I am just watching episode two of The Colour of War III: The American Story. There is footage of paratroopers training, jumping from a plane which I do not recognise. It has a high wing which is tapered with rounded tips. It has two radial engines, and a nose that looks much like that of a C47 kind of shape, or maybe like a Commando. The tail looks similar to a B26 Marauder. The paratroopers are jumping from a door behind the port wing. The bottom of the fuselage tapers up to the tail in a similar profile shape to a C130 I guess.
I’m curious to know what it is, it is an interesting aircraft. Does anyone have any ideas?
By: von Perthes - 9th January 2005 at 13:25
‘The illustrated encyclopedia of aircraft’ states
‘derived from the DB-7 bomber the DC-5 was dramatically superior to Santa Monica’s DC-3 [the DC-5 was designed at El Segundo]. Designer Ed Heinemann was told by General H.H. Arnold to cancel the programme because of the army’s selection of the C-47.’
Geoff.
By: Flood - 9th January 2005 at 12:58
Think the last one was scrapped in Israel in the 1960s after use as a bomber (if my memory isn’t playing up). Since so few were built it has – apparently – been easy for the fates of all airframes to be traced (think the complete history of the type was in Air Pictorial several years ago), and I believe the only one that had an uncertain end (as in a very remote chance that it wasn’t scrapped) was the one captured and used by the Japanese, and even then I think it was seen after the war in a beaten up state with a collection of other wrecked Japanese aircraft in a scrap yard.
Flood
By: turbo_NZ - 9th January 2005 at 12:27
Hi Cees,
I’m not actually sure on more info, but according to www.prop-liners.com they say there is a possible survivor.
http://www.prop-liners.com/survivors.htm
With only 12 built I reckon it’s extremely unlikely, but then again, 10 Boeing 307 Stratoliners were built and one still survives !!!
So, who knows.
Cheers
Chris
By: HP57 - 9th January 2005 at 12:17
Hi Dave,
Weren’t really a success, only 12 were built !!
Interestingly 4 were delivered to KLM. They damaged one which got captured by the Japanese and was tested by them.
There is one possible survivor apparently.Cheers
Chris
TNZ
Chris,
Tell us more, I thought the DC5 was extinct?
Cees
By: turbo_NZ - 9th January 2005 at 11:18
Ah b*gger !!
Next Sunday I shall not miss it then. 😉
Cheers
Chris
By: Dave Homewood - 9th January 2005 at 11:16
Absolutely worth watching, they all are. This one is from the American angle and talks a lot about their hypocrytical race laws and poor women’s rights, etc., but has a lot of interesting combat footage too. They showed footage of the Tuskagee airmen training, and also the women ferry pilots, in tonights one. Coloured footage of Liberators in formation too, and lots of B17’s over Europe (some of which is from The Memphis Belle).
I preferred the first series and the second one based on the British War best. Maybe because John Thaw was so superb, I really miss him. The The Colour of War: ANZACs was a good series too, lots of previously unseen stuff.
By: turbo_NZ - 9th January 2005 at 11:05
Yes I missed that Colour of War. Should be on again.
Worth watching ?
TNZ
By: Dave Homewood - 9th January 2005 at 10:55
Wow, I guess it makes that coloured film of one in service even more special then. Cheers mate.
By: turbo_NZ - 9th January 2005 at 10:42
Hi Dave,
Weren’t really a success, only 12 were built !!
Interestingly 4 were delivered to KLM. They damaged one which got captured by the Japanese and was tested by them.
There is one possible survivor apparently.
Cheers
Chris
TNZ
By: Dave Homewood - 9th January 2005 at 10:35
Thanks Chris, that second one, the DC5 looks very much like it. I think that is the very aeroplane.
I’d never seen or heard of one of these before. Cheers. And still flying today?
By: turbo_NZ - 9th January 2005 at 10:26
Or perhaps a DC-5 (R3D) ?
TNZ
By: turbo_NZ - 9th January 2005 at 10:22
Wasn’t a Budd Conestoga was it ?
Cheers
Chris
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January 9, 2005 at 9:28 am