How many C-47 veterans of WWII still fly?

[Fearless Tower]

Greatest Generation Aircraft's DC-3 "Southern Cross" is a WW2-veteran C-49J and flies regularly.

The GGA guys are also restoring another C-47 that flew in Market Garden.

Yep. They're restoring it for a private owner. Believed to also be a D-Day participant. Painted in D-Day markings, carrying fuselage code "9X", believed to be its correct number. Invasion stripes not applied yet, but the plan is to brush them on by hand with sloppy edges! This is going to be a very authentic restoration.

The GGA guys are also restoring a second C-47, N86553, USAAF s/n 41-18590, which served with the 5th AF in Australia and the 13th AF in the Pacific. It was crewed in combat by owner Seth Washburne's father (a USAAF navigator, KIA). This ship was last operated as a freighter by Borinquen Air out of San Juan, PR, from 1993 until 2009. I photographed it at SJU in front of their offices in the summer of 1996. Here is a link to a YouTube video of N86553 arriving at FTW after the flight from SJU (720P HD with nice stereo sound!):

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=thi ... FORM=VIRE3

And if you go to the Thirsty 13th web site. . .

http://thirsty13th.com/

. . .you'll find a photo of this C-47 from WW2, along with some history!

Neat stuff!

What will be really cool is if they ever get the WACO glider rebuilt and fly it!

[Moodyblue]

And then in Holland we have PH-PBA, ex 42-100971, c/n 19434. She flew in Normandy, Market-Garden and Varsity and is now being operated by DDA Classic Airlines (http://www.dutchdakota.nl) on a.o. sightseeing flights. Not in wartime colours but beautiful retro KLM-livery!

[AURktman]

Just an update one one of these, N59NA "Bones". She is in for conversion at Basler. http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry ... ertxt=59NA

[flightsimer]

Wow! Who was the previous owners?

[AURktman]

Wow! Who was the previous owners?

According to this website: http://salutefromtheshore.org/vintage-aircraft-history/

Barry Avent as of 2007.

[CWH Museum]

There is also the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum's Dak.

Unfortunately CWH's Dak never saw military service.
It was built in 1939 for Eastern Airlines as NC21729 and flew with them until 1952.

Actually our other Dakota is a World War II vet. It flew with the RAF on D-Day and shortly after that flew with 437 Squadron RCAF. It's in civilian colours right now but will be reconfigured and painted to an original paint scheme in the future.

See http://www.warplane.com/vintage-aircraf ... craftId=54