Plane Crash
Jul 22, 2018 17:22:28 #
You may have seen this C-47, The Bluebonnet Belle, on the internet recently. It crashed on Saturday, 7/21/2018 at 0900 hrs. while taking off from Burnet Municipal Airport in Texas. It appears to be a totally destroyed. The plane was en-route to an air show in Wisconsin. All 13 people aboard the plane survived but some were badly burned.
The plane was built in late 1944 in Oklahoma City. It was then flown to Montreal, Canada where it was transferred to Great Britain. The plane served with the RAF before being reassigned to a Canadian transport squadron. After decades of service it entered the civilian service in 1974 until 1995. It was owned by a number of Canadian airline and charter companies. It was donated to the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) in 2002. It then underwent a 2 year restoration by the Highlands Lakes Squadron.
I photographed this plane at the WWII Museum Air Expo, New Orleans Lakefront Airport in October, 2017.
Don
The plane was built in late 1944 in Oklahoma City. It was then flown to Montreal, Canada where it was transferred to Great Britain. The plane served with the RAF before being reassigned to a Canadian transport squadron. After decades of service it entered the civilian service in 1974 until 1995. It was owned by a number of Canadian airline and charter companies. It was donated to the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) in 2002. It then underwent a 2 year restoration by the Highlands Lakes Squadron.
I photographed this plane at the WWII Museum Air Expo, New Orleans Lakefront Airport in October, 2017.
Don
Jul 22, 2018 18:09:31 #
How sad that a another piece of history is gone. Wishing the burn victims speedy recoveries.
Jul 22, 2018 18:16:21 #
Paul Moshay
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
How sad, I am happy there were no deaths and I wish a speedy recovery for the injured. The loss of the airplane leaves very few of that type left to enjoy.
Jul 22, 2018 18:49:14 #
That truly sucks but I'm glad everyone on board are still with us. It's such a catastrophe each time one of these amazing pieces of functional history are destroyed. The men and women who built them and flew them when they were new are pretty much all gone and now we've lost another of their marvellous machines. Hopefully some of the salvageable parts will go towards keeping what's left alive.
Jul 23, 2018 06:30:58 #
Thanks for sharing these - I wondered which plane it was that crashed - what a beautiful job of restoration.
Jul 23, 2018 08:41:08 #
foxfirerodandgun
Loc: Stony Creek, VA
My late brother-in-law was a radio operator on the C-47's during the Korean Conflict. I have several pictures of him in one. It's very sad that this immaculate specimen of history has been lost. ;~(
Jul 23, 2018 09:53:45 #
When I was in college at TCU more than 50 years ago I paid $6 for a flight from Carter Field (on the site of what is now DFW International) for a flight from there to Paris on Central Airlines. That is Paris, Texas, some 100 miles away.
Jul 23, 2018 13:32:27 #
TCU grad here also. When in elementary school, my class was treated to a DC3 flight on Central Airlines from FTW’s Meacham Field to Carter Field. The flight was comp’d and sponsored by White Lake Dairy of FTW. I am now a retired airline pilot and a big fan of old, recip powered transport aircraft. But, I won’t ride in one. It’s extremely sad to hear of such serious injuries.
Jul 23, 2018 16:36:14 #
Jul 23, 2018 17:11:02 #
forbescat wrote:
How sad that a another piece of history is gone. Wishing the burn victims speedy recoveries.
Thanks for viewing and commenting forbescat.
Don
Jul 23, 2018 17:11:50 #
Paul Moshay wrote:
How sad, I am happy there were no deaths and I wish a speedy recovery for the injured. The loss of the airplane leaves very few of that type left to enjoy.
Couldn't agree with you more Paul.
Don
Jul 23, 2018 17:14:58 #
rmorrison1116 wrote:
That truly sucks but I'm glad everyone on board are still with us. It's such a catastrophe each time one of these amazing pieces of functional history are destroyed. The men and women who built them and flew them when they were new are pretty much all gone and now we've lost another of their marvellous machines. Hopefully some of the salvageable parts will go towards keeping what's left alive.
Kind of ironic that I photographed this plane just a few months ago and after Saturday no one else will have that opportunity. Don't know for sure but would think there are not many C-47's still around.
Thanks for viewing rmorrison.
Don
Jul 23, 2018 17:15:35 #
sb wrote:
Thanks for sharing these - I wondered which plane it was that crashed - what a beautiful job of restoration.
Thanks for commenting Steve, it is appreciated.
Don
Jul 23, 2018 17:16:56 #
foxfirerodandgun wrote:
My late brother-in-law was a radio operator on the C-47's during the Korean Conflict. I have several pictures of him in one. It's very sad that this immaculate specimen of history has been lost. ;~(
Agree with you foxfirerodandgun. Your late brother-in-law may have served on this very plane!
Don
Jul 23, 2018 17:18:15 #
trackmag wrote:
When I was in college at TCU more than 50 years ago I paid $6 for a flight from Carter Field (on the site of what is now DFW International) for a flight from there to Paris on Central Airlines. That is Paris, Texas, some 100 miles away.
Your $6.00 won't buy you 3 gallons of gas now trackmag!
Don
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.