The Douglas DC3 Series
The Rugged Dakota Served Valiantly in Every Theatre of WW II
If the measure of an aircraft’s greatness is in the length of its useful life none could possibly match the ageless DC3. It had its origins in 1933 when TWA approached Douglas Aircraft to submit a design to replace the tri-motor Fokker FV11 series in current use. Again TWA specified a tri-motor; but instead Douglas produced a low wing monoplane that featured two Wight Cyclone motors, stressed skin construction and retractable undercarriage. It was designated DC1 (Douglas Commercial 1) and its advanced design was the precursor of all commercial airliners produced throughout the world.
Douglas Commercial One
Only one example of the DC1 was built and in 1934 its successor, the 14-seat DC2 went into service with the major airlines. Two hundred and twenty had been delivered when an enlarged 21-seat or alternate sleeper version, the DC3 went into production.
This was the emergence of a type that was built in greater numbers than any transport aircraft, culminating in a total of 11,000 in The United States plus 2000 licence-built versions in Japan and Russia. In 1941 the DC3 entered service with the U.S. Army as the C47 Dakota and U.S. Navy as the R3D. Under Lend Lease agreements 1,800 Dakotas were supplied to the RAF. These remained in service until 1950 when they were replaced by Vickers Valettas, a military version of the successful Viking airliner.
Market Garden
Throughout the war years Dakotas gave sterling service in every theatre and its versatility and freight-carrying capacity were legendary. Apart from operating as freighter, ambulance and paratrooper transport it performed admirably as a glider tug. Two notable occasions involved the ill-starred Arnhem operation of September 1944 and later the successful crossing of the Rhine. It was during operation ‘Market Garden’; the flawed Arnhem assault that a posthumous Victoria Cross was awarded to Fl/Lt. David Lord following a heroic supply mission on 19 September.
RAAF Service
The Dakota is well remembered by Australian troops involved in the Papua/ New Guinea campaign. In an environment that was hostile in the extreme for soldiers and unforgiving for airmen the Dakotas maintained a constant round of supply drops. One hundred and twenty four Dakotas saw service with the RAAF with some examples still operational at the time of the Vietnam conflict.
Post-war Service
Post-war, thousands of Dakotas became available for civil use and were purchased worldwide by operators for freight, passenger and general duties. Middle East and African operators were inclined to double the recommended 30-passenger seating and provided hair-raising and sometimes fatal flights in their hard-working DC3s.
Berlin Air Lift
In 1948 Russia initiated an act of villainy when it closed all road and rail traffic into West Berlin. Their object was to starve the population and force the withdrawal of Allied occupation forces. The Allies took the bold step to supply the city’s needs by a closely-co-ordinated air- lift. The day and night operation took place during a particularly harsh winter and unforgiving weather conditions. Bulk of the freight vital to sustain the needs of the populace was carried out by a fleet of DC4 Skymasters, bolstered by a mix of other types. Alongside the Avro York and AvroTudor was the ubiquitous DC3, performing efficiently under adverse conditions. Finally the Russians were forced to concede to the success of the operation and reluctantly re-open the checkpoints.
Soldiering On
It would be impossible to cover the modifications, official and otherwise to this remarkable aeroplane or do justice to its long history; but suffice to say it is still out there soldiering on in some remote corner of the world.
Douglas Dakota
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Douglas DC2
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Douglas Dakota
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