How much can be loaded into a C-47 ? Well, in the Pacific wartime the answer was often "as much as one can fit". Here is a bunch of new replacement tires being flown to the Philippines from Townsville in the back of a 317th TCG Douglas C-47. Tire afficionados will be quick to spot (left to right) Liberator tire, B-25 tire, and one for a P-47.

A nuisance for the Fifth's parts people was that few tires were interchangable - ie C-47 tires did not fit any other type of aircraft, and vice versa, whereas aircraft engine parts were often generic.

This shot was taken from the rear cabin looking forwards, as indicated by the gap for the pilot's cockpit entrance. Tires in forwarded theaters had to be changed more often than one might suppose. Flak often depressurized them in combat, whereas the wear on them regardless was excessive due to combat loadings and rough airfields.

There is also the point that many of the Fifth's pilots were more adept at flying combat or missions than pulling off "greasers", the colloqial term for fine landings.

  OUR HERITAGE      SERVICES      PRODUCTS      HISTORICAL     PHOTOS     CONTACT US   LINKS