Falaise Gap World War 2 Battle Page

On this , we pay tribute to the courageous individuals who have been wounded or made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our nation. Their bravery remind us of the price of freedom. Take a moment today to reflect on their resilience and valor and offer your gratitude for their service.

War Bond Rally, Perry Square (June 12, 1943)

The submarine is a captured Japanese mini-sub.

Happy 85th Birthday DC-3!

Our passion is the C-47, the military version of the DC-3, various adaptations including cargo doors and a toughened cargo floor were made to transform a transcontinental airliner in to a military transport aircraft.

The DC-3’s maiden flight took place at Santa Monica, California during the afternoon of 17th December 1935 paving the way for an eventual production total of 10,655 DC-3/C-47s.

With war looming DC-3s began to enter military service. In January 1942 the first C-47 came off the production line at West Palm Beach, California and was immediately dispatched to the USAAC.

Whilst most of our focus with the Night Fright Project is to honour Troop Carrier Command and return Night Fright to her wartime colours and configuration, her civilian career is not lost on us.

Night Fright carried passengers and cargo post-war for numerous airlines, effectively operating as a DC-3. It’s ironic that we are turning back the clock and returning Night Fright to C-47 configuration.

An airplane essentially not designed for combat ended up becoming one of the most important pieces of equipment during the Second World War. To quote Dwight D. Eisenhower, “Four other pieces of equipment that most senior officers came to regard as among the most vital to our success in Africa and Europe were the bulldozer, the jeep, the 2–ton truck, and the C-47 airplane. Curiously, none of these is designed for combat.”

In our humble opinion the DC-3 is one of if not the most iconic airplanes every built, a design the spans decades across both military and commercial service. There is nothing a DC-3 can’t or hasn’t done.

Or aim is to honour this iconic design by Douglas and the men of Troop Carrier Command and ensure future generations can experience DC-3s and C-47s for another 85 years.

The only thing that you can replace a DC-3 with is another DC-3!

📸 Neil Jones

💬 Charlie Walker