Wow! That was fast!
So it WAS connected to Pearl Harbor!
Thank you! :)
So nice a way to remember those brave men on that day so long ago, honoring those who died as a result of the attack on U.S. Military and naval forces in Hawaii.
https://www.pacificaviationmuseum.org/pearl-harbor-blog/douglas-c-47dc-3-cheeky-charlie-7/
DC-3, one of THE BEST airworthy USA planes EVER made...
(along with the A-10 Warthog Brrrrp ;n)
amaze - The DC-3 Hangar
www.douglasdc3.com/amaze/amaze.htm
Incredible Amazing Facts about the DC-3 ... In World War II, a Japanese kamikaze pilot tried to shoot one down, then, unable to do so, rammed it. ... A C- 47 ran out of fuel with all its crew bailing out, only to learn later that the aircraft had landed gently all by itself in a meadow several miles from were the crew had deserted ...
DC-3 Flies Itself - Douglas DC3, Dakota, C47, R4D, DC1, DC2 A/C ...
www.dc3history.org/dc3fliesitself.html
The plane they say has the knack of anticipating pilot errors and compensating for those mistakes. Some insist it can fly by itself. In 1957, a USAF DC-3 ran out of gas over Missouri. Everyone bailed out and made it to the ground safely. The DC- 3 glided over the horizon and made a perfect, unassisted landing in a cornfield.
My dad has his father’s “two rising suns” certificate for crossing the International Dateline c. 1942 in a C-47. I recall that the certificate shows two C-47’s and two suns. Can’t find an online example, though.
My grandfather was an attorney who served on MacArthur’s staff and was charged with running the US-Australia lend-lease program. I did my best to channel him when I rode a DC3 from LaGuardia to Martha’s Vineyard in the early 80’s. Very cool plane!
In 1917 at age 17, he signed up for the Army, saying he was 18, and was assigned to the 157th Infantry, 40th Division as a Corporal. We don’t believe he saw combat, but he served well as was discharged as a Second Lieutenant.
On Dec 8, 1942, he re-enlisted and spent most of the war on legal work in Australia. In ‘45-47 (I think) he worked in Japan helping setup the new Japanese government and Constitution. He was in line for promotion to Brig. General, but my grandmother told him either that or her, and he went back to Denver :) Family lore has it that there are a few “cousins” in France, Australia and Japan...