The Douglas C-47 Skytrain is a militarized transport version of the Douglas DC-3 airliner, built in large numbers for the United States Army Air Forces and Allied air forces during the Second World War to carry troops, cargo and paratroopers, including on D-Day. Rugged and simple to maintain, it remained in military and civilian service for decades afterward, including later use during the Berlin Airlift.
Facts
SignificanceMilitary transport aircraft used extensively by the Allies in World War II for troop transport, cargo, paratrooper drops and glider towing. 1 Manufacturer or BuilderDouglas Aircraft Company 1 FAQs
Why is the C-47 also called the Dakota and the Gooney Bird?
Dakota is the RAF designation, and Gooney Bird is a wartime nickname with more than one proposed origin.
Dakota was the British designation for the aircraft. About 2,000 C-47s received under Lend-Lease in British and Commonwealth service took that name, possibly inspired by the acronym DACoTA for Douglas Aircraft Company Transport Aircraft. The informal nickname Gooney Bird arose in the European theatre of operations. Other sources attribute it to a United States Marine Corps R2D, the military version of the DC-2, being the first aircraft to land on Midway Island, home to the long-winged albatross known as the gooney bird.
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Sources
1. Wikipedia: Douglas C-47 Skytrain
WikipediaWikipedia lead paragraph, first sentence
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain, or Dakota (RAF designation), is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the civilian Douglas DC-3 airliner.
Wikipedia infobox, First flight field
23 December 1941
Wikipedia lead paragraph, second and third sentences
It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II. During the war, the C-47 was used for troop transport, cargo, paratrooper drops, glider towing, and military cargo parachute drops.
In Group: Military Transport Aircraft, Lead sentence
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain, or Dakota (RAF designation), is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the civilian Douglas DC-3 airliner.
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