Douglas DC-3: Illustrated History Books & Guides

C-47 Skytrain - The 'Gooney Bird' from Douglas (Legends of Warfare)

The Douglas C-47 Skytrain and its close counterpart, the C-53 Skytrooper, were essential to American airborne transport during World War II. These aircraft not only carried cargo but also delivered paratroopers, including during the Normandy invasion. They also towed gliders and had the remarkable ability to snatch gliders from the ground while in flight.
Based on the Douglas DC-3, the C-47 served with both U.S. and Allied forces in Korea and Vietnam, including the heavily armed AC-47D gunship. This volume covers the aircraft's development, its military use, and details of its construction.

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Douglas DC-3

The story of the practical airliner begins with American designer Donald Douglas and the legendary DC-3, which set the foundation for modern commercial aviation. This first true airliner led to the development of hundreds of advanced aircraft over the past 80 years.
During World War II, the need for a reliable transport plane resulted in the C-47, a military version of the DC-3. After the war, surplus C-47s were sold to civilian buyers, helping many new airlines and operators expand.
Remarkably, the DC-3 is still in use today. Despite being replaced by larger and faster planes, it remains a reliable and durable aircraft.

This book, with over 110 photographs, celebrates the DC-3, its various roles, and the different liveries it has worn.
Previously published as "Aeroplane Classic Airliner: The Douglas DC-3", this edition offers a detailed look at this iconic aircraft's legacy.

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Douglas DC-3 - A Legends of Flight Illustrated History (Legends of Flight)

The Douglas DC-3, a twin-engine airliner first flown in 1935, was a pioneer in international commercial flight. Known for its elegance and durability, it became the leading American airliner before World War II, flown by major airlines like Delta, Eastern, Pan Am, United, and many others.
During the war, the DC-3 was converted into the C-47 Skytrain for military transport, also known as the "Gooney Bird." It was used by the UK as the "Dakota" and by the Soviet Union as the Lisunov Li-2. The aircraft's wartime service solidified its status as one of the greatest planes in history.
This book provides a concise visual history of the Douglas DC-3 and its lasting impact on both commercial and military aviation.

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Douglas DC-3 and C-47 in Latin American Military Service

This book examines in detail one aspect of the DC-3/C-47 history which is not that well known, the fact that DC-3s and their military equivalents and derivatives have been in continuous service in that geographically diverse region of the world known as Latin America for more than 75 years, longer than anywhere else in the world.

The DC-3 and C-47 came upon the scene at precisely the right moment in every nation. They were in use from the Rio Grande south all the way to Antarctica and from the remote Galapagos in the Pacific to the Antilles chain in the Caribbean.
As always, they were used as workhorses and heavy-lifters, but a significant number, surprisingly, saw combat service in a number of most exotic circumstances, both as ad hoc bombers and combat aircraft.
C-47s were not only the most numerous type in some national inventories, but often the most heavily utilised and valued.

Richly illustrated, with tables describing the often extraordinary individual services lives of each-and-every known aircraft, this is a testament to the men and women who, for three-quarters of a century, have sweated, cursed and yet loved these magnificent aircraft.

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Douglas DC-3: 80 Glorious Years

Like the P-51 Mustang and Supermarine Spitfire, the Douglas DC-3 is an iconic aircraft design. It has endured more than any other with several hundred still in use worldwide in locations as far apart as Africa, Antarctica and the US. Many of the current operators use turbine conversions of the DC-3mainly using Basler, SAAF and Dodson International the main proponents.

Just about every major post-war airline began their schedules with the DC-3. Many took advantage of post-war military surplus C-47s that had already written huge volumes of history with their roles with the US Army Air Corps in the Second World War such as the D-Day landings. Many enthusiast organisations still keep DC-3s airworthy and fly them for members. However, the days of DC-3 operations are now nearing an end thanks to spares unavailability, cost and the shortages of Avgas fuel in remote parts of the world.

As this book recounts, the Douglas DC-3 is to aviation what the Volkswagen and Ford were to motoring, and what the DC-3 operators started, the 21st century Airbus/Boeing operators continued thanks to the astonishing legacy of this remarkable aircraft.

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The Amazing Gooney Bird : The Saga of the Legendary DC-3/C-47

The DC-3 is the plane that made civilian transport that made civilian transport a profitable reality, and has become a legend in its own time. It has many names and designations - Skytrain, Spooky, Puff the Magic Dragon, DC-3, C-47, R4D, Li-2 and others.
But the name that most pilots know it by is the "Gooney Bird." And it has played many roles besides being an aerial workhorse to transport people and cargo. It has been a bomber, fighter, airborne communications center, amphibian, living quarters, hospital, flying washing machine, and command post.

When some of the more than 10,000 built, and additional hundreds in Japan and Russia, ended their days, they have been made into a hamburger stand, tea house, mobile home, seaside cottage, an officers club and even a chicken coop. Many have been put on static display at more than 200 museums around the world.

After more than sixty years, 1,000 of them are still flying the world's skies. The DC-3/C-47 has surpassed all other aircraft ever built in faithful service, dependability and achievement. This is the story of its conception, design and amazing life in war and peace.

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