Indochina C-47

Gallery Article by Mark L. Rossmann on Feb 26 2016

 

      

History:
The Douglas C-47 is the most widely used post-WWII era transport plane, going by the official U.S. name of Skytrain or Dakota by Commonwealth countries. Developed from the civilian Douglas DC-3 airliner, it was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and was vital to the success of many Allied campaigns. 

In Europe, the C-47 and a specialized paratroop variant, the C-53 Skytrooper, were used in vast numbers in the later stages of the war, particularly to tow gliders and drop paratroops. During the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, C-47s dropped 4,381 Allied paratroops. More than 50,000 paratroops were dropped by C-47s during the first few days of D-Day, in June 1944, and eventually airlifted supplies to the embattled American forces during the Battle of the Bulge and the ill-fated Operation Market Garden.

In the Pacific War, with careful use of the island landing strips in particular those at Guadalcanal and in the jungles of New Guinea and Burma, the C-47 (and its naval version, the R4D) made it possible for Allied troops to counter the mobility of the light-traveling Japanese army. Additionally C-47s were used for ferrying soldiers serving in the Pacific theater back to the United States.

However it’s most influential role in military aviation, in the backwaters of the CBI theater, was flying "The Hump" from India into China, keeping the U.S., British and Chinese forces supplied in this all too forgotten theater of war. To do this the C-47B was developed with more powerful engines and increased fuel capacity. By flying "The Hump" the experiences and training was later to be used in the Berlin Airlift, in which the C-47 played a major role, until the aircraft was replaced by the Douglas C-54 Skymaster.

The C-47 / DC-3 still remains in front line service with smaller military and civilian operators.

I have been interested in the Indo-China and Korean conflicts of east Asia, especially with the use of WWII aircraft and the transition into the jet age. Many interesting models can be made that overlap this era.

The French extensively used the C-47 in all the rolls that it performed in WWII, during the Indo-China conflict as this one depicts.

Click on images below to see larger images

The Model: 
Is the Monogram C-47. One significant problem was the clear windows which came in nice strips. However, there were raised tabs in-between the windows which prevented them from being inserted. Had to cut each individual window out of the strip and install individually. Also, built the hinges for the back cargo door, so it would protrude away from the aircraft when opened. 

Paint: 
Testers rattle can Olive Drab, silver and yellow, darker rudder is Tamiya AS-6.

Decals: 
From France, Berna 48-08 "Douglas C-47". Up to three aircraft can be built but you only get 1 set of roundels. An all silver from GT1/64 “Bearn” at Ton Son Nhut in 1953, a black undersurface and silver upper for GT2/63 “Senegal” at Nam Dinh in 1954 and the one I chose to do is the GT2/62 “Franche-Comte” at Na San (Tonkin) in 1953. The only information I could find depicting this aircraft was on the decal sheet. 

Please see the other article written on the “The Voice” the Psyops C-47 used by the French in Indo-China, on this website. 

References:

  1. Rand McNally World War II Airplanes – Vol. 2 by Enzo Angelucci and Paolo Matricardi 

  2. Berna Decals – BD 48-18. 

  3. Air War Over Indochina Website – by William Alcott 

Thanks to Steve for his great site….

Mark L. Rossmann

Photos and text © by Mark L. Rossmann