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Fairchild CC-119 Flying Boxcar
The Fairchild C-119 Flying
Boxcar is an American
military transport aircraft
developed from the World
War II-era Fairchild C-82
Packet, designed to carry
cargo, personnel, litter
patients, and mechanized
equipment, and to drop
cargo and troops by
parachute. The first C-119
made its initial flight in
November 1947, and by the
time production ceased in
1955, more than 1,100 C-
119s had been built. Its
cargo-hauling ability and
unusual twin-boom design
earned it the nickname
"Flying Boxcar".
The aircraft saw extensive action during the Korean The C-119 went on to see extensive service in French
War as a troop and equipment transport. Indochina, beginning in 1953 with aircraft secretly
loaned by the CIA to French forces for troop support.
Many C-119s were provided to other nations as part
of the Military Assistance Program. The type was also
used by the Royal Canadian Air Force. After the war,
the RCAF reduced its strength. Because of the rising
Soviet threat to the security of Europe, Canada joined
NATO in 1949. In 1950, the RCAF became involved
with the transport of troops and supplies to the
Korean War; however, it did not provide RCAF combat
units. Members of the RCAF served in USAF units as
From 1951 to 1962, C-119C, F and G models served exchange officers and several flew in combat. Both
with Canada and U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Far
auxiliary and regular air defence squadrons were run
East Air Forces as the first-line Combat Cargo units,
by Air Defence Command. At the same time, the
and did yeoman work as freight haulers. Based first in Pinetree Line, the Mid-Canada Line and the DEW Line
Germany and then in France with roughly 150 aircraft
radar stations, largely operated by the RCAF, were
operated anywhere from Greenland to India. A
built across Canada because of the growing Soviet
similar number of aircraft served in the Pacific and nuclear threat. In 1957, Canada and the United States
the Far East. In 1958, the US started transition to the
created the joint North American Air Defense
C-130s, but the units of the former 60th Troop Carrier
Command (NORAD). Coastal defence and
Wing, the 10th, 11th and 12th Troop Carrier peacekeeping also became priorities during the 1950s
Squadrons, continued to fly C-119s until 1962, the last
and 1960s.
non-Air Force Reserve and non-Air National Guard
operational units to fly the "Boxcars."
