports to be acquired by the US services were a number of DC-2s, designated C-32A and C-34 by the Army and R2D- 1 by the Navy, followed by 35 C-39s; these were hybrids, with DC-2 fuselages and DC-3 tail units and outer wing panels. The first 953 C-47s were troop or cargo transports; these were followed by 4991 C-47As and 3108 C-47Bs, deliveries beginning in 1942. A specialized troop transport version, of which 277 were built between 1941 and 1943, was designated C-53 Skytrooper. 

Built in April 1944, 43-15509 was flown to England the following month and served with the 316th Troop Carrier Group of the 9th Air Force. Assigned to the 37th Troop Carrier Squadron, 43-15509 operated from RAF Cottesmore, Rutland (Leicestershire) for a year. It is believed to have participated in the airborne drops over Normandy in June 1944, the airborne assault on Holland in September 1944 and the crossing of the Rhine in March 1945. After the War it was sold to the Swedish Airline ABA. Later, the aircraft returned to the USA and was then operated by the Spanish Air Force. It also took part in the TV Series "Airline" in 1980 before being obtained by the Museum.

Douglas C-47B [44-77033]  [@ RAF Cosford]

More than 1200 C-47s were supplied under Lend-Lease to the RAF, where they were known as the Dakota Mks I to IV. Total wartime production of the C-47 series amounted to 10,123 aircraft. In addition, 700 were delivered to the Soviet Union, where around 2000 examples were licence-built as the Lisunov Li-2; these had Soviet-built engines and were fitted with a dorsal gun position. The type was also licence-built in Japan for the Imperial Japanese Navy, being allocated the Allied code-name Tabby.

44-77033 and arrived in the UK in May 1945. This particular aircraft painted with D-day markings of 'KG374', was for a short time, the personal transport of General Bernard Montgomery. The photograph below shows the inside of this aeroplane taken via a mirror. It retired to the museum in 1974.