Dakota/DC3 pictures now there's two! (Lots)

[TallEng]

Seen on the pan at Laarbruch this morning:
A sort of walk around so that your whiffs can be accurately inaccurate  































I believe he's going to be chucking paras out over Arnheim later on today

Regards
Keith

[TsrJoe]

brilliant shots, many thanks for sharing, its interesting to see the glider towing point fitted and the taped padding over the door protuberancies for para dropping, cool

cheers, Joe

[kerick]

Ditto TsrJoe's comments! Lucky thing you were out early this morning. Thanks again for posting these. You might consider sending these to Prime Portal, http://www.primeportal.net/home.htm
I also was wondering what the taping around the door was for until I thought about paratroops jumping.

[rickshaw]

I suspect the taping/padding is a post-war thing.  The glider pintle is a nice addition and unusual.

[NARSES2]

brilliant shots, many thanks for sharing, its interesting to see the glider towing point fitted and the taped padding over the door protuberancies for para dropping, cool

cheers, Joe

I echo Joe's thanks and his point re the towing point saves me for asking what it is

[TallEng]

 Glad you found it interesting/educational
I've done some rummaging on the web and found this
Site :
http://www.ruudleeuw.com/c47-dragemoot.htm
Which explains about the Aircrafts History, which is
Also very interesting as it's a Genuine war Veteran
With the Bullet scars to show.

Regards
Keith

[kitnut617]

This particular DC-3 just happens to be this months subject in the 'Ghosts' calendar, neat that you got to see it for real -- 

[Rheged]

Thank you, both for a lot of very useful pictures, and for the concept you outline of our future whiffs being "more accurately inaccurate"..... what a delightful turn of phrase!

[PR19_Kit]

OGL will love you for them, he's a did-in-the-wool Dak fan.

I wondered why the glider hook wasn't a surprise to me as it obviously was to others here, but then remembered that my younger years were spent on various RAF Transpot Command stations where glider hooks were the norm, on  Daks and Valettas usually.

[Martin H]

OGL will love you for them, he's a did-in-the-wool Dak fan.

Well I wouldn't go quite that far Kit. But Great pics any way.

[rickshaw]

OGL will love you for them, he's a did-in-the-wool Dak fan.

I wondered why the glider hook wasn't a surprise to me as it obviously was to others here, but then remembered that my younger years were spent on various RAF Transpot Command stations where glider hooks were the norm, on  Daks and Valettas usually.

Not a surprise.  I recognised it instantly from the diagrams in my copy of the IWM's reissue of the Airborne Forces Manual 1945.   Marvellous book which details everything you ever wanted to know about British airborne practice.   

[TallEng]

And then there were two
This one is also a War Veteran (it turned up while I was away)




No tow hook on this one.


Also with taped up hinges


Night flying blind on the landing light








Oily bits



Two together

Regards
Keith

[jcf]

I suspect the taping/padding is a post-war thing. 

Nope, photos of USAAF C-47As prior to the D-Day drops with padding on the door edge
and tape over the hinges are not unusual.

[TallEng]

I suspect the taping/padding is a post-war thing. 

Nope, photos of USAAF C-47As prior to the D-Day drops with padding on the door edge
and tape over the hinges are not unusual.

It makes sense, after all once you've jumped out, you don't want you're static line caught
In the hinges of the door! That could cause all sorts of difficulties 

Regards
Keith

[Captain Canada]

Nice ! Great selection of pics. Love the shot of the glider hook....never seen that before ! *click* *save*