Douglas C-47 Skytrain facts for kids

Quick facts for kids C-47 Skytrain C-53 Skytrooper Dakota
A C-47 over Duxford D-Day Show 2014
Role	Military transport aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Douglas Aircraft Company
Designer	Douglas Aircraft
First flight	23 December 1941
Status	In service in Colombia, Greece, El Salvador and South Africa
Primary users	United States Army Air Forces Royal Air Force United States Navy Royal Canadian Air Force See operators
Number built	10,174
Developed from	Douglas DC-3
Variants	Douglas XCG-17 Douglas AC-47 Spooky

The C-47 Skytrain was a very famous American cargo aircraft. It was like a big flying truck that could carry up to 3.5 tons of weight! This plane was a special military version of a popular passenger plane called the Douglas DC-3. The C-47 became super important during World War II.

What was the C-47 Skytrain?

The C-47 Skytrain was built by the Douglas Aircraft Company in the United States. It first flew in 1941. Over 10,000 of these planes were made! It was designed to be strong and reliable, perfect for many different jobs.

Its Role in World War II

During World War II, the C-47 was a true workhorse for the Allies. It was used for many important tasks:

• Moving Troops: It carried thousands of soldiers, especially paratroopers, into battle zones.
• Delivering Supplies: It brought food, weapons, and other vital supplies to soldiers on the front lines.
• Transporting the Wounded: It helped move injured soldiers safely to hospitals.

The C-47 was a key part of major operations, like the D-Day invasion in Normandy. It dropped paratroopers behind enemy lines and towed gliders full of equipment.

The Berlin Airlift Hero

After World War II, the C-47 played another heroic role during the Berlin Airlift. This happened during the Cold War in 1948. The Soviet Union blocked all roads, railways, and canals into West Berlin. People there had no way to get food or supplies.

C-47 planes, along with other aircraft, flew into West Berlin every few minutes. They carried tons of food, coal, and other necessities. These flights kept the city alive for almost a year until the blockade ended. The C-47 became a symbol of hope during this time.

Legacy of the Skytrain

The C-47 Skytrain was known by many names, including "Dakota" in the British Royal Air Force. It was so well-built that some C-47s are still flying today in a few countries! This shows how tough and reliable these planes were. It truly helped shape history.

Images for kids

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  U.S. Navy C-117Ds at RAF Mildenhall in 1967

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  U.S. Army Pathfinders and USAAF flight crew prior to D-Day, June 1944, in front of a C-47 Skytrain at RAF North Witham

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  C-47s unloading at Tempelhof Airport during the Berlin Airlift

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  Paratroop C-47, 12th Air Force Troop Carrier Wing, invasion of southern France, 15 August 1944

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  Interior view of Douglas C-47, Hendon Aerodrome, England

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  Aircraft of the 6th Special Operations Squadron including a turboprop C-47 (Basler BT-67) in use by the U.S. Air Force, c. 2005

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  Douglas C-47 Lineup at Willow Run, Michigan Airshow, August, 2017

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  C-47B Skytrain -serial 43-49942

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  A former USAAF C-47A Skytrain which flew from a base in Devon, England, during the D-Day Normandy invasion and shows "invasion stripes" on her wings and fuselage

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  Douglas C-53 Skytrooper, c/n 4935, operated by a skydiving service at Eloy, Arizona

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  Douglas C-47 Skytrain Dakota “Old Number 30”

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  Douglas C-47 Skytrain Dakota “Old Number 30” door

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  C-47 Skytrain cockpit

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  Douglas C-47A Skytrain of the Venezuelan Air Force

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  JMSDF R4D-6Q

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  USN R4D-8 from VR-23 Codfish Airline over Mount Fuji, 1952

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  United States Navy R4D-8

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  A Dakota IV in RAF Transport Command colors, owned by the Classic Air Force, operating out of Coventry Airport

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  A Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Dakota with open parachute door at Duxford in 2008

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  South African Air Force C-47TP "Turbo Dak"

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  A Royal Thai Air Force Basler BT-67 (C-47 conversion with Pratt & Whitney turboprops and stretched fuselage)

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  Douglas C-47 Skytrain 3-view drawing

See also

In Spanish: Douglas C-47 Skytrain para niños