C-47 Skytrain 'Drag em oot'

[jonesy1275]

This years Abingdon Airshow was always going to be a very important time for me after Neil Porter had announced that C-47 Drag 'em oot was going to display. After getting permission from Neil and C-47 owner Paddy Green, I went on a search for a Yak-52 owner who'd be willing to fly me for an air to air shoot with the C-47 on its departure from Abingdon. The saviour came in the form of an Aussie named Colin Short who partly owns G-YAKI and readily agreed to fly me.

The night before the show was also an opportunity too good to miss when I delivered the jeep.

Anyway, C-47 Drag 'em oot 42-100882 is a true veteran of WWII. Assigned to the 87th Troop Carrier Squadron, 438th Troop Carrier Group, it was based at Greenham Common airfield. On the night of D-Day, Drag 'em oot was to drop paratroopers from the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne to drop zone A where it was aircraft No 2 in Serial 7. Serials 1 to 6 had dropped Pathfinder teams earlier in the night to guide the main body of aircraft to the correct drop zones.

She was also fitted with Model 80 Glider pickup equipment to retrieve assault gliders from the Normandy fields so that they could be re-used for further ops. The specialised pick-up was in great demand especially for the RAF and an agreement was made between the RAF and the USAAF for a straight swap of aircraft and from the 2nd of September 1944 she was in RAF hands. For the rest of the war she participated in Operation Market Garden and Operation Varsity (the largest single airborne operation of WWII where gaining a foothold across the river Rhine was the objective). It is most likely that during these operations, she received the battle damage from flak and ground fire which is still visible inside the aircraft today.

I have a huge interest in the airborne ops of WWII especially during D-Day and it was a privilege to spend some time with a true aviation legend.

Enjoy the photos. :smile:

DSC_0894-2forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr

DSC_0911forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr

DSC_0900forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr

DSC_0915-2forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr

DSC_0845forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr

DSC_1010forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr

IMG_0515forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr

IMG_0500-2forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr

IMG_0544forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr

IMG_0425forum2 by jonesy1275, on Flickr

[jonesy1275]

IMG_0545forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr

IMG_0522forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr

A huge thank you to Neil Porter, Colin Short and Paddy Green for literally getting this off the ground and awesome flying from the C-47 crew, John Dodd and Mark Edwards.

Thanks for looking,

Neil.

[Wolfgun33]

Awesome photos!! That's great to see a WW2 aircraft that saw extensive use still in the air. Thanks for sharing.

[dmk0210]

Very nice! Thanks for sharing these.

Is that your MB?

Edited July 11, 2012 by dmk0210

[jonesy1275]

It sure is. My pride and joy.

Willys Jeep on Upottery Airfield by jonesy1275, on Flickr

[Andre]

Great shots, thanks for posting!

Cheers,

Andre

[Jinxter13]

:salute: Great pics, 'nuff said.

[dmk0210]

Sweet Jeep Jonesy! It probably looks better now that it ever did when it was new. :D

I've owned CJs and YJs. Always wanted an MB or GPW.

Edited July 14, 2012 by dmk0210

[Mad Viper]

Awesome photos. And nice jeep.