The Douglas Aircraft Company DC-3 revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and '40s. The 21-seat planes had a lasting effect on the airline industry and contributed to the Allied victory in World War II. The plane is one of the most significant transport aircraft ever produced.

American Airlines Flagship Detroit by Paul Sager, on Flickr


Flagship Detroit is the oldest DC-3 still flying, being aircraft #43 off the Santa Monica production line and delivered to American Airlines on March 2, 1937.

Liberty was built by Douglas Aircraft in Long Beach in 1943. She towed gliders of the 82nd Airborne into France on D-Day. Sold as surplus after the war, she was upgraded from military freighter to corporate executive aircraft and served in luxury for the next 25-years.

Legend Airways "Liberty"


Early U.S. airlines like American, United, TWA, Delta, and Eastern ordered over 400 DC-3s. These fleets paved the way for the modern American air travel industry, which eventually replaced trains as the favored means of long-distance travel across the United States.

C-47 Skytrain "Duchess of Dakota"


Civil DC-3 production ended in 1942 at 607 aircraft. Military versions, including the C-47 "Skytrain", C-53 "Skytrooper", R4D - US Navy designation, and Dakota - British Commonwealth designation, brought total production to over 16,000 within the Allies' Arsenal of Democracy.

The Virginia Ann was built at the Douglas Aircraft factory in Long Beach, California in 1943. On D-Day she was the lead plane of 4 squadrons of C-47s (74 total planes) carrying parachute infantry of the 82nd Airborne into France. The plane was involved in resupply and injured evacuation operations in the days following the June 6th invasion, and went on to participate in operations Market Garden and Varsity.

C-47 Skytrain "Virginia Ann"


This year marked the 75th anniversary of June 6, 1944. Prior to the almost 160,000 Allied troops storming the beaches at Normandy on D-Day, nearly 24,000 troops were parachuted into France or came by glider. Over 800 Douglas C-47 Skytrains (Dakotas) brought these airborne troops. To commemorate this important date in modern history, many of the remaining airworthy aircraft gathered in England in late May 2019 to recreate the flight over the channel to France. If you couldn't make it to France, here are some of the planes that did.

D-Day Doll was built at the Douglas factory in Santa Monica, California in 1943. The plane brought troops of the 101st Airborne into France and went on to participate in operation Market Garden and the resupply of Bastogne in the Battle of the Bulge.

C-53 Skytrooper "D-Day Doll"


Plane N43XX was built in Santa Monica in 1943 and served in Africa, Sicily, and England during WWII.

C-53D Skytrooper "Thunderbird Flying Service"


Placid Lassie was built as a C-47 Skytrain in Santa Monica in 1943. She towed Waco gliders of the 101st Airborne into France and went on to participate in Operation Market Garden.

C-47 Skytrain "Placid Lassie"


This Douglas C-47D Skytrain was built in 1945 and has been repainted to represent Hairless Joe of the 1st Air Commando in the China-Burma-India Theatre. The plane honors 1st Commando pilot Lt.Col. Dick Cole, who is also the last surviving member of the 'Doolittle Raid' and was Jimmy Doolittle’s co-pilot during the famous April 1942 mission over Tokyo.

C-47 Skytrain "Hairless Joe"


Miss Virginia was built in 1943 and served state-side during the war.

C-47 Skytrain "Miss Virginia"


After World War II, thousands of surplus C-47s were converted to civil airline use. An estimated 2,000 DC-3s and military derivatives are still in flying condition.

C-47 Skytrain "Miss Virginia"


Following WWII, Virginia Ann went on to a life in the civilian sector as a transport.

C-47 Skytrain "Virginia Ann"


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