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LTC Stephen C.
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I actually got to jump a Douglas C-47 (well, a DC-3), CW5 Jack Cardwell. I skydived from the world famous Mr. Douglas at Zephyrhills, FL in NOV75! I participated in the annual Turkey Meet there, and I also got to jump a Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar. The DC-3 photo is actually Mr. Douglas. There's now a huge project underway to restore the aircraft to flying status.
The Lodestar photo is not the one that I jumped but just a stock photo I peeled off the internet. The aircraft is bigger than you might think. The little window behind the left rear door is a head!
SMSgt Lawrence McCarter PVT Mark Zehner SGT Kevin Berman
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
5 y
Although I've never exited any aircraft with a parachute nor plan to either i have been up in both a DC3 and a C47. In the case of a DC 3 it belonged to Eastern Airlines and I flew from Boston, MA to Newark, NJ in that commercial aircraft. I have on a number of occasions rode as passenger also in an Air Force C47 first as a cadet in Civil Air Patrol a couple times then later a few more times when i Myself was in the US Air Force.
I did have a cousin that made over 250 parachute jumps and as a pilot also took others up to jump. He was multi engine rated, instructor rated, Instrument rated and later ended up flying for FEDEX and had over 5,000 flying hours. A lot of His flying time before and after was in private aircraft.
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SGT Program Coordinator
SGT (Join to see)
5 y
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There used to be a DC-3 parked at the 82nd ABN museum on Bragg 1972, as well as other old aircraft. That's the only time I ever saw a DC-3, let alone jump out of one, the plane might not have been a DC-3, just an old one. Lol
Notice the air scoop under the engine, just like in your picture of the DC-3.
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LTC Stephen C.
LTC Stephen C.
5 y
SGT (Join to see), although variations of the C-47 were still in service when you and I went to jump school, I don't think any airborne operations were conducted with them. I looked at the 173rd's Vietnam combat jump in 1967, and all the aircraft appeared to be C-130s.
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SGT Program Coordinator
SGT (Join to see)
5 y
LTC Stephen C. - In 72 we made our qualifying jumps with a C-119 and C-134. Once at Bragg we jumped with C-130's and C-141's and UH1.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
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This certainly give an accurate picture of the launch of the C47s and the towed gliders as well A now deceased member of our American legion Post 208, Millis, MA was a tail gunner on a B17 that participated on one massive Airborne assault on Holland . once their bombs were dropped they had to make a wide turn to exit and make room for the C47s in the Airborne assault. That was one of 26 Combat mission that man, then SSgt Francis "Sliver" Murphy had flow with the 8th Air Force. He and all four of His brothers had served in uniform, in Europe in WWII. When He married His wife was also serving in the US Army.
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