1939 DC-3 turned into a C-49H, now sitting in Indiana

[MattS]

We were driving through Centerville, Indiana when my son said, "Dad, there's a C-47!"

He was right (technically a C-49 but same thing). It's a sad story. Built in 1939 and flown by Braniff, the DC-3-314 was commandeered by the US Government and converted into a C-49H (one of only 19). In 1944, it was returned to Braniff, went through several owners, and ended up in a museum in Allentown, PA. They sold it on ebay in 2004 to a gentleman in Centerville who wanted to see it saved, but it became the target of thieves in March of 2015. Now it sits, dismantled, behind a warehouse. Here's links to info I found on it.

 

http://m.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=67809

 

http://www.aero-web.org/museums/pa/aaf/42-68688.htm

 

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/42-68688.html

 

http://www.pal-item.com/story/news/crime/2015/03/25/carberry-airplane/70462266/

[MattS]

The tail with serial number 42-68688 on it.

[Bob Hudson]

Some assembly required, batteries not included.

 

Amazing sight for sure.

[MattS]

I found this amazing photo of this very aircraft (NC21774) when it was with Braniff!

[BEAST]

You know Matt, this would look good in Portland! Maybe you could open an annex at the airport.

[TheMariner]

What were the thief's stealing off of it ?? Just metal parts to scrap ??

[BROBS]

that's the way it sounds..

 

people are real turds.

-Brian

[MattS]

And it was probably aluminum, which is not worth stealing at all. It's a shame, hopefully a museum will take it in and restore it.

[MattS]

You know Matt, this would look good in Portland! Maybe you could open an annex at the airport.

 

Just what we need!

[phantomfixer]

So a DC-3 converted for military use is a C-49? and it looks like C-53? what is the difference in designations if the C49 and C53 are DC-3s converted to military use...excluding contract C-47s...pretty cool info

[MattS]

So a DC-3 converted for military use is a C-49? and it looks like C-53? what is the difference in designations if the C49 and C53 are DC-3s converted to military use...excluding contract C-47s...pretty cool info

 

Confusing, huh? I never knew there was a C-49 until finding this. "The Douglas C-49 was the designation given to 138 Wright Cyclone powered DC-3s impressed by the USAAF after the American entry into the Second World War."

From: http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_douglas_C-49.html

 

[hbtcoveralls]

I remember this Aircraft when it was in Allentown at Queen City Airport. A group formed in the early 90s orignially to get a B-17 and then eventually bought this DC-3 and had a flying De-haviland Bever and a Grumman S2-F. The DC-3 had severe corrosion problems and became static after a while, The Museum mainly became a front for a Bingo Parlor operation and then eventually stopped paying it's bills at the airport. The planes became an eyesore and were eventually sold. I had sometimes wondered what happened to the DC-3, but it is sad to see it like that.

Tom Bowers