The Dakota Hunter : In Search of the Legendary DC-3 on the Last Frontiers

593 Pages·2015·13.39 MB·English

by  Wiesman

Published in the United States of America and
Great Britain in 2015 by
CASEMATE PUBLISHERS
908 Darby Road, Havertown, PA 19083
and
10 Hythe Bridge Street, Oxford, OX1 2EW
Copyright 2015 © Hans Wiesman
ISBN 9781612002583
eISBN 9781612002590
Cataloging-in-publication data is available from the Library of Congress and the British Library.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
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system, without permission from the Publisher in writing.
Book design by Ian Hughes, www.mousematdesign.com
Front cover photo: courtesy of Hjarald Agnes, www.Facebook.com/newdefltblue
Back cover photo: courtesy of Rico Besserdich
Photograph on pages 2/3 © Ruud Duk
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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Contents
Introduction to the Douglas DC-3/C-47/Dakota
Prologue
Chapter 1 Borneo: Born to Be Wild
Chapter 2 Holland: In the Beginning
Chapter 3 The US Gulf States: Jackpot and Quicksand
Chapter 4 Venezuela and Honduras: Angel Falling from the Sky
Chapter 5 Bolivia: El Condor Pasa …
Chapter 6 Colombia I: Never a Dull Day
Chapter 7 Madagascar: Dancing with Colonels
Chapter 8 Thailand: Sinking the Dakotas
Chapter 9 Alaska and the Yukon: L’aventure se prolonge
Chapter 10 Colombia II: Bats Out of Hell
Chapter 11 Museums and Projects: The Icons of Victory
Acknowledgements
From the Encyclopedia Britannica:
In his memoirs, General Dwight Eisenhower cited the C-47 as one of the most
important instruments of victory over Nazi Germany. Until the debut of the four-
engine Douglas C-54, which did not enter service until 1944, the C-47 was the
most capable transport aircraft of World War II. Beyond doubt it was the most
versatile operationally and the most important strategically. The C-47 was a
forgiving aircraft, easy to fly and easily maintained under primitive field
conditions. Many aircrew and passengers owed their survival in crash landings
to its rugged construction, and its resistance to battle damage was legendary.
Where it all started for me: magic flights over the Caribbean and the Pacific islands from the late 1940’s
that kept my nose pressed against the DC-3 window. The “Gates of Wonder” opened up for me in a most
spectacular setting. (photograph Brendan Odell)
Introduction
to the Douglas DC–3/C–47/Dakota
T
his book is dedicated to an outstanding aircraft, the Douglas DC-3, later
also known as the C-47 and Dakota. Its groundbreaking design and
longevity make this aircraft a flying relic that in December 2015 will celebrate
the 80th anniversary of its maiden flight. The year 2015 also marks the 70th
anniversary of the end of World War II, from which the Dakota emerged as a
glorious Icon of Victory.
The basic silhouette of this legendary aircraft first became known to the world in
July 1933 with the maiden flight of the Douglas DC-1, of which only one was
ever built. The improved version, the DC-2, followed in 1934, went into
operation at TWA, and soon proved very successful. This all-aluminum, twin-
engine aircraft with room for 14 passengers was engineered by a team led by
chief engineer Arthur E. Raymond.
Its state-of-the-art design featured a retractable landing gear, under-wing
flaps, and variable pitch propellers. Furthermore, the streamlined shape was
completed by the blending of wing to fuselage with airflow enhancing fairings
that greatly contributed to the relatively low drag and high speed of the aircraft.
The perfectly rounded and elliptical form was in sharp contrast to the ungainly
looking aircraft of the previous generation. This was all due to the development
of stronger engines, advanced aerodynamic expertise, and new riveting and
production techniques for sheet metal assembly. The combined result was a huge
step forward in terms of looks and aerodynamic efficiency when compared to the
mainstream aircraft types of the early 1930s. The Fokker’s F.XII and F.XVIIIs
and Ford’s Tri-motor types ruled the skies, but they turned, almost overnight,
into old-fashioned flying crates, with their glued plywood and canvas
construction over steel tubing frames.