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Douglas C-47 Skytrain
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09:45 6/5/2004
My grandfather was Lt. LeRoy Ruud, he flew a C-47 and was stationed in China and flew a lot of missions over the hump. If anyone knows anything about him please email me, Thank You!
It is 12:30 a.m. on D-Day, June 6, 1944. By the light of a full moon, Douglas C-47 Skytrains from the 89th Troop Carrier Squadron, 438th Troop Carrier Group, pass over the Normandy countryside. These aircraft are among 850 C-47s preparing to drop over 15,000 paratroops behind German lines to participate in the initial assault in the D-Day invasion. General Dwight D. Eisenhower declared the C-47 one of the few pieces of equipment "vital to our success in Africa and Europe." The aircraft itself, however, would have meant nothing without the fearless airborne forces, who at the signal "Green light! Jump!" parachuted into the battle.
For more World War II history on the "Dakota"... Click Here!
In 1964, taking off from Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam, the Douglas FC-47 (later redesignated AC-47) gunship, attacks enemy sampans, buildings, trails, and suspected jungle staging areas.
Pilot and Crew MemoriesWhile surfing, I was happy to see that not everyone has forgotten the Gooney-bird.
I flew my first one in Feb 1943. Actually it was not a real Gooney. The army had commandeerd a squadron of DC-3s from the airlines to use in transition training. Some of them still were made up as sleepers, complete with blankets and mattresses, believe it or not. We always flipped to see who could be first in the cockpit and then could doze on one of the comfortable bunks for the rest of the flight. We flew eight transition pilots per flight, for approximately one hour at the controls. Our instructor pilots were airline pilots who apparently were commandeered with the aircraft. They loved the airplane. And why not? One of them , in describing the characteristics of the bird cautioned us that there were two things not to try with the bird. That was to fly low and slow. Later on I found that he must have been talking about the DC-3 and not the Gooney. I went on to fly it through part of the North African campaign: Sicily and Italy, CG-4s and all, D-day with the 82nd, the British and the Poles and sundry things for the rest of WarII. I was there with the Gooney in Korea and the Indo-China conflict (later known as the Vietnam thing).
Of course I have flown many other aircraft the army and the Air Force provided. But when I think of flying in those days cannot forget my more than 10,000 SAFE hrs in the Gooney. Some of them; as an example, the shuddering shithouse (please excuse he expression but I cannot find a term more apt), the C119 which had a tendency to catch fire at rather frequent intervals, I would rather not have in my memory.
Anyway, I want to thank you for not forgetting our bird.
Memories of Ben Cole, September 2, 1998
14:31 3/2/2000
My dad flew C-47, C-46 and what else who knows over the Hump. Was rated for four engine Aircraft also. Looking for any info on him. Or any one who knew him. His name is Charles(Charlie) Ervin Giles and was a Lt. Col. When he left the Army Air Corps at Wright/ Patterson field in 1946? Was in Burma and North Africa. I am Waiting for NARA to reply, The check is in the mail.
Thanks For your site. Enjoyed it very much
William C. Giles
Hello, Bill...
Many thank you for your message concerning the Gooney Bird. I hope that you will receive a lot of cards/letters from other folks associated with this fine aircraft. Let's hope they join us in the I'd Rather Be Flying! forum today.
Cordially, Bob....
If I had anything to do with designing an airplane, it would bear a model number which included "47." Four seven, in that order, is a winning combination. There was the Boeing 247D, the first all-metal, low-wing, multi-engine airliner; it lopped seven hours off coast-to-coast airline schedules and outran the Army's hottest fighters. And North American's O-47, the most widely used prewar observation aircraft. The Boeing B-47, Douglas C-47, Republic P-47, and Boeing 747 are pure gold, of course, not to forget the Bell 47 helicopter, some 5,000 of which were built during 27 years of continuous production. I cannot think of a single flying lemon that bore the number, "47."
--"View From The Cockpit" by Len Morgan, Copyright © 1985.
The Ol'Kunnel comments: Me, two! (grin)
The Ol'Kunnel now has a forum setup to allow us almost the same opportunity for the camaraderie we had on the old network. I trust it will offer you the same fun and companionship that IRBFlying once had on the GT Power Network. If you agree with me, you'll prove it by leaving a few words on the "I'd Rather Be Flying!" forum by clicking on the forum button.[Back to Prop Acft List] Please use Freefind below to search for items of your interest!
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