Easily the most famous airliner of all time, the DC-3 was a development
of the DC-2. First flown in 1935, the DC-3 had already gained a
dominant position in U.S. commercial aviation before World War II.
The U.S. Army designation for the DC-3 was the C-47; the
U.S. Navy
designation was the R4D. During WW II the C-47 was used to carry
cargo, airborne troops and tow gliders. U.S. Army C-47's acquired the
name "Skytrain". The British used the name
"Dakota". The aircraft was also nicknamed the "Gooneybird".
The C-47 participated in the Berlin Airlift and was used as a gun-ship
in Vietnam.
