Dumbo Airlines CBI | North African Ferrying Division, ATC

[walika]

Dumbo Airlines | North African Ferrying Command, China-Burma-India 1943-1945

 

Transporting troops and cargo between Casablanca and Karachi was accomplished on C-46s and C-47s. Below are three theater-made patches for "The Rocket Run". The C-46 was called "Dumbo" because of its size, being the newest and largest transport airplane at the time.

 

 

5-1/2" round; leather. The reference of "47,999 Gross" advertised the C-46's greater takeoff weight, one and a half times that of the C-47.

 

 

6-1/4" round; canvas material

 

 

5-1/2" round; leather

 

 

 

There was quite a difference between the C-46 and C-47. The C-46 had two R-2800 engines putting out 2,000 horse power each and was the largest 2-engine plane in existence at that time. The C-47 had two R-1830 engines of about 1,100 horse power. The big bird (referred to by most pilots as Dumbo) had a gross take-off weight of some 50,000 pounds while the 47 took off at about 33,000 pounds. The first C-46 didn't reach the AAF until May, 1942, meanwhile, almost 1,000 C-47s were built in 1941, and over 5,000 in 1942. The C-46 was a much newer and much larger airplane with much more performance. The sequence of numbering may be confusing, but the C47 was the Douglas DC-3, had been in airline service since 1935, the number assignment was when the military took over production in a version stripped of commercial needs. The C-46 was a new design around 1940-41, used PW R2800-34 2100 Hp engines. while the C-47 used 1100Hp Wright R1820 engines. The C-46 could carry a useful load over the Hump into China, while the C-47 could not. The cockpit of the 46 was 16 feet above the ground, the 47 about 10 feet. A C-46 pilot taxing past a C-47 would look down at it.

 

Scale models showing C-47, left, and C-46, right.

 

 

 

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Very interesting and great design on those patches! Thanks for sharing.

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What beautiful patches, never seen anything like it, was the dumbo patch Disney inspired? I use to have Disney dons dog tags I don't remember seeing this design. Thanks for showing

 

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