Page 9 - Aerotech News and Review, May 28, 2021

High Desert Hangar Stories
Working the skies in combat: The Douglas C-47 Skytrain

by Bob Alvis and give the crews a chance for sur- their names: copilot 2nd Lt. Ken C.
special to Aerotech News vival. Each aircraft carried not only its Hall: crew chief Ssgt. Cliff Burgess,
cargo, but it carried the fighting spirit and radio operator Sgt. Philip Snyder,
With Memorial Day coming up and of America in all aspects of its mis- in addition to pilot Muir. As for the
the anniversary of D-Day immediately sion — from “Rosie the Riveter,” to 18 paratroopers, only one perished,
after, I went looking for a story that the aircrews and finally, the men that thanks to the heroic actions of the pi-
would bridge these two events in an would exit into the unknown. lot and crew to keep the plane airborne
aviation-related manner. After much The number of air transports in-
searching, an old photo in my Dad’s volved on D-Day and days after num- and give the troopers a chance to get
collection, from his Douglas Aircraft bered over 850. Many of those old out. It was later stated in his decora-
Company days, caught my attention. workhorses would only make a one- tion for bravery under fire, “Keeping
It had something scribbled on the back way trip, as did many of the aircrews the C-47 in the air long enough for the
about an old workhorse that had seen and paratroopers. Some of the stories paratroopers to hook up and jump at
many flight miles, serving the nation surrounding those last moments leave the cost of his own life, 2nd Lt. Muir
in a time of war. us in awe of the bravery of our Ameri- is awarded the Distinguished Service
When the war clouds in Europe can fighting men when the time comes Cross posthumously.”
started to swirl around, the U.S. Army to be accounted for. Just the narrative Memorial Day is upon us again and
Air Corps knew it would need air of one such plane lost that morning stories like this are what inspire many
transports that would be tasked with speaks to all those lost on that day: of us attending programs around our
unthinkable missions, that would play the final moments of Oklahoma-built communities to not only remember
a major part in the winning of World C-47 42-100876 and 2nd Lt. Marvin
War II. Looking to Douglas and its Photograph by Bob Alvis F. Muir on June 6th, 1944. the sacrifices of these brave men and
cutting-edge DC-3 that was already in Dad’s old photo of a C-47 returning to Long Beach. “While approaching the Drop Zone women that put on the uniform of our
production, it was not long before the in Normandy at about 0114 hours, Lt. country, but to also remember the long
requirement and the plane would come Muir’s C-47 was hit by anti-aircraft line of patriots that never put on a uni-
together to become one of the great erations; and how the fortunes of war planes in the early morning hours, to fire near the companionway and the form, but in their own way, sacrificed
aviation stories of WWII: the amazing would be measured in the successes fly into the unknown that would define baggage compartment aft of the flight to make sure that those who served
C-47 Skytrain transport. and the losses of the men and wom- them for the rest of their lives. We also
To many in the aviation world, en that the Skytrain was being built remember the crews that were also
the DC-3/C-47 would be labeled the to serve? That old photo I have says flying into the unknown carrying the
greatest aircraft of all time. Even to- on the back, “A warrior comes home precious cargo of American youth —
day, that old airframe still motors on from the battlefields of Europe in its either to transport them to the battle-
in many capacities. Looking at that old well-earned battledress, showing the field, or set them on the first steps of
photo, I remember Dad telling me sto- scars of working the skies in combat.” their return to America, to family and
ries of his involvement with the Doug- As a symbol, it represents — as do loved ones living in a free world.
las production lines back in Oklahoma many of the old warbirds — a gen- But many of these brave soldiers
City and how the work force in middle eration of men who are now slowly and aircrews would not survive those
America managed to push out 13 new fading into history and will no longer D-Day missions. Acts of heroism
C-47s every day. When the final tally be able to tell their stories. It sits si- would not be rare, as the men would
was reached, the Oklahoma City plant lently, unable to share the stories or find in their last moments of life the
produced over 5,000 of the 8,000 Sky- the passion of the crews that served ability to overcome terror and give
trains that were built during the war. aboard it, relied upon it, or lost their others a fighting chance to live. Think-
As those birds made their way lives flying it. ing about these moments, we can also
down the assembly lines, I wonder… As we get ready to mark another look to those back in America on the
did those building them ever think passage of D-Day on June 6, we re- assembly line who were also fighting
about how the skill in their hands was call the stories we’ve been blessed to save these lives, with the skills and
producing a product that would be with over the years of those brave Air- dedication of building an aircraft that
written about in history books for gen- borne troops who would board these could withstand brutal punishment

Courtesy photograph
The heroes on the production line of the C-47 Skytrain.

deck was almost immediately filled would have the very best equipment
with flames. The plane wavered and to give them a chance to survive and
then started to pull up straight, as if be victorious.
the pilot were trying to get above the War mementos, like an old photo in
formation and give his paratroopers desk drawer or a family heirloom from
and crew if possible, an opportunity
to jump. Then it looked as though it a relative, are much like the cherished
stalled and fell first on the left wing statues around our nation that remind
and then on the right. A few seconds us that potential for heroism is in each
after the original fire, the left engine and every one of us. Sacrifice must be
burst into flame. The plane fell away shared by us all, as we remember that
to the right and went into a dive of those who gave their lives belong to
about 30 degrees with level wings. each and every one of us. It is up to us
Immediately a string of paratroop- to carry on their stories of sacrifice .
ers were seen to emerge from the This Memorial Day I remember the
doomed plane. At about 150 mph, it fallen; D-Day; my Dad, and all those
hit the ground at an angle and burst who found value in an old workhorse
into flame in the vicinity of the rail- plane they helped to create by the
road southeast of Sainte Mere Eglise.” thousands, which served its crews so
There were no survivors from the well to the very end.
Courtesy photograph four-man crew, and it would not do Peace my friends, Bob out ...
The Oklahoma City production line during World War II. them justice if I failed to mention

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