Douglas C53D / Dakota
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Douglas C53D / Dakota
Lots of variants on the original Douglas DC3 – this is a C53D, modified for paratroop deployment and later used for civilian flights in Scandinavia into the 1960’s.
Known in the UK as a Dakota (D ouglas A ircraft C ompany T ransport A ircraft).
This aircraft was built in 1942, and is believed to have taken part in D-Day – possibly dropping men of the US 101st Airborne into Normandy.
I must say Ian, I am learning quite a bit visiting your stream =)
Good to see the norwegian flag …..not seen one for a while ! Where did you take these Ian ?
Great composition too, love the reflections .
Cool! My dad was born in ’42… The blue sky and green terrain broken up by that beautiful silver is lovely. Nice composition!
A very handsome looking plane.Seen plenty of these in all those old world war 2 films.
the flags are just for show, no? Looks like someone has spend a very long time polishing.
Beautifully polished, give it a few extra miles at top speed I would imagine. I am assuming that it has come from, belongs to, or represents Norway because of both the flag and painted prop tips.
The Norwegian squadrons that flew from Banff, in Mosquito’s, painted the prop boss’s with the colours of the Norwegian flag giving the civilians a boost when they flew over their homeland.
Love the metallic polish on this. They say Eastern Airlines used a polished metal finish on their fleet to save the weight and cost of the paint, so maybe the Norwegians think the same way !! 😉
That is a fabulous shot Ian… I always learn so much from your narrative & the comments of your knowledgeable contacts.
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/30289791@N04/]
Thank you very much, it means a lot, makes it worth the while. They do know a lot, and I have learned so much about aviation history, partly just from reading comments and following up links or suggestions from contacts. I love the diversity and flexibility of flickr, and the fact that the people on here are an intelligent and friendly lot.
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/pasujoba44/]
Paul, this is another from that batch taken at Duxford Flying Legends. It was my first airshow and I understand that Legends one of the best airshows in the country, and 2009 was a particularly good year apparently. And we had cracking weather. Looking forward to next year, hope to do both days. Highly recommend it.
Beautiful! I also like the metallic polish here! 🙂
wonderful shot
beautiful photo…shiny! Ive always wanted to live in an old vintage plane…
classic beauty. there is still an old NAC one of these active in NZ, and another that flies from Ardmore airfield in Auckland, NZ doing scenics… plus a couple around the place turned into coffee shops etc (Mangaweka and Taupo) .. they used to use these for top-dressing (crop dusting) in NZ!
My father was a Fitter Engineer with LNER, and was conscripted for WW2, and sailed out to North & South Africa, to repair Dakotas, Cyclone, Spitfire (Merlin), Wasp, Hercules. He served 5 years. Churchill and Eden came out morale boosting to the aerodrone. He came back to resume his career and died of asbestosis, contracted within his work. Committed workman, union man, caring & fabulous human being, and an excellent family man. Old School.