Posted on Jan 31, 2023
What is the oldest Military Aircraft that you Operated, Jumped From, or Rode In as a Service Member?
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As a young paratrooper, the first military aircraft that I jumped from was a Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (a Berlin-Airlift era aircraft introduced in 1949). To tell you the truth, I am happy that it was my first jump aircraft, because I could actually see the rivets in the skin spinning around, as the engines revved up, and I was HAPPY to get out. Interestingly, the C-119 was known to have one of the highest rates of parachute malfunctions, believed to be because of the unique slipstream from the twin tailboom assembly. I think that the second-oldest that I jumped from was a U-6A Beaver that entered Service in 1952. I always wanted to jump from a C-47 Dakota, but that was reserved mostly for the True Heroes from WW2 and Korea.
But this isn't just for Paratroopers. If you were Crew, Paratroops, or Cargo, tell your experience.
But this isn't just for Paratroopers. If you were Crew, Paratroops, or Cargo, tell your experience.
Korean War
WWII World War Two
Airplanes
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 31
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I flew in a C-119 while I was in Civil Air Patrol. That aircraft is older than I am. C-141 Starlifter was getting old when I was on it, as was the C-130. The UH1 and Chinook have been around for a long time, too.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
I had also rode in a C199 when i was a Cadet in Civil Air Patrol and also rode in a C47, and EC121 also as a CAP Cadet. I had rode on a C130 later while on active duty in the USAF in Vietnam. While working on a LCF, Launch Control Facility for the Minuteman Missiles We flew to work, 85 miles from the Base on UH1 choppers weather permitting. By chopper it was 30 minutes, to drive there it took 1.5 hours which We had to do when weather didn't allow the chopper transport. After My CAP Cadet Years I remained another 40 years in CAP as a Senior Member which included My 22 years of USAF Service.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
SMSgt Lawrence McCarter - The C119 was only Military Aircraft I rode in as Civil Air Patrol Cadet (Father a retired Master Sergeant). All the rest were Army or Army National Guard. The UH1 was still active when I first enlisted, Blackhawks were just being fielded. Even though my father flew on C47 in the CBI, I have never gotten to ride on one.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
CPT Lawrence Cable - My brother was also a former CAP Cadet, and my Dad, was a Senior Member, Lt. Colonel in CAP. Like Me, both spent over 40 years each in CAP. My Dad was active duty Navy for ten years during WWII and Korea and will be 97 in March 2023 and doing fine. He got to go on a C54 from Hanscom AFB, MA to a Base in Florida where the passengers were all CAP Senior Members. My brother had been on a C47 of the Peruvian Air Force when as a Cadet He went to Peru in South America with the IACE, International Air Cadet Exchange. One engine had stopped while they were flying between peaks of the Andes Mountains but they got to a Base and did land safely.
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At age 65,in 2022, I made my 4th and 5th static line jumps from a C-47 (Tico Belle). The Tico dropped paratroopers over St. Mere-Eglise on 6 June 1944.
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Flew 1957 T37 trainer aircraft as a student in 1969 and 1974-77 as an instructor. As an ROTC cadet flew as passenger on a C124 Globemaster. Most of the C130E I piloted were 1963 or 1964. Some of those had over 30,000 hours on the airframe including multiple tours in Vietnam. Newest aircraft I flew was a 1971 C130H in about 1980.
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The oldest military aircraft in which I ever flew (as a passenger) was a single-engined DeHavilland DHC-2 Beaver, which in Army parlance was a U-6 (six passenger utility aircraft). The Beaver's maiden flight was 16 August 1947, and the U.S. Army eventually bought several hundred of these fine Canadian aircraft! In Korea from late 1968 to early '70, we had two Beavers assigned to the 7th Avn Bn, at our airfield A-220 ("Tong Du Cheon Int'l Airport"). I spent many happy hours flying "hither and yon" in those Beavers, and one of them was even used to fly Gypsy Rose Lee from Kimpo Airport in Seoul to our 7th Infantry Division. An incredibly versatile airplane, many hundreds are still in use today, on wheels, skis, and floats, serving agencies and private owners with a wide variety of missions!
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MSG Lonnie Averkamp
I was in 12th Special Forces Group, back in about 1973, and the Group let us use one to sport-parachute jump from. It wasn't the easiest airplane to jump from, but not the hardest, either.
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SMSgt Michael Gleason
I assume that the rear doors must have been removed for flight? (At least they were aft of the wing struts!)
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SGT Carl Blas
MSG Lonnie Averkamp - My older brother who was in photography, in Sept 1972, stopping by Guam on my way to the DMZ Korea, he gave me his old 35mm Pentax Spotmatic camera.
But the pictures at Bragg in June of 72, were taken with my British Samoa army buddy's camera.
He is the guy kneeling between the two of us , infront of the Iron Mike statue at Bragg.
But the pictures at Bragg in June of 72, were taken with my British Samoa army buddy's camera.
He is the guy kneeling between the two of us , infront of the Iron Mike statue at Bragg.
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SGT Carl Blas
MSG Lonnie Averkamp - The picture of my T-10 in my jump at Bragg, I had an Kodak Instamatic camera, that I carried with me till 1975. When I was in the jungles of Panama going through Jungle Expert School, we were crossing a small river, with poncho rafts, and my camera and some film got wet.
Pictures are with my Instamatic camera in 1974, while in the desert for three months with the 82nd. And, a picture in Panama, 1975 with a good friend, you can see in the back ground, The Panama Canal.
Pictures are with my Instamatic camera in 1974, while in the desert for three months with the 82nd. And, a picture in Panama, 1975 with a good friend, you can see in the back ground, The Panama Canal.
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MSG Lonnie Averkamp
SGT Carl Blas - You were a wise man. You did a good job of keeping documentation of your exploits. Now, if someone calls "BS" on my experiences, I can't show physical evidence.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
The C-54 was the Air Force version of a DC-4.
My father was in CBI, the C-54 actually was the dominate cargo aircraft by the end of the war. They also flew the Cargo version of the B24, the C-87. Flight Crews didn't like the C87.
My father was in CBI, the C-54 actually was the dominate cargo aircraft by the end of the war. They also flew the Cargo version of the B24, the C-87. Flight Crews didn't like the C87.
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
CPT Lawrence Cable - It looked like the DC-6s United that I flew on from Baltimore Friendship to Norfolk Regional. So C something
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CPT Lawrence Cable
MAJ Ronnie Reams - The DC-6 was the C-118 Liftmaster. These were the direct descendants of the DC-4/C-54 and they look a lot a like. Longer fuselage, pressurized cabin and bigger engines. Easiest way to tell them apart is the C-54 has round porthole type windows, the C-118 has square ones.
And my father claimed I never listened to him ;^).
And my father claimed I never listened to him ;^).
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MSG Lonnie Averkamp In 1954 I sat in a C 124 Globemaster while returning to Korea from
R n R in Japan. Having a red fire engine in the center of the aircraft and in my face left a lasting impression. (1954).
R n R in Japan. Having a red fire engine in the center of the aircraft and in my face left a lasting impression. (1954).
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
MSG Lonnie Averkamp Jump seating is surely a great reason to fall asleep. Actually, the memory of trying to take a leak on the flight is also traumatic!
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