Douglas C-53D Skytrooper - AMC, McClellan, CA - Static Aircraft Displays on Waymarking.com

Based upon the Douglas DC-3 airliner, the C-53 was one of several models made on the commercial production lines for the US Army Air Forces during the early years of the war. Externally similar to the C-47, but without a reinforced floor or the double doors for loading cargo, the aircraft was designed to carry paratroops and tow gliders. They would also see service transporting wounded and carrying cargo.

USAAF s/n 42-68835 is one of 150 C-53Ds built by Douglas Aircraft at Santa Monica, CA, and delivered to the USAAF on 12 July 1943. It was assigned to the 72nd Troop Carrier Squadron, 434th Troop Carrier Group, while undergoing training with the 101st Airborne Division before departing for overseas in September 1943. Upon arrival in England, the Group was assigned to the 9th Troop Carrier Command, 9th Air Force; and the aircraft was assigned to Group Headquarters, but continued to be maintained by the 72nd TCS, whose markings it carried throughout the war. At dawn on D-Day, 6 June 1944, the 434th Group took the first 100 gliders into Normandy with the 101st Airborne. A total of three glider missions were flown in the first two days of the invasion. The Group would participate in the subsequent airborne operations in Holland, at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge and the final airborne operation over the Rhine River. It is known that this aircraft did participate in glider drops during the 'Market Garden' operation in Holland.

The markings on the aircraft are based upon a photograph taken over France in January 1945, and indicate that the aircraft participated in three glider operations up to that time, as well as numerous medical evacuation and cargo missions. After the war the aircraft returned to the US and was leased by American Airlines under civil registration number N19924. It would later be used by various government agencies before being sold to civilians. Ultimately it was seized by the Drug Enforcement Agency and offered to the USAF museum program. It was flown to the museum in June 1987 and restored to its original military configuration by museum volunteers.


Specifications:
Crew: 3
Pax: 28 troops/18-24 litters/1or2 gliders
Power Plant: 2× 1,200 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-90C Twin Wasp 14-cylinder radial engines
Dimensions:
- Span: 95' 6"
- Length: 63' 9"
- Height: 17' 0"
Weight:
- Empty: 18,200 lb
- Maximum: 26,000 lb
Performance:
- Speed:
- - Max: 230 mph
- - Cruise: 160 mph
- Range: 1,520 miles
- Ceiling: 24,000 ft

Source: aircraft placard
For more info: (visit link)

Type of Aircraft: (make/model): Douglas C-53D Skytrooper Tail Number: (S/N): s/n 42-68835 Construction:: original aircraft Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): Located at Aerospace Museum of California, McClellan, CA inside / outside: outside Other Information:: Aerospace Museum of California 3200 Freedom Park Drive McClellan, CA 95652 Phone: 916.643.3192 Tuesday-Saturday 9:00am to 5:00pm Sunday 10:00am to 5:00pm excluding Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Easter Sunday. $8.00 Adults $6.00 Senior (65+) $6.00 Youth/Student (13-17) $5.00 Child (6-12) Free Active Military w/ID Free Child 5 & under Free Museum Members Access restrictions: None

Visit Instructions:
Photo of aircraft (required - will be interesting to see if the aircraft is ever repainted or progress if being restored)
Photo of serial number (required unless there is not one or it is a replica)
Photo(s) of any artwork on the aircraft (optional but interesting)

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Date Logged Log User Rating   02/22/2015 FolsomNatural visited it