Ex 43-16070. Operated by Southwest Airways, which was renamed Pacific Air Lines in 1958, until 1960. The C-47 eventually crashed in Alaska in 1988 due to fuel starvation. Photo from: Sonoma County Library

ex C-FABA. Later on to Salair. Crashed Quetzaltenango (Guatelmala) in 1998 while operating for Living Water Teaching Inc. - photographer unknown

seen from the tower

This DC-3 was acquired by Sea Star Pacific in the early 1980s and painted in their colours. Circa 1984 the titles were replaced with these "Western Pacific" titles, but no info on such an airline in 1984 could be traced (Solomon Islands-based Western Pacific Airline was founded in 1985). It still carried these titles by July 1985, but later reverted to its earlier Sea Star Pacific titles. The aircraft was eventually scrapped and sunk in the Majuro Lagoon as a divers attraction. Noted as such in 2002, still with Sea Star Pacific titles. If anybody knows more about this "Western Pacific", let me know. (photographer unknown)

Spartan emblem carried below the cockpit. It was acquired by them in 1956 and from 1969 was involved in multiple leases to other operators within Canada, including Canadian Aero Service in 1972, when it was seen at Gimli/MB (CYGM). In 1980 it seems to have been abandoned at Malta and was acquired by the Malta Aviation Museum located at Ta' Qali (LMMT).

Spartan aircraft were often seen in the UK during the 1960s and 70s as they plied their way from Canada to the third world and back on survey contracts. This C-47 was acquired in 1956 and served until 1969 when it became N19721. The aircraft was seen as such at Winnipeg (CYWG) in October 1973, still carrying the same roof antennae but with a birdie (or 'bomb') under the belly instead of the radome used here.

I first snapped this DC-3 when it was CF-ICU with Spartan Air Services. That was at Gatwick/UK on 04Aug63. Here it is with Continental Aviation of Oklahoma and still doing survey work. Note the 'bomb' under the fuselage and roof antennas for dual ADF used for cross-checking position in the pre-GPS era. Last known stored for spares use with the Vintage Flying Museum at Meacham Field, Fort Worth, TX since 2010.

Delivered to the USAAF as C-47A-15-DL 42-23392 , postwar it served with All American Airways as NC79014, then to Allegheny as N91228 and N148A. Later exported to Argentina. Photo scanned from an original slide via Stefano Pagiola. When I visited PIT in 1967 the ANG base in the distance was flying C-124s.

ex USAAF 42-23802, LN-IAP,Danish Air Force 68-681 and K-681. The real OY-DDA (c/n 19288) is on display at D-Day museum in St. Mére I'Eglise, France

ex USAAF 42-92857. Became SP-LCJ, OY-AIC, F-BRGM, 71241, YU-ABU, N8071X, 92857, TN-ADS, TN-ACT, converted to a DC-3TP, South African Air Force 6887

ex USAAF 42-92857. Became SP-LCJ, OY-AIC, F-BRGM, 71241, YU-ABU, N8071X, 92857, TN-ADS, TN-ACT, converted to a DC-3TP, South African Air Force 6887

Built5 as Douglas C-47A-20-DL Skytrain (DC-3) (cn 9397) Delivered to the USAAF as 42-23535 in May, 1943. After the military it served with airlines in Australia, the Philippines and Canada before going to Aspen Airways in 1968. After Aspen it came to Fairbanks in 1972, before going to Florida in 1974 with AAT Airlines.

Very hard to take a decent picture of this C-47 which was delivered as 42-93101 to the USAAF. The Douglas is on display since the establishment of the Airborne & Special Operations Museum in Fayettevile which is certainly worth a visit if you are in the area.