It was nice to see this airframe again, 36 years (almost to the day) after I first saw it. It looks quite different now, and time hasn't been very kind to it. In between, this Super DC-3 spent about 15 years with the Colombian AF as FAC1632, from early 1990 until early 2005, when it was acquired by Tom Graziano and parked here at Benson a few months later. The aircraft was sold to another owner in May 2018, but all in all it appears that it has not flown at all since arriving at Benson almost 20 years ago. The faded "Super DC-3" and "Douglas" titles are still visible, but its former red Douglas-style trim has now completely faded away.

Photographer unknown

Unknown photographer.

Photographer: Unknown photographer.

Built as C-47A 42-108810 c/n 11948, transferred to the US Navy in 1943, converted to an R4D-8 (re-designated C-117D in 1962) and given a new c/n 43369. Spent most of its life operating from various Navy facilities in Europe including a period at Rota. Retired to Davis Monthan in January 1979, sold to TBM as N8538F in 1980 and then went to Canada as C-GDIK with Millardair and Gateway Airlines. Returned to the US in 2005 as N587LM and after some years at Opa Locka being used for spares, was scrapped c2011.

ex USAAF and US Navy - written off 13 June 2005 while operating for Pony Air Express, crashed into residential area 3.1 NM east of Fort Lauderdale, FL, after no.1 engine caught fire on take-off (photographer not known)

Originally built in December 1943 as C-47A c/n 12088 and allocated USAAF serial 42-108824, the aircraft was diverted to the US Navy as R4D-5 BuNo 17122. In 1952 it was re-manufactured as R4D-8, (C-117D after September 1962), c/n 43335 but retained the same BuNo. On 2nd February 1998, whilst parked at Opa Locka, it was wrecked by the tornado that damaged or destroyed 140 aircraft at that airfield, although it's hulk was visible there well into the new century.

turning final for 07R

Built as an C-47B c/n 26876 in 1944 and although initially allocated USAF serial 43-49615, taken up by the USN with BuNo 50821 as a R4D-6. After service at NAS Olathe, Patuxent River, Columbus, Quonset Point and South Weymouth, rebuilt as R4D-8 with new c/n 43322. Operated at NAS Rota, El Centro, Moffett Field and China Lake. Ferried from the Naval Weapons Center at NAS China Lake to the museum in 1982