In Vietnam, some C-47s were converted into AC-47 “Spooky” gunships.After World War II, most C-47s and other military variants were sold as surplus to airlines, making the DC-3 dominant for short and medium routes for decades afterward.They also flew supplies “over the hump” from India to China. They hopped among in the Pacific to fly long distances. C-47s were used everywhere in World War II.Civilian DC-3s normally served 21 passengers in seven rows of seats, with two on one side an isle and one on the other. C-47s could carry 28 passengers or 6,000 pounds of cargo, at a cruising speed of 160 mph, over a range of up to 1,600 miles.More than 16,000 civilian and military versions of the DC-3 were built.The DC-3 is one of the most important transport aircraft of all time. The C-47 “Gooney Bird” was a military version of the Douglas DC-3, which entered service in 1936.
Twin-engine Military Transport and Cargo Aircraft with a Crew of Threeįigure 1: The Cheeky Charley in Hawaii, in Military Camouflage Source: Key Points
