WW2 Planes Still in Military Service 2021

[@lhkraut]

When I worked at Lufthansa Cargo/CLT in the 90's there was a cargo company that flew several DC-3s painted in the D-Day colors. It really was remarkable to see these aircraft every day, and the irony of working for Lufthansa Cargo never escaped me! The DC-3 has always held a place in my heart, especially in her war colors. Prost!

[@1pwatson1]

That was Air Atlantique

[@96thaerospacemedia48]

I live in CLT and I've heard many stories of Sabre Air Cargo still doing cargo runs to CLT, GSO, etc. Man I wish I could've seen them in person!

[@jamesdykes517]

Every time a German says Prost you have to drink a toast. And every time a Brit says cheers I never have a beer. Guten Tag!

[@ashcarrier6606]

The DC-3 is certainly in the top 5 aircraft of all time. I got to look into an "airline" version of a DC-3 years ago at the Dayton Airshow. It was immaculate inside. Total 1940s/50s commercial comfort. It was the straight goods.

[@lhkraut]

@@96thaerospacemedia48 They looked like they were new. It was like going back in time.

[@Harry-yz2jv]

I love how supportive the community is for this channel, just the little things like addressing him as Dr. If any channel deserves that respect, it’s defiantly this one

[@idleonlooker1078]

The quality of his uploads, and in continually unearthing fascinating gems of military history, underpin our respect for what he does!! 👍

[@xiaoka]

Unfortunately the Nazi related videos attract some less supportive types… who crawl out from under some rocks. Unfortunately comes with the territory. But I have nothing but respect for Dr. Felton!

[@stevesandford1437]

I wholeheartedly agree. (As history nerds (!!!!) I think that what sets Dr.Felton's channel apart from many other similar vlogs is that he takes for granted that he's speaking to an audience with a basic knowledge of events.) He tends to explore and unearth the slightly more obscure aspects of WWII in particular, thus educating his viewers in relation to subjects and events we might not have been aware of as 'casual' or amateur historians.) His presentational style and manner, also the carefully researched visuals that accompany the videos, show us that he's an academic who knows his subject matter. (The longer-form 'War Stories' channel is also excellent.) xx SF

[@Jack51971]

Sir Mark Felton as it were?

[@jcwiggens]

LMAO, Dr.

[@krisfrederick5001]

If it ain't broke, don't scrap it. Words to live by.

[@homefront3162]

Tell my ex that

[@lhkraut]

There were so many things that people just took for granted and we no longer have them today. I think about so many incredible machines that people never considered special, but we would pay dearly to have at least one example left.

[@johnbockelie3899]

The DC 3 came out in 1937.

[@ommsterlitz1805]

Would have to pay me a lot to get inside one of those rusty botched work bolted Us or uk planes.

[@jammiedodger7040]

It is more like if it ain’t broke don’t fix it

[@robstone4537]

As a South African paratrooper during the Angolan Bush war in the 80’s we used DC3’s. The ability to fly very slowly (I think 80knots was the exit speed) enabled paratroopers to be dropped in a very tight stick in thick bush. The higher exit speed of a C130 (120 knots if I remember correctly) meant you were spread out over a larger area. It was also significantly cheaper to operate when you only needed to drop small squads for counter insurgency operations. One thing you won’t ever forget is standing in the open door of a Dak in the dark and seeing flames shooting out the exhaust.

[@russellmiles2861]

And these same aircraft are still in use with the South African Airforce

[@godfreypatrick9792]

I tasked them and the Canberra for aerial mapping, flying out of Rundu & Mpacha, Canberas out of Waterkloof if I remember correctly.. a long time ago.... genie capt.

[@tonynz9954]

Don't forget the Rhodesian Airforce also used these aircraft for Paratroopers and SAS.

[@robertdipaola3447]

Thank you for your service, soth Africa had extremely tough troops fighting the ANC terrorists, you guys were the best!!!!!

[@robertdipaola3447]

South Africa and Rhodesian military were the best of the best when fighting the anc terrorists and the communist Cubans, among others, the south African recces, Rhodesian SAS, SELUS SCOUTS , WERE SECOND TO NONE, THE ONLY ONES TO STOP TGEM WERR TGE USELESS COWARDS,THE POLITICIANS!!!!!

[@brianlam1663]

Dr. Felton, thank you for highlighting the South African Air Force and remembering us here!

[@JO-cw5xe]

We still have use for the great beasts.

[@freedomvigilant1234]

I wonder if a video on the Cheetah fighter plane could follow?

[@armablign]

@@freedomvigilant1234 Would love to see that, especially with the fact that we developed the first helmet-mounted sights, and the whole mystery as to how the Soviets got their hands on the tech. (It's split between, the tech being stolen from the Israelis during the technology exchanges back then, or, Soviets spies in South Africa)

[@Br0nzeBar0n]

@@armablign wow, that is extremely interesting! I'd love to learn more about that

[@armablign]

@@Br0nzeBar0n It is fascinating! There is alot of military technological firsts that were created/developed in South Africa, alot of which has greatly influenced and is still seen in today's world powers' militaries.

[@deanah212]

I wish my late father, a huge WWII history buff, was alive to watch your excellent videos. He would’ve loved them. That is the highest compliment I can give you. Bravo, sir!

[@ditzydoo4378]

What's truly amazing at Basler is that they have all the jigs for making a complete DC-3/C-47 from scratch, and are the only company to date that are certified by the FAA to render an original Douglas to Zero-Hour's flight status.

[@MelbaOzzie]

That's interesting. I wonder if it would be commercially viable to start production of totally new aircraft?

[@genericpersonx333]

@@MelbaOzzie The demand would really not be there, because apart from a movie prop house maybe wanting one or two for authenticity or a collector (private or public) wanting to flesh out their collections, there really is no reason to use the old radial-engine version. The old engines are far less fuel-efficient which matters when AV-Gas is only getting more expensive to refine and they are not simpler to repair or maintain than the new turbo-props. Indeed, you are more likely to find spares and qualified mechanics for the turbo-props than for the radials anyway. The main thing is that the tooling survives, which means that someone can really study it for the benefit of future generations so we don't forget how we made these things. Too often, we preserve the products, but not the means of production, and then we discover that we can't reverse-engineer everything about the means of production from a product.

[@davidknowles2491]

@@genericpersonx333 Fair enough I guess, but what about a regional airline that's just starting up and can't yet afford up to date jets? Could Basler build some brand new turboprop powered DC3's?

[@clark9992]

@@genericpersonx333 I'm assuming he meant new Basler DC3s, not DC3s. As far as I know, they only do turbine conversions. I suppose they COULD build a new airframe and stick in some reconditioned radial engines, but they wouldn't. Unless someone with deep pockets wanted a historically accurate example. I wonder what the economics would be, of building a brand new Basler from scratch, without a donor aircraft? I'm guessing prohibitive, but I don't know.

[@genericpersonx333]

@@davidknowles2491 Indeed, a turbo-propped DC3 might indeed be competitive in some markets, but it would be very difficult to compete with the glut of surplus airliners being dumped on the market by the big airlines. A jet or turbo-prop airliner can be surprisingly cheap these days if you don't mind they having a few years under their belt. With spare parts for those surplus liners being dirt-cheap, it would be even harder to justify a new-made DC3 of any kind for commercial purposes, sadly.

[@RailPreserver2K]

Dr Felton I'm just going to be honest. Most of us here would be honored to have you as our history teacher because you make the subject interesting, informative, and enjoyable.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Amazing how well built these aircraft were. I wish that more of the vehicles and aircraft from WWII would have been saved.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

As do a lot of us, but remember, most if not all of these airplanes were built for a purpose and when that purpose was gone so were the planes. Those that still had practical uses survived, others that didn't disappeared pretty quickly.

[@spiffygonzales5899]

Personally I think we should use those awkward wright brothers planes for modern warfare. Just imagine it, it's a peaceful day in the middle east, when suddenly five dozen men laying down in little paper plane looking things open fire from above xD

[@maoilscheachlainn]

The recently closed "Viking Splash Tours" in Dublin used amphibious vehicles that were used in the Normandy beach landings...

[@JoeKasino1947]

@@spiffygonzales5899 . And , radar cannot detect the paper-kite style flying objects .

[@thegermanfool8953]

Ok

[@meaders2002]

I was in the US Army late '69 hitchhiking by air from Ft. Bliss to visit family in Virginia. For one leg of the trip I rode a C-47 model with a large cargo opening that could accept whole pallets loaded by a fork lift. However the aircraft lacked an actual door fitted to that opening. We flew from Ft. Bliss, TX to Eglin AFB, LA in a rainstorm against headwinds. The heater failed and 4 passengers had to cram into the cabin behind the pilot to keep warm by the WWII, tube-style radios. They threw off enough heat to stay warm in the otherwise chilly space of a very breezy cargo bay.

[@dd_ranchtexas4501]

Stephen Thompson: Boy that brings back memories! In '65, I was stationed at a DEW line site on the west Alaska coast. Returning from emergency leave to the lower 48, I was taken back from Elmendorf AFB to the site in a contract civilian '47. As self loading cargo, I was alone back there with stuff bound for our site. COLD?? Man, I guess! It had a door - which yours didn't - but there were huge gaps around the frame! Thank goodness for the USAF winter gear but I still damn near froze...... At the end of the tour, Texas never looked so good!

[@ashcarrier6606]

Nobody has experiences like this now.

[@xiaoka]

@@ashcarrier6606 I’m sure there are equally interesting modern stories of hitching rides on Blackhawks in Afghanistan or norther Iraq.

[@alice_in_pains]

My grandpa was at Ft. Bliss in ‘69. Pvt. James Edington

[@meaders2002]

@@alice_in_pains So was Pfc. Stephen Thompson. Ft. Bliss was US Army Air Defense Center. Vietnam was peaking. Even tube artillery trained there. The military reservation with its firing ranges is 180 miles long, extending deep into the state of New Mexico. The German Raketenschule was there, Thais, Japanese and South Koreans also trained on base. There were a lot of troops there in '69. Biggs Field, an attached military airport did some helicopter training. Bliss was a big operation then.

[@TomD1999]

My Dad flew in C47's a number of times, the last probably being the night of June 7th, 1944 when he parachuted into the sky in the vicinity of Sainte Mere Eglise. About 40 years later, I took a commercial flight in a DC 3 from Miami to Key West. Flying down the Keys at a few thousand feet at a couple of hundred MPH was a GREAT experience but it was secondary to my pleasure of getting to experience that plane.

[@Hovercraftltd]

Me too, or rather the other direction Marathon to Miami in 1982. The aircrew mentioned that particular plane had the most number of flying hours or was it nautical miles? of any commercial aircraft and was due to be overtaken by a particular passenger jet flying the pacific route in about two years! Was aboard a luxuriously appointed version at the Goodwood Revival a few years ago. Those planes exude the feel of a lot of action. Got to sit in a Harrier at the Brooklands museum which had a similar ambience.

[@NiklasVWWV]

Your father didn't survive the war, did he? :/

[@12yearssober]

@@NiklasVWWV That’s kind of rude

[@NiklasVWWV]

@@12yearssober how is it rude? I asked the question with sadness

[@TomD1999]

@@NiklasVWWV He got shot up very badly and lost his right leg but did survive.

[@tomjustis7237]

Back in the mid-nineties I travelled to Shenyang, China on a job for CAAC Airlines. (I was a Field Service Engineer in aerospace at the time.) One day on the flight line I saw what I thought was a DC-3 in Chinese Air Force colors. My interpreter told me it was actually a Li-3 (he pronounced it Lee Three) which was a Chinese built copy of the Russian Li-2, which was itself a copy of the DC-3. Can't say if the CAF is still flying them, but they were at that time.

[@meaders2002]

The C-47 was not only supplied to the Soviets during WWII but they were licensed to build them as well by Douglas Aircraft. Communist China has no such license nor ever did.

[@SgtBeltfed]

@@meaders2002 Not that that ever stopped the Chinese.

[@bocefusmurica4340]

Ahem…”pronounced Ree-three”

[@meaders2002]

@@bocefusmurica4340 Perhaps in Japan. In China the Lees are the most numerous clan of the billions. It is in Japan that 'read' and 'lead' sound the same and 'real' is pronounced 'rear'.

[@ndenise3460]

Both russia and japan license built the dak

[@Dsdcain]

C47/DC3 major service in WWII, Berlin airlift, Korean War, US involvement in the Vietnam. So much history, so much use from a 1930s design. It shows how well built they are. Thank you for the new video. A pleasure as always to watch your content Dr. Felton.

[@ashcarrier6606]

Let's not forget the Soviets copied the DC-3 as well.

[@jamesbulldogmiller]

Douglas, built long lived aircraft

[@SVSky]

@@ashcarrier6606 Japan had license built DC-3s too Nakajima L2D

[@thunderbird1921]

I'd love to see Dr. Felton do a video on the C-119 "Flying Boxcar", it is one of the strangest looking cargo planes ever built (like a C-47 and a P-38 had a baby together). It replaced the C-47 in much of the US Air Force, and saw extensive use during the Korean War (including the large paratrooper operations against the retreating Chinese and North Korean forces at Munsan). At one point in the conflict they even had the planes fly sections of a foot bridge and air drop it at Chosin to help free the trapped U.S. and British Marines.

[@monroetoolman]

My grandfather shared a story of narrowly escaping being shot down over the Mediterranean while riding in a C47 in 1945. It was such a harrowing experience he swore he would never fly again, even driving all the way to California and back from Ohio rather than get on an airplane! It wasn`t until the early 70`s that my grandmother and mom convinced him to go to Europe, and when they got to our small regional airport, their connector flight was on a DC3! He was not pleased to say the least. lol

[@louislarose6613]

As an Air cadet in Canada in the 1960's, We were trained on DC-3's. The highlight of the training was for every Cadet to Co-Pilot the aircraft for 3 minutes. Thankfully everyone was belted down to the long military seats with 3 belts . Some of the " Co-Pilots " Turned the aircraft upside down. Looking out the window and seeing the City of Vancouver B.C. Canada where the sky should be ,was an exhilarating experience ! Your Video sure brings back memories ! Thank You Sir !

[@srelizabethmaryhermit6450]

I flew in a DC3 from Johannesburg to Salisbury Rhodesia in the mid ‘70’s. What a workhorse and a lovely ride.

[@Invictus357]

I remember flying in an RAAF DC-47, from Melbourne, to Adelaide, in the late 80s, as a member of the Royal Australian Artillery, to exercise in South Australia. What a hairy flight that was. Even though we weren’t jumping out of it, it gave you a small window, and new found respect for the men who jumped out of these things on D-Day. 1999 was when they finally came out of service. Another great video Mark.

[@simonholley4110]

My grandfather was a paratrooper during WW2, flying in Dakotas like that put him off flying for the next 50 years. He eventually did take a commercial flight to the Channel Islands from Southampton and was stunned at the difference in the experience.

[@vitis65]

My Dad was a US Army Air Corp mechanic servicing the planes flying the "hump" over the Himalayas. Coming back from China his plane almost went down in the mountains so after his service he was done with flying too! Some "flying tiger" veterans were in the transport too and one of them commented "now we're going to die after all those years of combat?!"

[@anysailer]

Excellent video. Thank you so much. Brought back fond memories. During national service in the SADF, in the early 1990s, one of my duties was to coordinate the delivery of medical supplies to distant hospitals and bases. This was done predominantly using 3 newly acquired, recently refurbished C47TP's which we indeed referred to as "Turbo Daks". At the time, I was reliable informed that they had lengthened and strengthened fuselages and had all been upgraded with new avionics and equipped with Pratt and Whitney PT6 type turboprop engines (i.e. these were indeed early Basler BT67 conversions). What incredibly robust and reliable workhorses they proved to be, as we routinely flew with cargo loads of 5-6 tons without any problems. On numerous occasions I flew with consignments, and can confirm that these 'old crates' certainly outperformed many more modern aircraft of similar type and capacity, easily landing on and taking off from rough dirt or gravel landing strips. The SAAF indeed still operate a fleet of C47TP's as these aircraft are relative easy and inexpensive to operate and maintain when compared to newer aircraft, and I'm not surprised that the fleet is being increased.

[@thegunslinger1363]

Just what I need on a Sunday evening!

[@ajax5622]

Most def

[@MartintheTinman]

But it's Monday morning

[@boofs1]

@@MartintheTinman because not every place has the same time because of sunlight

[@MartintheTinman]

@@boofs1 . Really! Wow, that's news to me. Please tell me something else, oh learned one

[@Andrew-we8xd]

Just in time for that sunday afternoon workout 💪

[@JK-rv9tp]

My dad flew Dakotas in Burma with one of the RCAF squadrons in the Combat Cargo Task Force supporting the drive on Mandalay. The DC-3 is unique as a transportation device - air or ground - in that it is an 86 year old design that is still viable as a tool that a business can put to work to make money. That's quite a feat of engineering, of finding a perfect balance in all of the compromises of aircraft design. The next oldest design that can make the same claim would be the 72 year old DeHavilland Canada Beaver, still preferred by most bush operators in its weight class.

[@JK-rv9tp]

@@jebise1126 not perfect design, a perfect balance of compromises, an engineering sweet spot, achieved once in a while, like a room full of monkeys throwing alphabet blocks spelling a word now and then. The Beaver and the Cessna 172 are very similar monkey block achievements.

[@donjones4719]

I love the 2 designs you mention. Add to them the Antonov An-2, which has been in service since 1947, and according to some sources is still in limited production (not just turboprop upgrades). And it's a biplane! That's a pretty long service life. Its STOL performance is excellent, and perhaps unsurpassed for proportional payload.

[@datadavis]

@Erwin Rommel, wouldn't that be treason?

[@johnbrooks9523]

@@JK-rv9tp Beautifully put, kind sir... You are bang on the money... As a "package" the DC3 / C47 solved more problems at a vital & critical point in time (the lead up to WW11) than just about any other device in the history of manufacturing... and she did so with abundant grace, beauty & endurance. I am not an Aviation person. I'm attracted to 1950s '60s & 70s motorcars... However, the sight of a DC3 STOPS ME DEAD IN MY TRACKS EVERY TIME!... Just an amazingly attractive & desirable, respectable monument to fine art & engineering excellance... NOTHING COMPARES OR EVEN COMES CLOSE. THE DC3 / C47 is the undisputed traffic stopper aircraft of all time... adorable!

[@oliviersavard8676]

@@jebise1126 exactly. non-pressurization is imo the secret to the dc-3/c-47 longevity: it means there is a ton of stress usually present on pressurized aircraft that isn't present on the dc-3 platform. i love that old plane so much.

[@RT-mm8rq]

Amazing that the airframes have lasted so long even with upgrades and maintenance.

[@funstuff2006]

That's the thing I can't get my head around. I've got a 5 year old cruiser bicycle (not super expensive, but not something you'd find in a department store) that the manufacturer's manual basically states "eventually the welds on this are going to fail due to metal fatigue", yet there are still 80-year-old airframes doing real work? edit:typo

[@dfirth224]

Douglas planes were built extremely rugged, better than Boeing. There are more DC-8's flying today than 707's. DC-8's were the first jets used for fire bombers. Boeing outsold Douglas because their planes were cheaper.

[@TheWolfsnack]

Yeah...I remember flying in the old Dakotas back in the 60's when I was in Air Cadets....noisy, vibrating from stem to stern and I swear the wings literally gave a flap when the things took off....

[@MikoyanGurevichMiG21]

@@dfirth224 It's mad how the DC-3 family has outlasted Douglas itself at this point

[@76po]

The good old Dacks (DC-3) were built to last unlike many modern types of aircrafts now day we could learn a lot from the boys and gals of the 1930/1940s my friends. and one more thing HAPPY FLYING.

[@ClarenceCochran-ne7du]

In 1985, I had to make an Emergency trip home from Tacoma, WA to Colo.Springs, CO. Had to use a small regional service that still ran DC-3s. As noisy as open cockpit bi-plane. Got me home in time for my Grandma's funeral, and for that I'm grateful.

[@tng2057]

Dr Felton, thanks. You really should do one for Ju52. Incidentally the price of DC3 has skyrocketed in the recent years. People now understand its worth.

[@JO-cw5xe]

The moment you think that these beauties are going away, that is the moment that they prove their worth once more. May the Dc's be with us for a while yet. Let the buyers show the B 52 how these beasts still rule the skies.

[@bobandbally88]

Back in the 80's $10,000. Favorite plane of pot importers. Fly the load in, unload and split, leaving the plane for the DEA.

[@humanhuman5024]

@@JO-cw5xe they don’t though because they are slow and heavy

[@Wuestenkarsten]

@@bobandbally88 "Good old Times"....nowadays? Nope, they will send an F35 behind you.....;-)

[@WayneKitching]

In WW2, the South African Airforce commandeered some of the SA Airways passenger aircraft, including the Ju 52/3. So German-made planes were used by at least one Allied Air force. I'm not talking about captured planes.

[@hughjass1044]

One of my officers from way back when was fond of saying - "If it can still be useful on the battlefield, there's no such thing as obsolete." That was the armored corps and he was talking about vehicles but the same rule applies everywhere.

[@dreamingflurry2729]

Agreed, unless the usefulness is as cannon-fodder to distract the enemy and draw fire away from more modern vehicles, that would be a rather crappy role to be in...bullet catcher is not a great job description!

[@hughjass1044]

@@dreamingflurry2729 Well, he was talking about the difference between having old, degraded equipment versus none at all.

[@natejones902]

A few years ago I had a chance to meet a pilot of puff the magic dragon in Vietnam War. As you said in the video the sights were on the pilots window. He said the early days they just had a grease pencil and would draw on the window where the tracers went when testing the guns at a fix altitude. If it works don't fix it eh? As he said "we would turn that jungle into coleslaw"

[@stoneylonesome4062]

One of my uncles road on those a lot in the war for field deployment. He said that getting shot at in one of those things was the most terrifying experience of his life, given the low speed and rickety feeling. Said that they were so scared, these kids would smoke Heroin before loading up just to calm their nerves. But they sucked it up and saddled up anyways. Apparently they held up fine, luckily enough.

[@RsRj-qd2cg]

That's more or less how the USAAF did it on WW2 medium bombers with forward firing guns like the B-25, B-26, and A-26.

[@natejones902]

He also said, "one flight, I couldnt find the grease pencil and had to use gum for the sight, so if it was off, I'd pull it off, chew on it and stick it back and my sight was good to go!"

[@badguy1481]

I flew EC-47's in Vietnam. But, before deployment, at our training base, I flew an AC-47. It had a view finder to the left of the pilot's seat. I remembered it was "grungy", wrapped in cloth (for some strange reason). Looked "Rube Goldberg" to me. From the comments, here, probably chewing gum was a better option. At least you could easily "remove and replace" it on the window, depending on altitude, after a few chews.

[@WingKLok]

A gentle reminder of a free-spirited soul from my work who used to work as loadmaster/do-it-all in a fly-by-night cargo delivery company in California up and down the coast years back. He regaled coworkers of stories of him riding bicycle to the airport, loading and unloading the DC-3 that his then-employer operated. He fell in love with DC-3. He would go out of his way to see them and talk to the operators when he was near any DC-3/C-47 while on assignment as liaison to the legal division (off hours/comp’ed time). My name amused him because it reminded him of the “wing nuts” of the plane. Miss you, Bob Berry, RIP. Thank you again Dr. Felton!

[@stephencooper5622]

My restoration shop was 1/4 of a mile north of Basler for a few years and it was always interesting to drive by there and see the projects they were working on. Fantastic video as always Mr. Felton. Thank you for always making entertaining, educational and thought provoking content!

[@raphaelklaussen1951]

The extraordinary durability of the DC3/C47 is the result of its insensitive to metal fatigue. In fact, the specific loads are so low that this aircraft has practically infinite life expectancy. All you need to do to keep flying is replace the parts that wear out. You can purchase a C47 in good shape por under 300,000 dollars.

[@JamieBainbridge]

Thanks for this comment. I thought surely the airframes would have a fatigue limit and came hunting for the answer in the comments!

[@donjones4719]

I've heard that this, combined with its grandfather status, means it's exempt from some extensive/expensive FAA periodic checks. This accounts for its appeal with certain niche operators. But I don't remember all this very accurately.

[@lautoka63]

@@JamieBainbridge The DC-3 is made from 2024-T3 aluminium, a relatively soft alloy compared to the 7075-T6 also used in modern aircraft. There is an inverse relationship between strength and toughness (i.e. the ability to resist cracking). So a lesser strength alloy is more durable (& shiny!).

[@simonm1447]

@@JamieBainbridge they are relatively simple built for an aircraft, with more reserves in the construction and without a pressurized cabin (pressurized cabins have a service life limit). If operators care about corrosion it can fly for a very long time. Later aircraft were different, for example the Super Constellation, Lufthansa tried to restore one to flying conditions and gave up after years and 100 million € spent despite the project was done by LH Technik, the maintenance department of the airline which has very much know low and can maintain and repair every modern airliner.

[@444mopar]

I wonder what the original engineers would have thought if someone told them nearly a century later their design would still be in active service!

[@Redkat-tv3cw]

Amazing content, I got to fly several times in a civilian D-C3 model, sturdy as hell.

[@JOSHHARRIS-v3w]

Still one of the best sounding planes/engines ever made! I can hear the drone of the engine now!

[@freedomvigilant1234]

My Dad went for his first foreign holiday in a DC3. (The holiday was in Belgium.) The runway could be viewed through holes in the bottom of the cabin, apparently. He is not a fan of flying, and is of the view that if God intended one to fly, he would have purchased the ticket.

[@obelic71]

overhauled/inspected several twin wasp for the 75th year of D day memorial flights. Those old gall's just keep going and going. Its good to know i am just a caretaker and the old gall's will outlive me!

[@covercalls88]

I have 3 large scale Radio Control C-47, one of my favorite twin prop besides my P-38, B-25, and PBY.

[@JOSHHARRIS-v3w]

@@covercalls88 I haven’t owned a radio controlled vehicle in quite some time but I imagine that is a blast to fly!

[@akhalid3263]

The greatest generation than lived not only in Frontlines. They included in workshops factories and drawing boards. Brilliant work Doc 👏

[@Stevojacks]

My grandfather flew these on d-day and operation market garden. Never met him as he passed days before I was born in 98. He told my father that he flew these Becasue he wasn’t allowed to fly b-17’s anymore. He often said they fly much like the 17’s

[@cjford2217]

Watching the old DC3's flying with new turboprops is amazing. Speaks to the superior materials used in airframe construction decades ago. Awesome video Dr. Felton!

[@ldnwholesale8552]

Gooney birds were built overstrong as Douglas,, and the industry had no real idea of the forces. Plus ofcourse they are not presurised so the skins do not go through the extremes of more modern planes. And in comparison they are simple so easy to fix

[@the902giant]

These old war birds are the lifeblood of the Canadian Arctic even to this day too!! Buffalo airways operates DC-3’s to supply remote villages as well as other types!

[@duncandmcgrath6290]

If you’ve spent anytime in the North you’d see that Buffalo’s birds are a tiny portion of the operator’s flying cargo . That tv show really embellished the idea that they were the only game in town .

[@77Cardinal]

Buffalo restored a D-Day C-47 2 years ago.

[@the902giant]

@@duncandmcgrath6290 they’re the most recognizable out of the bunch, so they’re the best to use for an example don’t you think? The tv show did give off the idea that they are the only players but it also gives people who may not be in the know an opportunity to say “oh hey, I know what they’re talking about!” Anyway, Duncan buddy you have a great day.

[@MikoyanGurevichMiG21]

Canada has quite a lot of old planes out there still flying in commercial service- from the DC-3s to the Beavers and the 737 Classic!

[@jefferynelson]

Thanks for the work you put into the channel. We all benefit.

[@Roller_Ghoster]

Thank goodness for Mark Felton's history lessons.

[@FlareLightPro]

Although they didn't belong to the RCAF, I have encountered a few Douglas DC3's in my military career so far. When I was in the Arctic with the CAF a few years ago, we contracted with civilian airliners/ air lift companies that fly DC3's in the arctic as a means of getting our guys out to different remote areas to conduct sovereignty patrols. There are whole bunch of air lift companies operating in the Territories that use WWII vintage aircraft. Most recently in June 2021, when I deployed to a First Nations Community in northern Ontario, to assist with supporting relief during a major COVID outbreak, food and building supplies were brought in to the isolated community with DC3C's, the one we saw most often was a 1942 manufactured DC3C. (I have a bunch of photos and videos of this, as I was a public affairs camera man) I do have the serial number available if there's a way to check the planes service record.

[@edgaraquino2324]

Good video, Mark! The C-47 is truly a classic aircraft - beautiful lines and sound...a shame that that the Mossie isn't included in the B of B activity you mentioned - considering its flight characteristics, it could be used in a number of applications today - if only to see it fly again! Good job!

[@edgaraquino2324]

@@frostyfrost4094 Good news!

[@Bartonovich52]

One of the reasons it’s been absent so long is it’s construction. Unlike the C-47 which uses very basic sheet metal construction that many aircraft are still made from today.. it used moulded plywood which was very susceptible to rot and requires specific type of wood to be made into specific types of plywood and then put into moulds which no longer exist.

[@SuperFullin]

As a DC-3/C-47 geek, really appreciated this many old birds are earning their keep around the world after maybe 80 years of service. Kudos for pulling this togheter. I love everthing you do. Please keep up the outstanding job.

[@panzer1736]

I have to thank you for every good mark in history. Thank you for your great work and keep going! Much love and respect from Romania 🇷🇴❤️

[@SynchroScore]

My grandfather was a mechanic for a C-47 squadron that flew out of England, and my mother even has a picture of him and some of the crew posed in front of one of their planes. They were so short of flight crew, the story goes, that he flew over Normandy during Operation Overlord (he joked that he pushed the paratroopers out the door). I'm sure that he'd be happy to see some of those planes still flying. It's also interesting that there is a company that upgrades these old planes with newer technology. There is a similar program in manufacturing, taking old machine tools and upgrading them with computer-controlled servo equipment and programmable control. The concept is the same: It's easy to change out a planes engines or cockpit instruments, or add servo-control and digital position sensors to a lathe or milling machine, but much harder to produce a new airframe or machine bodies. In both cases, you get a capable, proven design, married to advanced advanced technology, at a fraction of the cost of buying new.

[@peteranderson037]

When the last B-2 is sent to the bone yard the crew will be picked up by a B-52. When the last B-52 is sent to the bone yard the crew will be picked up by a turboprop Gooney Bird.

[@jwrockets]

I know a navy reservist who flew on a P-3 for its trip to the boneyard just a few months ago.

[@scottgiles7546]

Well you're assuming the B-52 is going to be retired. Someday. Lord knows when.

[@bernielomaxsmustache7204]

This has been said for 40 years now. Thanks mr original

[@oliviersavard8676]

@@scottgiles7546 we're already seeing 3rd generation crew members for the b-52 lmao

[@hoosierpatriot2280]

Amazing how sturdy things were built back then. I have several ww2 guns including an M1 Garand and a Mosin Nagant 91/30 that are both war era rifles. Function just as well today as the day they were built with zero new parts or modifications.

[@userequaltoNull]

I mean to be fair, a modern AR-15 would probably last just as long. I think it's more of a military thing, weapons aren't subjected to the same Planned Obsolescence BS that plagues the civilian market nowadays.

[@MelbaOzzie]

If you regularly replace the barrels, bolt assemblies and butt stock, they should last forever.

[@ndenise3460]

Unlike engineering now, " make it just strong enough to last 60k cycles". Back then it was make it strong enough and add 10%. The engines are the biggest worry, watch ice pilots for an idea of how many engine failures on an engine with 10-15 overhauls in them

[@JamesSmith-fl2ky]

AR-15's are only 20 years more recent than the Garand, that's why it irritates when people refer to them as "modern sporting rifles." The Garand was already a real antique decades ago.

[@donjones4719]

Military rifles went through very demanding trials that required change after change in the design until it met the requirement of "nearly impossible to break in the field," able to put an incredible number of rounds thru it. Much more demanding of a design than a sporting rifle.

[@patrickgiblin4213]

Excellent video! Thank you for the knowledge, I had no idea that certain air forces still used this iconic aircraft.

[@Mr.Mouse1234]

When my grandpa was a bush pilot in Alaska, he was a caretaker of a remote runway. When visiting up there he had weekly c-46 and c-47 aircraft coming out to deliver supplies. They still do that up their with them

[@gardnep]

There is a youtube channel on Alaskan airlines and they were thinking of upgrading their c47 to turbines but the cost was high. Not sure if it is still going.

[@davidcraddock7011]

One of the last USAF C-47's was stationed at Francie E. Warren (FEW) AFB, Cheyenne Wyoming. As FEW AFB did not have a runway (old cavalry post) it flew out of Cheyenne Municipal airport. On a very foggy night (about 1971) the pilot tried to land rather than divert to Denver. Upon his third try he crashed killing all on board. The remains of the tail section was stored behind a building I worked at on FEW. Somewhere in my slide boxes is a slide with the tail section and the aircraft number.

[@HAL--ov4qu]

Mark Felton's channel is one of the ONLY channels worth subscribing to.

[@TJ3]

Very cool! Thanks Mark! They made some of the best aircraft in history during this and it shows.

[@majikkskates9084]

I used to volunteer at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. They still fly their Dakota and acquired another one in 2014 I believe. I could never find out factually but i was always told that the first Dak we got is one of the oldest still flying DC-3 airframes

[@AuburnMist]

You know something is made well when it’s being used almost 80 years later..especially an airplane Cool to see one of the planes that flew on d-day still in service Thanks for the work on these videos. Love them

[@jamesphilip6737]

What incredible aircraft. Like the B-52, the C-47 keeps going through augmentation and resto-mod engineering applied over time.

[@badguy1481]

I see they've FINALLY issued a contract to Rolls-Royce to replace the PW engines on the B-52's. I was PRIVILEDGED to fly BOTH the C-47 and the B-52 in my service stint.

[@sarabuchi]

I love how you made a vid about tanks serving till 2021 a few days ago, loving the vids!

[@BigReecey]

Back during the 06/07 Australian bushfire season our crews was ferried from home to the staging grounds via DC-3. The pilot told us that troops parachuted to the kokoda trail during WW2 and the plane required very little maintenance

[@YMC888]

Thanks for sharing Mark! What a surprise on a lovely snowy Sunday night to see your latest video! A favourite topic of mine!

[@jimhoade9265]

Sir, I've been binge watching your videos, they are absolutely the best thing on KZbin, always impeccably researched and produced and always full of information that had never come my way before. Thank you so much for them.

[@alanmoffat4454]

JUST OUTSTANDING Dr GREAT STORY ALWAYS ENJOY ALL VIDS THANKS FOR THE HARD WORK 👍.

[@G58]

We had a few in Rhodesia. And during the late 1970s a DC3 used to do a convenient regular freight run from Donington East Midlands Airport to Nederlands.

[@MrFrans1983]

The national warplane museum in geneseo NY has 2 c47 aircraft. One of them still flies, and us a WWII veteran. Whiskey 7. I had the opportunity of taking a ride on it, and it was amazing.

[@kayzeaza]

I remember being younger and thinking World War II was such a long time ago. However as I get older it feels like World War II was a much more recent event. These videos are definitely helping to prove my point.

[@obelic71]

There are also C47's in non military goverment service. for example: The German federal state has a by basler converted C47 as a scientific research aircraft for the world famous Max Planck institute.

[@x2lls]

I cannot express enough my gratitude for the contribution you are making to awareness. Simply outstanding. Why the hell you don't have your work on mainstream TV is bewildering.

[@johnready630]

My dad jumped out of those over 30 times training for the D day landing. Rugged old bird for sure , glad to see they are being restored and upgraded.

[@ItsJustMeCody22]

Hands down best history channel on the platform.

[@samueldamuel1689]

I still get shocked by the amount of DC-3s (C-47) in service although I’ve known about it for years now Thank you Mark!

[@r2gelfand]

Basler provided a free tour for our group when we visited Osh Kosh in 2017. Got to see everything from engineering to avionics.

[@craigk1328]

We have a civilian D-C3 comes to our local airport about twice a year. I have been on it and they take you into the cockpit as well :) operated by chatham air

[@steven2212]

You never fail at teaching me something new. Bravo!

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Looks like the old US Air Force saying is true: "The only good replacement for a C-47 is another C-47!" The greatest airplane ever built, in my opinion anyway, when you consider excellence of design, the ability to handle any mission it's given, it's adaptablility, and most especially it's longevity. When the last one's grounded then the title will pass to another, but your guess is as good as mine as to what it might be.

[@Lewd-Tenant_Isan]

my moneys on the B-52

[@elliott6080]

AN2

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

@@Lewd-Tenant_Isan I concur. Either that or the Lockheed C-130.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

@@elliott6080 A good choice as well! I'd also add the Bell UH-1 "Huey" helicopter. Huey pilots have a saying: "When the last Blackhawk goes to the boneyard it'll be in a sling under a Huey!"

[@JoeKasino1947]

@ Wayne . 10-4 .

[@richardcline1337]

My very first time to fly was on board a Southern Airways DC-3 back in the early 60's and I've been in love with those planes ever since.

[@jamesserbos6697]

When I was serving in the Greek Forces in the early 90's, as a part of our training (black beret), we would occasionally exercise shooting the 50 cal. machine gun that was mounted on the tower of the M60 tank. We used to shoot at a huge banner that was attached to a Dakota C-47 flying in front of us at a safe distance. We also used to make fun of the newly enlisted soldiers by calling them "Dakotas", which meant that the were sort of incapable of doing things quick and easy

[@pauljenkins6877]

I am always amazed by the thoroughness of Dr. Felton’s research.

[@nonyabuziness5082]

The “thoroughness” ? Did you even do any research on the C-47? Its top speed in its basic configuration was already 360kph… The TP conversion pushed thet to 528kph.That took all of a few seconds to discover… 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@getgaijoobed6219]

Before i moved for university, I lived in Victoria BC. I remember a couple summers ago, my buddy and I were biking up towards Sidney. We were passing the airport and found a PBY-5 Catalina parked outside of a hanger! It looked like it got turned into a forest fire fighting plane

[@kylemclean4297]

It’s great to see the huge amount of subscribers this channel has gained in recent time. I love that the video format has stayed original despite the growth of the channel too.

[@stevesandford1437]

Dear Dr. Felton, I wonder if it might be possible for you to research and present a piece on Civil Air Flights during WWII? I gather that civil flights to Britain were regularly undertaken from neutral countries like Portugal, for example, but I can find no information on how that occurred. (Did allied and axis air forces respect the neutrality of such civil traffic? Were such 'diplomatic' flights allowed to cross airspaces etc.?) I think this little known subject might interest your viewers. Respectfully, Stephen Sandford, (Dublin, Ire)

[@frankmetcalfe9391]

Hi Stephen I'm in Kildare

[@TomD1999]

Good question. You'd think that there were provisions for diplomatic and other flights but I've heard not the 1st word

[@andrewwenzel3600]

From what I've read previously I think they were usually either civilian transports or military transports operated by civilian crews but painted in military schemes. Not sure what the rules around neutrality were but I know that there were cases of them being shot down during the war (BOAC Flight 777 for example).

[@stephanvelines7006]

Very interesting topic, thanks for bringing it up.

[@noahwail2444]

There were a regular service to Sweden 3-4 times a week, flown by deHaviland Moskitos in civilian colours, and unarmed. It was both a diplomatic and a comercial thing, Brittain bourght up all the ballbearings they could, both for self use, and to prevent the germans from using them. Quite a number of downed airmen came back that way too. And the germans had nothing flying that could stop the Moskitos..

[@martinhogg5337]

The variety and depth of this channel is terrific!

[@tncorgi92]

I flew on a civilian DC-3 with either Mohawk or Allegheny Airlines back around 1970. It was bare-bones and not exactly comfortable, but it was my first time in a plane so I just assumed they were all like that.

[@andrewrobert5019]

Thanks!

[@mackfisher4487]

Basler Aircraft Co., Has an interesting history as well as the venerable DC-3 aircraft that they are saving from the boneyard's. It's located in Oshkosh Wisconsin, where the yearly EAA Air Venture air show that feature warbirds as well as major supporter private pilot enthusiast.

[@magdishalash5195]

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@TS-mo6pn]

Many thanks Dr. Felton. An anecdote: Several years ago, my unit deployed to Africa and while there we were supported by a charter cargo service flying extensively upgraded C-47s. The latest communication gear, all weather avionics, turboprop engines. Pretty cool to see Dakotas still in use. What a great plane.

[@ronaldjohnson1474]

As a paratrooper and a Vietnam vet, I have fond memories of C47's and profound gratitude for AC47 gunships.

[@Simonize41]

Fantastic! I love this old girl sooo much. She could potentially go on forever. Thank you Mark!!

[@mindslaw4961]

There's another Lancaster (not in military service) which flies over Toronto most weekends every summer.

[@josemoreno3334]

It may be slow, It may be old but it will get you where you want to go . Great video. Thanks Mark.

[@StudSupreme]

There's no point in building a new plane from scratch if its mission can be filled by an older, proven design.

[@negergreger666]

If you mean to keep using older aircraft, metal in airframes and other parts age and have a finite useful life before risks outweigh benefits. If you mean newly produced old designs, there’s a probably several reasons why that isn’t a common spread practice.

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

There are better choices for the same job. The C-130 for example.

[@StudSupreme]

@@negergreger666 Such as?

[@JamesSmith-fl2ky]

Well the point would be to continue funding defense contractors, but from a practical standpoint, you are right...

[@SVSky]

@@WALTERBROADDUS C-130 is VASTLY bigger.

[@JayKayKay7]

I flew on one in 1954 as a 4 year old when my dad was sent to Lajes Field in the Azores in the US Air Force. I remember because shortly after take-off, my mother turned to my dad and said, "We're airborne." For some reason I took that to mean I had been born on a plane. I thought that was cool. Many years later, I was disappointed to realize I had been born at Walter Reed Hospital like everybody else. I remember the flight taking forever, the drone of the engines for hours and hours, and asking my dad what would happen if we crashed or something happened? I remember I was not cheered by his answer. I also remember asking him if he could fly the plane and he said, "No... But I would give it the old college try." (He was a Psychiatrist.)

[@ernieszelepcsenyi5710]

The South African Air Force DC-3 turbine conversions were not done by Basler. They were the Aero Modifications (AMI) DC-3-65TP mod which has a number of notable differences.

[@davidvaughn7752]

Wow! Super interesting. I was rivited as you ran down the roll-call of these beautiful aircraft still in service! Thank you so much, Dr. Felton!

[@erikkunkle9574]

That is awesome and amazing they still fly. I am having a hard time getting the brakes to work in my WWII dodge truck.

[@Supernaut2000]

Dr. Felton you should look up Buffalo Airways here in Canada. They operate daily passenger air service with 6 DC-3’s and other vintage planes. Not military of course but a very interesting company! They had a TV show called “Ice Pilots NWT” that was hugely popular.

[@jerroldnovak4925]

Just amazing. I worry about these warbirds being unreplaceable if they wreck, but it is just so magnificent to see them in the sky.

[@Mbabbb399]

Living here in Florida and being an aviation enthusiast myself I see quite a few World War II and Cold War era planes from time to time in private collections still flying quite a few DC 3s down here also

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

Technically all the Spitfires and hurricanes etc in the Battle of Britain memorial flight are still in operation with the RAF.

[@AtheistOrphan]

The same could also be said of the Royal Navy’s HMS Victory.

[@IvorMektin1701]

Good, they'll keep Jerry civilized.

[@evancrum6811]

WOW! Love the videos

[@handsomegeorgianbankrobber3779]

I was already thinking until the end of the video: "How the hell is North Korea not being mentioned...surely they must still have some soviet ww2 planes in use today, right?"

[@chombus2602]

Nice nickname lol

[@glennpaton8283]

My first flight was in a DC-3 as a child in the 50's. I was lucky to get a joy flight in one in the 90's up and down the coast of NSW, that one was bumpy.

[@Spitfiresammons]

I’m surprise the Dakota’s are still in service around the world today since ww2. Wish Air Force around the world still use warbirds like the p-51 mustang spitfires or a-26 invader in service.

[@utkarshchoudhary3870]

i think someone does i forgot oof

[@letoubib21]

Or some Fokker Es *. . .*

[@preonmodel8354]

Check out Ed Nash’s Mlitary matters channel for P51´s and Corsairs in use by modern airforces..

[@Brave_Sir_Robin]

The p-51 mustard is my favorite plane :)

[@letoubib21]

@@Brave_Sir_Robin I must admit, only about one week ago I've read for the first time something about this plane . Pretty interesting *. . .*

[@gregoryemmanuel9168]

A memorable flight from Moshi to Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania in an East African Airways DC3 in the mid 1970s included an unscheduled loop around Mt. Kilimanjaro’s ice cap which was sticking above the rainy season cloud cover. Turbulence was incredible as was the movement of the airplane which was similar to the irregular corkscrew movement of a small boat in a storm. It was beautiful. Thank you for sharing Mark!

[@SgtAndrewM]

wish mark ran the history channel these days

[@alec1430]

Great video Mark as always! On this note, i have an excellent watch for all of you history buffs! This documentary highlights the rise of communism, and how several nations adopted it. This documentary is heavy at times, and may flip your world upside down, at least it certainly did for me! It is the most pivotal and crucial watch of this generation. It is called Europa the last battle, and explains, through facts and historical documents, how we got here today. This documentary is in 10 parts, and features many famous figures like Winston Churchill, General Patton, JFK, FDR, Henry Ford, Gandhi, and many more figures of the last century. If you watch this, your world will never be the same again. But, it is essential to the education and survival of humanity's future, at least, in my eyes. 7.7/10 on IMDB. Great video once again Mark! You've got another subscriber! Have a good day all!

[@oliverpetroski4205]

The DC 3, The "Tante Ju52", and the Catalina are my 3 favorite aeroplanes. But I dislike how they install turboprops in a classic aircafts.

[@Wollemand]

Well I’m told that the turbo prop is a quite rugged, simple and durable design.. it makes sense to do it..

[@annelisemeier283]

Ye but I’d rather they install turboprops than just decomission it

[@henrikgiese6316]

@@Wollemand From what I've read it's even better. It can run on a much wider variety of fuel, most of which are significantly cheaper than high octane gasoline.

[@Wollemand]

@@annelisemeier283 also the “kw prop output”/ “engine weight” -ratio is better.. so if you install an turboprop, you can haul more cargo.. also If the engine profile, is more aerodynamic, you can fly faster..

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

Cheaper to run.

[@spencerking2692]

Hey Mark I don’t know if you are planning another episode of WWII ships still in military service but the United States Coast Guard Cutter Eagle is still in active service as a training ship and it dates all the way back to the Nazi German Navy. Thank you and I can’t say how much I enjoy your videos!