The aircraft had been lapsing into dereliction at this location for approximately 20 years. By 2015 it had been moved into a hangar and a group called Saving LuLu Belle Inc had been formed with the intent of restoring it to airworthiness. Some progress was made and in October 2016 at least one of the engines was run, but the project seems to have stalled at the end of 2017 and the last update to the group's Facebook page was in February 2020.

1944: TOS USAAF as C-47A 43-16041. By 4/51: Limestone AFB, ME (later Loring). UNK: unknown owner with c/r N387T. By 1987: Basler Turbo Conversions, Oshkosh, WI. Ca.1991: Converted to BT-67 turbo-prop. By 1992: TOS. Bolivian Air Force with s/n TAM-38. By 9/97: Fuselage noted at Santa Cruz/la Trompillo, Bolivia.

Photo by Steve Kraus.

The Dukla museum in Svidnik, Slovakia is a great museum to learn about the battle of the Dukla pass that took place in September and October 1944. This Russian built Dakota, or Lisunov Li-2T, has been preserved here for years, although it moved closer to the main museum building recently. Also, it was seen without its rudder and thus code 50 white, which used to be painted on it.

In the tail you will find a boxer in the US Flag colours. On the rudder a woman is painted holding a globe and the text surrounding that is saying "Semper Ubi Sub Ubi" which means something in the line of "always wear underwear". The name mentioned in orange is Mary Green. After some research I came up with the following: Owner at that time was registered as Victoria Forest and Scout LLC, San Fransisco, CA and the CEO was Steven L. Swig and the name of his wife was Mary Green. The aircraft had an extended nose, which apparently contained a weather radar. The normal nose was re-installed later

The battle of the Dukla Pass was fought in September and October 1944 and was one of the major battles of WW 2 in Eastern Europe. The entire area is dotted with tanks, artillery and other monuments, like this Russian-built Dakota version, the Li-2T, which was former operated by the air force of Czechoslovakia as 2106, yet wears Soviet colours and code 14 white.

May/44: TOS USAAF as 43-15982. Based in Florida until 1947 when based with 1102nd Base Unit, Mitchel Field, NY. October /47: 1377th Base Unit, Westover AFB, MA. June/48: Flew missions in the Berlin Airlift. Beginning February/49: Operated from Bermuda, New England, Germany, Austria. 1955: Back to many units in USA. December/63: TOS USA,New Cumberland Army Depot, PA. December/74: MASDC. July/75: Lee County Mosquito Control District, Fort Myers, FL, with c/r N838M. December/10: Dodson International Parts Inc, Rantoul, KS. August/12: The Roasterie, 1204 20th St, Kansas City, MO. Placed on display 18 Sep 2012.

Originally 43-15749/USAAF. Photo by Steve Kraus.

May/44: TOS USAAF as 43-15982. Based in Florida until 1947 when based with 1102nd Base Unit, Mitchel Field, NY. October /47: 1377th Base Unit, Westover AFB, MA. June/48: Flew missions in the Berlin Airlift. Beginning February/49: Operated from Bermuda, New England, Germany, Austria. 1955: Back to many units in USA. December/63: TOS USA,New Cumberland Army Depot, PA. December/74: MASDC. July/75: Lee County Mosquito Control District, Fort Myers, FL, with c/r N838M. December/10: Dodson International Parts Inc, Rantoul, KS. August/12: The Roasterie, 1204 20th St, Kansas City, MO. Placed on display 18 Sep 2012.

May/44: TOS USAAF as 43-15982. Based in Florida until 1947 when based with 1102nd Base Unit, Mitchel Field, NY. October /47: 1377th Base Unit, Westover AFB, MA. June/48: Flew missions in the Berlin Airlift. Beginning February/49: Operated from Bermuda, New England, Germany, Austria. 1955: Back to many units in USA. December/63: TOS USA,New Cumberland Army Depot, PA. December/74: MASDC. July/75: Lee County Mosquito Control District, Fort Myers, FL, with c/r N838M. December/10: Dodson International Parts Inc, Rantoul, KS. August/12: The Roasterie, 1204 20th St, Kansas City, MO. Placed on display 18 Sep 2012.

Operated by Harvest Air and wearing their colours. (photographer not known)

Originally 42-68724/USAAF. Constructed as a C-53D and converted to DC-3A. Owned by actor Cary Grant. Photo by Steve Kraus.

Photo by Steve Kraus.

The only DC-3 (C-53) in the world to carry the massive Edo Model 78 amphib floats. Owned by the Folsom family.

The aircraft was a genuine pre-WWII civilian DC-3 delivered to TWA in April 1939 as NC14931 and served with them until February 1952. It subsequently passed thought the hands of numerous operators and was last active flying out of Laredo, TX., as XA-KTB with Aero JBR, but had been withdrawn from use and stored there by 2008. The deteriorating aircraft was acquired by the Fourrier Foundation in 2018 and moved from Laredo to San Antonio, TX., where it is planned it will be restored to airworthiness and used for humanitarian relief flights in South America and Africa.