Tag: C-47
Douglas C-47 Skytrain Walk Around Part I
Photographs taken at the Air Zoo, Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Douglas C-47 / R4D Skytrain / Dakota Color Photographs Part III
Douglas C-47 / R4D Skytrain / Dakota Color Photographs Part II


Part II here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2021/06/16/douglas-c-47-r4d-skytrain-dakota-color-photographs-part-iii/
Douglas C-47 / R4D Skytrain / Dakota Color Photographs Part I









Part II here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2021/06/09/douglas-c-47-r4d-skytrain-dakoda-color-photographs-part-ii/
Lost in Shangri-La Book Review
Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II
By Mitchell Zuckoff
Hardcover in dustjacket, 384 pages, bibliography, notes, and index
Published by Harper Collins, 2011
Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-0-06-198834-9
Dimensions: 6.1 x 1.4 x 9.3 inches
In the central mountains of Dutch New Guinea lies a valley, cut off from the outside world by mountainous terrain and jungle. In the valley thousands of people lived in isolation, a stone-age society with their own unique culture and traditions. The area was uncharted and did not show up on any of the maps of the time. During WWII the USAAF became aware of the valley and its people while searching for areas suitable for constructing new airfields. The reconnaissance flights were tricky, requiring the aircraft to fly through passes in the mountains before dropping into the valley, often through clouds and shifting winds.
By May 1945 the war had moved on and New Guinea had become a backwater. Japanese troops who remained on the island were disorganized and avoided contact with the Americans. Likewise, Allied troops avoided the cannibalistic tribes which inhabited other parts of the island. To break the boredom, additional personnel began tagging along on the reconnaissance flights to the newly-discovered valley, eager to see its natural beauty and the villages scattered throughout. Little was known about the people there, so imagination filled in the gaps and soon the inhabitants became seven-foot-tall cannibals, the valley’s natural beauty causing it to be called Shangri-La. As the stories spread, the local command began organizing sight-seeing flights for personnel.
On 13MAY45 a C-47 transport named the Gremlin Special failed to clear a ridge and crashed in the valley. Of the twenty-four people on board only three survived – Lt. John McCollom, who lost his twin brother in the crash; Sgt. Ken Decker; and WAC Corporal Margaret Hastings. Both Decker and Hastings were injured.
This is an excellent story and author Mitchell Zuckoff does an outstanding job telling it. The rescue effort was considerable and involved air drops of various supplies and a small unit of Filipino-American paratroopers to assist. Only after the paratroopers were inserted was the question of how to get everyone out addressed. I was surprised to see the perspective of the local tribesmen included. Their society and culture has since been studied by anthropologists and Zuckoff flew to New Guinea to conduct interviews with those who witnessed the events as children. This is a fast read which I can recommend without hesitation, both as an adventure story and to those interested in military history.
Douglas C-47D Walk Around
Photographs taken at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.
Airfix Douglas C-47 Skytrain in 1/72 Scale
This is the new mold Airfix C-47A in 1/72 scale. It is a fine kit in all respects, it builds up quickly and with no surprises. The interior is perfectly adequate, very little can be seen in any case and I would advise against adding additional detail as the effort will be wasted. I did add ignition wiring to the engines as these can be seen, and I replaced the kit wheels with aftermarket resin which offered a small improvement. I added brake lines from wire, and Uschi antenna lines. Kit decals were used, and represent “Kilroy is Here” of the 92nd Troop Carrier Squadron / 439th Troop Carrier Group operating from Devon, England for the Normandy landings. The invasion stripes showed through the fuselage insignia so those were doubled up with spares from the decal stash. A nice kit overall, one which can be recommended without reservation.
Build thread here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/?s=airfix+douglas+c-47
Airfix Douglas C-47 Skytrain Build in 1/72 Scale Part III










Finished pictures here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2019/11/14/airfix-douglas-c-47-skytrain-in-1-72-scale/
Airfix Douglas C-47 Skytrain Build in 1/72 Scale Part II






Part III here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2019/11/08/airfix-douglas-c-47-skytrain-build-in-1-72-scale-part-iii/