I was watching a programme about the the DC-3 this evening
One shot was taken inside a production area for the C-47 and showed several fuselages under construction. I noticed that one of them had what seemed to be a ‘turret’ immediately in front of the fin.
It appeared to be constructed of flat plates of a clear material as opposed to a moulded curved construction.
Does anybody have any idea what the purpose of this ‘turret’ might be?
None of the other photos or flying shots showed it.
Richard
By: Bob - 1st September 2017 at 23:48
Having found the documentary online I fwd’d to the scene in question…
The turret does indeed now appear to be the retractable one. As I only had a brief glimpse it looked a bit more pointy.
And this factory scene was inferred as being post 1941, as the military demanded a transport aircraft and DC-3 production switched to C-47.
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By: Duggy - 1st September 2017 at 22:49
Early B-18’s had a retractable turret.
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By: Bob - 1st September 2017 at 22:03
“There are two sides to every story. The truth is usually somewhere between the two.”
😀
By: cthornburg - 1st September 2017 at 21:30
Although a DC3/C47/Li2 with a turret is possible.
Chris
By: J Boyle - 1st September 2017 at 18:47
You should take it up with them, you were the one misled and distributed incorrect information.
Really, who are you going to believe…some documentary (we know they’re never wrong) or me? 🙂
The B-18s were built long before production switched from civilian types.
Funny how there are so many misconceptions out there about well documented and well known types.
By: Bob - 1st September 2017 at 15:33
Pedantry aside, I seem to recall the clip in question being linked to the switch from DC-3 production for civilian use to military and therefore the error was in the narrative for the documentary.
Take it up with them… 😀
By: J Boyle - 1st September 2017 at 14:41
At the risk of being pedantic, the B-18 was based on the DC-2, not C-47.
The C-47 was a very late development of the Douglas family, not appearing until late 1941.
The B-18 first flew several months before the DC-3, in 1935.
It’s probably more accurate to say the bomber and DC-3 were developed concurrently since both had improvements over the DC-2.
By: Bob - 1st September 2017 at 12:30
Here you go – the B-18 was based on the DC-2 and shared common parts so I suppose it shared the same assembly lines…
[Post adjusted for historical accuracy….]
By: Arabella-Cox - 1st September 2017 at 11:56
I think you are right. I just assumed it was a DC-3/47 since that was what the programme was about 🙂
Richard
By: Bob - 1st September 2017 at 11:22
I saw it too – was it an early dorsal turret of a B-18 Bolo – the construction of the framework looked similar to early B-17 nose/blister glazing frames before they figured out how to curve plexiglass…
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August 31, 2017 at 11:32 pm