Upottery, Devon – 28 Jul 07

Hello folks,

As the C-47 is a military aircraft, for it to go onto the N-reg (Civil) it has to be called a DC3C-S1C3G or some such like.

It was a great day, I managed to go on Sunday, the weather actually behaved, the re-enactors really set the scene and it was really great to get the old girl back to her original field, needless to say the comments on the Youtube take-off videos summed up the general feeling 😉

The aircraft was a C-47 prior to being entered on the N-reg, she was the mount of 92nd TCS C.O. Maj. Cecil Petty which are the markings she wears today.

The lads flew her home to Oxford on Tuesday afternoon.

Tom

DC3 or C47, my point was that if you check the first post it says “DC6 N1944A from Kemble”;)

Why is it that I NEVER read posts correctly, and I’m meant to be a proof reader at work 🙂

Best wishes,

Martin

DC3 or C47, my point was that if you check the first post it says “DC6 N1944A from Kemble”;)

C-47 or DC-3? According to the blurb beside the airframe, it was stated that it served at Upottery on 6th June 1944 and then later towed gliders over in the next few days.

So that makes it a……C-47 as thats what it originally was? The mind boggles (well mine does) as to such points. Bit like the Mayfair Dove, when that was originally a Devon.

Martin

The field ( or at least some of it ) has been bought apparently ( according to a local Military Vehicle contact ), and the new owner is an enthusiast who intends to restore it to its wartime condition.

Steve

Have any plans been published as to the future of the control tower, buildings, runways and the rest of the airfield?

If the site had been in America the place would have been fully restored and opened as a museum. The association with “Band of Brothers” would have been enough to generate funding.

As far as I know ( and I’m sure others will correct me if I’ve goofed ) they are basically the same plane, but the C-47 was a militarized version with self sealing fuel tanks and I think the enlarged cargo door area, as opposed to the passenger door of the DC-3. There was probably other military equipment added, and of course on some the glider tow point in the tail.

If someone has a full list of the differences, I’d like to see them all listed, so please let us all know.

Steve

thats all I know Steve but liek you say if there is full list of the differences, I’d like to see them aswel.

James

But arent the DC-3 and C-47 the same thing DC-3 airline and C-47 military? I know that during WWII DC-3 went to become C-47’s? :confused:

James

As far as I know ( and I’m sure others will correct me if I’ve goofed ) they are basically the same plane, but the C-47 was a militarized version with self sealing fuel tanks and I think the enlarged cargo door area, as opposed to the passenger door of the DC-3. There was probably other military equipment added, and of course on some the glider tow point in the tail.

If someone has a full list of the differences, I’d like to see them all listed, so please let us all know.

Steve

Great pics of what looked like a great little event on a fantastic and little known about airfield. And im sure you ment DC3;)

But arent the DC-3 and C-47 the same thing DC-3 airline and C-47 military? I know that during WWII DC-3 went to become C-47’s? :confused:

James

Lee, good to meet you again and thanks for the photos….now I know what was behind us when we taxiied out (the Chipmunk).

I went back again on the Sunday and it was a lot quieter, sad I thought knowing that Branscombe was cancelled….this time in Mk.3 G-AREI and came back in Mk.9 G-BDFH. We took the Broussard along too.

Dakota is due to fly out on Tuesday at 18:00hrs.

Thanks again,

Martin

And im sure you ment DC3;)

Yes, I know its a DC-3 masquerading as a C-47, but I figured someone would say “oh, but it’s a C-47”! Regardless, she looked great. Dug out my (unread) copy of Ambrose’s “Band of Brothers” to see what he had to say, and was horrified to find that he mis-spelt the name of the airfield as “Uppottery”!! Hardly anything about the time there – I was hoping he would be able to paint a picture, but suffice to say I doubt I’ll read more of it – wasn’t impressed.

And even less so when I noticed he had the location of Membury in completely the wrong place on his map too! Hmm.:mad:

Great pics of what looked like a great little event on a fantastic and little known about airfield. And im sure you ment DC3;)

The C-47 came in from Kemble and should have flown out late today. Pretty much the whole airfield is still intact, complete with original control tower, although it is all privately owned now. Have a look at the South West Airfields Trust website for more info.

Nice shots Lee did that C-47 land there aswel and is it just an old runway left standing?

James