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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Douglas DC-1 / DC-2/R2D / DC-3 Dakota / C-47/R4D Skytrain / C-53 Skytrooper
    Latest Model:C-117D
    Last Military Serial:50821 USN
    Construction Number:15431
    Compressed ID:Douglas C-117D sn 50821 USN cn 1543...
    Latest Owner or Location:National Naval Aviation Museum, NAS Pensacola, Pensacola, Florida

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    Dates

    Event

    1944

    Constructed as a C-47B-20-DK by Douglas at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.

    New construction number, 26876, assigned to the airframe.

    2 December 1944

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 43-49615.
    Not TOS, transferred directly to the Navy.

    2 December 1944

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 50821 as a R4D-6.

    December 1944

    Transferred to Transport Squadron 3 (VR-3), NAS Olathe, KS.

    11 June 1946

    Transferred to Transport Pool, NAS Patuxent River, MD.

    March 1947

    Transferred to Transport Pool, NAS Columbus, OH.

    April 1948

    Transferred to Transport Pool, NAS Quonset Point, RI.

    Circa 1949

    Transferred to Transport Pool, NAS South Weymouth, MA.

    Circa 1951

    Converted to a R4D-8.
    New construction number, 43322, assigned to the airframe.

    From 1952 to 1969

    Transferred to Fleet Logistics Air Wing Atlantic.
    Operated throughout Europe.

    18 September 1962

    Redesignated as C-117D.

    13 February 1969

    Transferred to NAS Rota, Spain.

    4 February 1974

    Transferred to NAF El Centro, CA.

    May 1978

    Transferred to NAS Moffett Field, CA.

    Transferred to Naval Weapons Center (NWC), China Lake, CA.

    May 1982

    Ferry flight. Delivered to National Naval Aviation Museum, NAS Pensacola, Pensacola, FL.
    Arrived from NWC, China Lake, CA.
    View the Location Dossier

    15 October 1982


    Photographer: Paul Thallon
    Notes: 1982 photo at National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, FL of Douglas C-117D Skytrooper

    1991


    Photographer: Wayne Gomes
    Notes: Photographed at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL.

    11 September 2003


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

    11 September 2003


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

    19 April 2010


    Photographer: Matt Maranto
    Credits
     Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...
    Internet Sources
     Airbus, Boeing, Convair and Douglas Production List
    China Lake Alumni
    China Lake Alumni
    National Naval Aviation Museum
    United States Military Services Serial Number Lists by Joe Baugher
    Individual Contributors
     Glenn Chatfield
    Mike Henniger
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