C-47 "Dragon Lady"

Steve Rister · **Posted:** Sat Jan 07, 2006 10:38 pm

I noticed an earlier post on a CAF C-47 "Buzz Buggy" and that brought to mind the C-47 "Dragon Lady". I believe this C-47 was owned by the CAF but could be wrong. Anyone know what has happened to the aircraft?
The last I saw it fly was at the Breckenridge 87 show and painted in blue and white CBI paint.

Stephen

Todd Hackbarth · **Posted:** Sun Jan 08, 2006 12:11 am

I ran across this DC-3 (c/n 1918 N17332) on 12/27/2003 at the Poplar Grove, Illinois Airport which is near the Wisconson state line. The aircraft was in a faded olive drab paint scheme and parked outdoors on the grass. It's former American Airlines name, "West Virginia" was painted under the Captain's side window. Under the horizontal stabilizer was painted "509th Parachute Infantry Battalion". A photo of this plane can be seen at: http://www.warbirdalley.com/c47.htm This aircraft was and still is registered to "Flying M Museum". In December of 2003, the address for the Flying M Museum was listed as a PO Box in Leland, IL. As of January, 2006, the address is now given as a PO Box in Townsend, Delaware. N17332 was listed for Sale with Courtesy Aircraft for $79,000 during January of 2004. I do not have any current information about N17332.

Eric Friedebach · **Posted:** Sun Jan 08, 2006 6:46 pm

I think this was the one the Southern Lake Michigan Wing had shortly before the merger with the Great Lakes Wing in the early 90’s. After the merger it was decided that only one DC-3 could be supported. The Black Sparrow won.

It had an executive interior and a big picture window. Not authentic, but a lot more comfortable to go to shows in.

Tulio · **Joined:** Mon May 03, 2004 1:05 am **Posts:** 3236

The Douglas C-39 "Draggin' Lady" was assigned to the West Houston Squadron, Confederate Air Force.

At first, it sported a white and blue color scheme, with the interior looking like a chinese whorehouse, complete with hanging lanterns and all.

After overhaul sometime during the mid 80s, it acquired an overall olive drab color.

If I recall correctly, main spar corrosion issues forced the grounding of the airplane; it was not uncommon to have work parties on weekends at the West Houston airport, to do whatever, clean it, wash it, spiffy it up, or removal of parts, all under the supervision of the old timers at WHS.

Roger Hoestenbach and his wife Laverne (RIP) were the force behind the support for this airplane, and so were Fred Thompson (RIP), Pete Howard (RIP), Ray Jones, his wife Bernadean, Ronny Fountain, John Dazio (RIP), Carol Lee . . . the list goes on and on and on; I flew onboard the Draggin Lady for the 20th anniversary of the landing on the moon celebration at NASA; the pilots were Fred Thompson and Ronald Fountain.

I shot these back in 1986 and 87:

The photo above is dated May 17, 1987 and show s the Lady shortly before take-off after engine repairs.

This photo, dated July 1987, show the Lady with her new colors.

I do not know what happened to the Lady, she was in Harlingen for a while, and then . . . ???

Saludos,

Tulio

Steve Rister · **Posted:** Mon Jan 09, 2006 10:22 pm

Thanks guys for the replies. It's really cool finding the current fate of a warbird not seen (at least by me) in several years. As I convert more of my old footage to DVD I may lean on on WiXer's for more info!

Thanks,
Stephen

bluehawk15 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 17, 2009 9:57 am

I remember once at Victoria when Pete "Thunderchicken" Howard did some real fancy flying in the Lady. I think he holds the record for the lowest high-banked turn in the type. I saw grass in the left wingtip! She was a unique ship and I've wondered what became of her.

skymstr02 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:41 pm

Yeah, I was there at Victoria, TX when that happened. I took Snoopy down there from Conroe that day.
It took a while for Pete's knee's to stop shaking where he could walk on them.

Tulio · **Joined:** Mon May 03, 2004 1:05 am **Posts:** 3236

Col. "Pedro" Howard, asked me once, when we were shooting the breeze, to show him my Guatemalan Pilot wings.

He liked them, I told them to keep them, and from that day on, he wore them on his hat. I was honored and I am glad that I called him a friend. His daughter Susie and her husband Bill, have also been really nice, all around people.

Oh, the old days at the CAF and the Brookshire Air Force! Never to be repeated again, sadly.

Saludos,

Tulio

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:09 pm

I rememember driving to that show and the first A/C I saw was her coming out of the clouds :roll:

as they were doing somew airwork. What happen to the Black Sparrow? We had a pilot on the Rose that flew her and then switched over to the Rose.....

Lynn

Ztex · **Posted:** Sat Jul 18, 2009 12:05 am

Miss seeing this ship in the air...

Tulio · **Joined:** Mon May 03, 2004 1:05 am **Posts:** 3236

Laverne (RIP) and Roger Hoestenbach, were the main supporters of the Draggin' Lady.

Together with WHS members, we spent a few afternoons, cleaning and getting her ready for the Wings Over Houston Airshow, so many years ago!

The interior though, looked like a cheap Chinese house of ill repute.... but we liked it like that! :lol:

Saludos,

Tulio

Clifford Bossie · **Posted:** Sat Jul 18, 2009 10:40 am

I saw that airplane at the 1986 Wings Over Houston and often wondered what happened to her.

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C-47 "Dragon Lady"

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