Author Topic: WW2 Hero  (Read 850 times)

Offline earl1937

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WW2 Hero
« on: June 03, 2013, 09:57:36 AM »
 :airplane: .....Sorry guys, trying to learn how to download and insert pic's in my posts, but didn't do something right. I was going to relate the story of the Douglas DC-6B, Air Force designation C-118 and the part it played in rebuilding Germany and saving the people of Berlin from starving to death after the end of the war. I have about 450 hours in this aircraft and it is, without doubt, the most stable 4 engine aircraft I ever flew. Sorry I can't insert pic of aircraft yet, just now learning how.




In the early days the Americans used their C-47 Skytrain or its civilian counterpart Douglas DC-3. These machines could carry a payload of up to 3.5 tons, but were replaced by C-54 Skymasters and Douglas DC-4s, which could carry up to 10 tons and were faster. These made up a total of 330 aircraft, which made them the most used types. Other American aircraft such as the 5 C-82 Packets, and the one YC-97A Stratofreighter 45-9595, with a payload of 20 tons—a gigantic load for that time—were only sparsely used.

It was discussed by General Curtis E. Lemay that enough tonnage was not being flown in each day during the "Berlin" airlift and the role of the DC-6B was born!

Ground work was laid during W.W.2 and the first testflight was made in february 1946. This was the military XC-112A prototype.
It had larger engines, R-2800's as opposed to the R-2000 engines on the DC-4. The increased tonnage of the 6B made for more supplies being flown in each day and it helped hasten the end of the Berlin "Blockade".
« Last Edit: June 03, 2013, 10:38:23 AM by earl1937 »
Blue Skies and wind at my back and wish that for all!!!

Offline gyrene81

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Re: WW2 Hero
« Reply #1 on: June 03, 2013, 10:03:51 AM »
here you go Earl, just quote this post and you will see the correct code...



getting that pic to post correctly from photobucket requires you to right click the pic, then click on properties, then highlight the html string you see, then right click again and copy then paste the string into your post with the bb code on each end...
jarhed  
Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for a day...
Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. - Terry Pratchett

Offline earl1937

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Re: WW2 Hero
« Reply #2 on: June 03, 2013, 10:07:08 AM »
here you go Earl, just quote this post and you will see the correct code...

(Image removed from quote.)

getting that pic to post correctly from photobucket requires you to right click the pic, then click on properties, then highlight the html string you see, then right click again and copy then paste the string into your post with the bb code on each end...
:airplane: Gosh, thanks for your help! I was on the right track, just didn't finish with the second right click!
Blue Skies and wind at my back and wish that for all!!!

Offline gyrene81

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Re: WW2 Hero
« Reply #3 on: June 03, 2013, 10:13:44 AM »
you're getting closer Earl...the html string you're looking for looks like what you see in this pic...

jarhed  
Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for a day...
Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. - Terry Pratchett

Offline earl1937

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Re: WW2 Hero
« Reply #4 on: June 03, 2013, 10:15:37 AM »
you're getting closer Earl...the html string you're looking for looks like what you see in this pic...

(Image removed from quote.)
Does both lines have to be copied?
Blue Skies and wind at my back and wish that for all!!!

Offline gyrene81

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Re: WW2 Hero
« Reply #5 on: June 03, 2013, 10:16:37 AM »
yes, the entire string from http:// to the end...
jarhed  
Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for a day...
Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. - Terry Pratchett

Offline gyrene81

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Re: WW2 Hero
« Reply #6 on: June 03, 2013, 10:37:32 AM »
nice, you got it Earl...  :salute
jarhed  
Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for a day...
Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. - Terry Pratchett

Offline earl1937

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Re: WW2 Hero
« Reply #7 on: June 03, 2013, 10:41:32 AM »
nice, you got it Earl...  :salute
Without your help, would still be scraching my head, have learned a lot this morning....just hope I don't forget it soon....one of the problems at my age, but did make some notes, so again, thanks for your help! <S>
Blue Skies and wind at my back and wish that for all!!!

Offline Arlo

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Re: WW2 Hero
« Reply #8 on: June 03, 2013, 03:04:21 PM »
When I was stationed at N.A.S. Memphis our P-3 squadron shared a hanger with a VMA skyhawk squadron and a VR (transport) squadron (VR-53).
I saw the VR squadron transition from:



to



They had a 10 year accident free streak until they transitioned (wingtip hit on landing and a separate incident involving running off the end of the runway).

Offline earl1937

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Re: WW2 Hero
« Reply #9 on: June 03, 2013, 04:18:20 PM »
When I was stationed at N.A.S. Memphis our P-3 squadron shared a hanger with a VMA skyhawk squadron and a VR (transport) squadron (VR-53).
I saw the VR squadron transition from:

(Image removed from quote.)

to

(Image removed from quote.)

They had a 10 year accident free streak until they transitioned (wingtip hit on landing and a separate incident involving running off the end of the runway).
:airplane: Even though I screwed up the post I was trying to make, with the help of you guys, I have now learned how to post pic's and etc.
The Pic you show in your post is a Navy R6D, if I recall correctly and again, the most "balanced" aircraft I ever flew! It had the right size engines for that size airframe, the right size control surfaces for that airframe, had the right amount of cockpit space for crew and was a very "docile" aircraft.
The Swedish folks even made modifications to the airframe where the tail would "swing" around, opening up the whole cargo area for loading and unloading. This aircraft was also used by President Harry S. Truman as personal transport.
It also was used as the personal transport of the commander of the United States Marines.

The bottom picture is what replaced the R6D's in the Navy, Marines and USAF, the McDonald-Douglas DC-9B, which is still in service today. I believe it was in 1978 that they started phasing out the DC-6B from the military, but 54 are still in use today by freight outfits scattered around the world.

The DC-9's have been replaced with the MD-80 and later the MD-88. May be later version of this all jet aircraft, but not aware of them.
« Last Edit: June 03, 2013, 04:26:45 PM by earl1937 »
Blue Skies and wind at my back and wish that for all!!!

Offline Megalodon

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Re: WW2 Hero
« Reply #10 on: June 03, 2013, 09:14:58 PM »
:airplane: Even though I screwed up the post I was trying to make, with the help of you guys, I have now learned how to post pic's and etc.


Allright Earl wtg!

 :cheers:
Okay..Add 2 Country's at once, Australia and France next plane update Add ...CAC Boomerang and the Dewoitine D.520

Offline J.A.W.

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Re: WW2 Hero
« Reply #11 on: June 04, 2013, 12:42:59 AM »
At least one Dc 6 was in use as a bug-spray bomber..

Flying real low too, dumping out cater-pillar virus!

Whoever was at the wheel.. he was sure doin' the job..

& anyone seen that Canadian doco'.. where they did the Dambusters over?

Real skill in that big bird..
"Cybermen don't make promises..
Such ideas have no value."

Offline colmbo

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Re: WW2 Hero
« Reply #12 on: June 04, 2013, 01:07:25 AM »
Northern Air Cargo here in Anchorage operated a fleet of DC-6/C-118s for many, many years hauling freight and fuel to the bush communities.  Four 2800s wound up for takeoff is a wonderful sound.

Late 70s, early 80s was a great time to work at Anchorage International Airport.  Old piston airplanes were used to haul fish and freight.  During the summer months you'd see DC-3/C-47/Super DC-3, C-46, DC-4, Carvair (DC-4 modified to nose load cargo) DC-6, DC-7, C-97, C-82 and C-119s parked on the transient ramps.  Air blue with smoke from cranking radials and of course the sound of round engines.   Orgasmic.
Columbo

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return."

Fate whispers to the warrior "You cannot withstand the storm" and the warrior whispers back "I AM THE STORM"