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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:17158 USN
    Construction Number:12431
    Last Civil Registration:N31310 {2}
    Compressed ID:Douglas C-117D sn 17158 USN cn 1243...
    Latest Owner or Location:United States Naval Museum of Armament and Technology - Storage, NAWS China Lake / Armitage Field, Ridgecrest, California

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a C-47A-10-DK by Douglas at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.

    Circa 1942

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 42-92611.

    Converted to a R4D-8.
    New construction number, 43368, assigned to the airframe.

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 17158.

    Redesignated as C-117D.

    To United States Navy with new c/r.

    15 March 1963

    Crashed.
    Summary: The airframe was a loss. The military flight departed Saint Louis-Lambert International Airport, MO (STL/KSTL), United States of America and was destined for Memphis NAS, TN (NQA/KNQA), United States of America. The accident occurred at Memphis NAS, TN (NQA) (United States of America) while landing. Narrative: The US Navy C-117D transport plane hit an electricity pole and crashed in a suburb near Memphis NAS. The aircraft caught fire. During emergency landing on Naval Air Base due to engine trouble in heavy rain...
    For a complete description of the event read the Aviation Safety Network Report.

    15 April 1963

    Crashed.
    Summary: The airframe was written off. This was a military flight. Narrative: Damaged beyond repair in an accident.
    For a complete description of the event read the Aviation Safety Network Report.

    13 April 1976

    To United States Navy, Barrow, AK with new c/r N31310 {2}.

    To United States Naval Museum of Armament and Technology-Storage, NAWS China Lake/Armitage Field, Ridgecrest, CA.
    View the Location Dossier

    19 December 2023

    Civil registration, N31310 {2}, cancelled.
    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier is based on
    unreviewed imported data.
    If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor.
    Credits
     Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...
    Internet Sources
     Aerial Visuals - The Locator by Mike Henniger, Senior Editor
    Airbus, Boeing, Convair and Douglas Production List
    Aviation Safety Network
    Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America
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