Painted to represent AC-47D 43-49010 which flew "Spooky" gunship missions from Udorn RTAFB with the 4th SOS in the late 1960s during the Vietnam War, this is really a C-47K allocated serial 44-76486. That aircraft was delivered directly to the USN as R3D-7 BuNo 39103 in March 1945, becoming a TC-47B in 1962. In 1965 it was transferred to the US Army as an NC-47D, retaining 39103 as serial. In 1971 modified to NEC-47H and later same year to C-47K, serving as an electronic test aircraft with an Army detachment at NAS Lakehurst. To Eglin in 1976 and remained. My 1979 photo here

Actually ex 39103. Mar '45: To USAAF as TC-47B 44-76486, direct transfer to USN as R4D-7 39103. Spent time in seven units before being stored at Correy Field, FL in Jun '48. 1957-1958: Air Development Squadron 6 (VX-6), McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Mar '65: TOS U.S. Army as 39103. Redesignated NC-47D. May '71: Army Aviation Detachment, Ft. Monmouth, NAS Lakehurst, NJ. Used as an electronic test aircraft. Converted to NEC-47H. Jul '71: Converted to C-47K. Sep '76: To Eglin AFB, FL for USAF Armament Museum.

The real 44-76486, preserved in the Armament Museum at Eglin AFB, pretending to be EC-47H serial 43-10. It is actually a C-47K.

Built to USAAF order but delivered to the RAAF in 1945 as A65-72. Disposed of to Adastra Airways in 1959 becoming VH-AGU. In later years with East-West Airlines it became the test aircraft for the Interscan microwave landing system before being retired in 1979. Resurrected in the 1980s, it passed though the hands of a long list of small charter operators before being acquired by Jeff Trappett and restored in USAF gunship markings.

Del/02/03/1945 as USAAF 44-76486 but transferred to US Navy as BuNo 39103. US Army as 39103, Army Aviation Detachment as 0-39103. Preserved at USAF Armament Museum, Valparaiso Eglin Air Force Base, FL with fake serial.

Ordered by the USAAF as C-47B 44-76486 but delivered to the US Navy as R4D-7 39103 in 1945. To the US Army in 1958. Redesignated as an EC-47J in 1962, an NC-47K in 1966 and an NEC-47H then C-47K in 1971. Preserved at Eglin AFB as AF43-010 by 1986.

Put away in the back of the Benesov hangar. It was covered in dust and spider webs.

Ex US Navy R4D/C-47 39103. Passed to US Army in 1959 retaining USN serial. On retirement it went to the USAF Museum who have loaned it to the Eglin Museum. Now presented as an AC-47 with dummy miniguns and painted as "AF43-010".

Early evening light

Built in 1965, Spooky was probably never really a military O-2, but she was pitted against a MiG-15 here at Pardubice.