Photo thread - The Douglas DC-3

[Peter Lewis]

The Douglas Aircraft Company's DC-3 was pivotal in establishing air transport as a reliable, comfortable and profitable operation.

New Zealand has employed 42 different DC-3 aircraft in civil operations since 1947. Most of these were originally built as military C-47 aircraft, but I shall refer to them all as DC-3s in this thread.

You are welcome to post your DC-3 photos here as well, but in order to maintain some sort of sequence, please do so after the initial posting on that particular aircraft.

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ZK-AOD saw war service with the RNZAF from early 1945 as C-47B-20-DK NZ3532, and in the immediate post war period was used as an RNZAF freighter on the Cook Strait route. Entering National Airways Corporation service, it became ZK-AOD on 20Jun1947 remaining as a freighter until late 1950.

ZK-AOD at Paraparaumu June 1947, in very basic ex-miltary markings



ZK-AOD in freighter configuration



Converted to passenger configuration as a DC-3C at that stage, it carried the name Papango and proudly bore the title Flagship



ZK-AOD at Whenuapai early 1950s







By the early 1960s its colours had remained very similar, but the Flagship motif had disappeared



At Whenuapai 6Jul1963



In late 1963 ZK-AOD was converted to 'Skyliner' configuration in order to compete with the South Pacific Airlines of NZ (SPANZ) Viewmaster aircraft, and then carried the name Whakatane

At Christchurch late 1963



At Whenuapai 2Feb1964



Ownership passed to Mt Cook & Southern Lakes Tourist Co.Ltd., Timaru on 30Oct1964, and ZK-AOD was painted up in Mt Cook Lily colours



Mt Cook replaced it with HS748s in 1972, and ZK-AOD was sold to Fieldair on 17Nov1972 who flew it to their Palmerston North Base for conversion to aerial topdressing configuration.

However, this conversion never took place and ZK-AOD remained at Milson as a parts source, the registration being cancelled on 13Apr1976 and the remains scrapped.

Storage at Milson in basic Mt Cook colours



Derelict at Milson 15Apr1976

[Damon]

I think I am going to enjoy this thread.Nice pictures Peter.

[hairy]

Cor, those old negatives scrub up up rather nicely.

I am looking forward to the rest of this thread.

[Peter Lewis]

C-47B-30-DK NZ3541 served with the RNZAF from May 1945 until its transfer to NAC on 20Jun1947 where it became ZK-AOE

ZK-AOE in interim colours for delivery to NAC in 1947. Note the gunports still extant in the windows



Happy chap in the cockpit, while the nose stencilling shows that the aircraft is yet to have its military markings removed. The US serial 44-76799 is evident.

At Paraparaumu June 1947



ZK-AOE in a rural Paraparaumu setting, probably at the same time as above



Configured as a freighter in NAC service, it carried the name Parera and was employed on the Woodbourne to Paraparaumu Cook Strait freight run.

ZK-AOE after conversion to its freight role



ZK-AOE at Milson 16Oct1947.
Of interest are the NAC Lodestars in the background.
On the right is ZK-ALZ, parked out after being damaged by fire during its civil conversion on 10Feb1947, and now used as a parts source.
Partially hidden, on the left of ZK-AOE, is either ZK-AKW (which was S.Abd USA as N7611 in 1949) or ZK-AKX (which crashed into the Tararua Bush, 2mls NE Waikanae, 18Mar1949 on approach to Paraparaumu)



ZK-AOE departing Paraparaumu



On 9Aug1948 ZK-AOE departed from Woodbourne airport at 08:30am and at 08:38 the pilot reported they were overhead the Wairau river mouth and tracking for Paraparaumu. A few minutes later the aircraft crashed at Craggy Ridge, Rununder Point, just to the north-east of Port Underwood on the South Island coast. Pilot M MacLeod an co-pilot R Makgill both killed.
ZK-AOE thus became the shortest-serving NAC DC-3.

Crash photos show the aircraft was in natural metal with large black (or red) registration lettering.

[shorty]

Some shots of the crash site and wreckage of ZK-AOE taken in February 1968

[Dave Homewood]

That photo of ZK-AOE is a most unusual colour scheme. Rough as guts. Note the engine is bare metal. What is up with the tail - is that discolouration the result of interum repairs perhaps? Coorosion control? Is the C-47 rudder metal or fabric?

[flyjoe180]

Crikey, bit of a position difference between Wairau River mouth and Rununder Point. Drift bit more than expected perhaps, like the Kaimai incident? Obviously before the days of DME.

[shorty]

Aug 23, 2011 21:49:47 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

That photo of ZK-AOE is a most unusual colour scheme. Rough as guts. Note the engine is bare metal. What is up with the tail - is that discolouration the result of interum repairs perhaps? Coorosion control? Is the C-47 rudder metal or fabric?

The reason Dave is, as Peter says, this was just the temporary scheme to keep the aircraft legal while it flew from Air Force storage to NAC serviceing facility. All they have doen is paint over the servoce markings and strip the paint from where the rego is painted. It would look scruffy after living outside for the war years and then pounding around the Pacific before sitting outside in temp storage again before being taken over by NAC.

C-47 rudders are fabric covered.

[Dave Homewood]

I was aware of that Shorty, I was just commenting on how unusual it is to see an aircraft in this transitional phase. And unusual to see an olive drab C-47 with bare stripped engines too. A rare photo.

My only query was about the tail, whether people here might think the discolouration was a result of repairs. It seems a bit random, and certainly not form having the finflash painted over I don't think.

[Peter Lewis]

You're right Joe, a bit of undetected wind drift there.

NZ3539 had served as a C-47B-30-DK from April 1945 until becoming ZK-AOF with NAC in June 1947, initially in freighter configuration.

ZK-AOF in very drab colours, but obviously already earning its living as a freighter



ZK-AOF as one of a lineup of DC-3s, Paraparaumu late-1940s





Named Pukeko it was converted to passenger status in 1953.

Passenger config, at Rongotai



Upgraded to Skyliner status by 12Dec1963, it was renamed Blenheim

ZK-AOF as a Skyliner at Christchurch 30Aug1964



In June 1969, ZK-AOF was leased to Fiji Airways Ltd.who operated it as VQ-FBJ. In October 1971 the registration was changed to DQ-FBJ and the operator became Air Pacific Ltd.

DQ-FBJ at Christchurch, probably taken on its return from Fiji


photo via Dave Paull

Returning to New Zealand in April 1972, ZK-AOF re-entered NAC service as Skyliner Waitaki and soldiered on until December 1974 when it had clocked up 39202.45hrs.
I have ZK-AOF listed as then being used by Air New Zealand as a crew trainer for their redundant Flight Engineers to gain ATPLs and to become First Officers.
Eventually, ZK-AOF was sold to aircraft dealer P R Wieland Pty. Ltd., Sydney, NSW in September 1976 and the aircraft departed via Australia for the USA

ZK-AOF in transit through Australia late 1976



The NZ registration was cancelled on 25Jan1977, and ZK-AOF became N99435 with R G Bixler, San Jose, CA.

It would be difficult to do less with the paintwork on N99435, having bought it from NAC and called yourself Navair



Other USA owners followed, and some years later this DC-3 was apparently involved in drug-running in the Carribbean and was eventually impounded and grounded at the Aruba Airport, Netherlands Antillies, prior to 1987.
It fell into dereliction there, and eventually was dumped in the nearby ocean as a wreck for divers to investigate.

At Aruba May 1991, still wearing basic NZNAC colours

[Peter Lewis]

ZK-AOG - see ZK-AQP

In the immediate postwar, NAC operated regional flights to the Pacific Islands. This required some DC-3s to be modified with increased fuel tankage and navigational astrodomes to DC-3D status.
C-47B-45-DK NZ3557 was the first of these, and entered service with NAC on 20Jun1947 as ZK-AOH Pateke.

First postwar colours, ZK-AOH at Paraparaumu





ZK-AOH in early colours with large fuselage registration letters and Royal Mail titles



Note the funky Shell tanker



By the early 1950s, the colour schemes were rather more elaborate



At Paraparaumu







ZK-AOH was withdrawn from NAC line operations on 30Jun1962 having reached 28392hrs. Sold to Australian aircraft dealer Commercial Aviation Pty. Ltd. of Perth as VH-MMO in November 1962, it entered service with MacRobertson Miller Airlines as VH-MMB.

In later years this aircraft went to Indonesia as PK-NDG with Merpati Nusantara Air Lines and then to Dirgantara Air Service, Djakarta in September 1980 as PK-VTM. Subsequently it was operated by the Indonesian Air Force marked as AF-4775.
Apparently several DC-3s in Indonesia bore the same registration to confuse the authorities, but the real one has been reported as a survivor.

[Tony]

My absolute favourite scheme

[Peter Lewis]

NZ3554 was a C-47B-45-DK that was enrolled in RNZAF service in August 1945. Transferred to NAC, it obtained its civilian CofA on 5Apr1947 and was issued with the registration ZK-AOI on 20Jun1947.
Initially serving with NAC in a passenger role as Papua, it was converted into a freighter configuration the following year.

These photos of ZK-AOI shows it with the large registration lettering and possibly the remnants of an RNZAF paint scheme, so was probably taken early in its civilian life





It soon appeared in the standard NAC livery

ZK-AOI at Paraparaumu late 1940s









In later life, the colour scheme was upgraded to the 'NAC Freightair' livery

Paraparaumu



ZK-AOI at Rongotai, 1960s





ZK-AOI was among the first batch of NAC DC-3s to be retired from service, and was then reconfigured by NAC (at Christchurch?) as an agricultural aircraft for James Aviation who took ownership in July 1966. This may have been just in time for an agwork downturn, as I have a note that ZK-AOI was stored 1967-70.

ZK-AOI with James Aviation at Hamilton, 1968





James Aviation became a partner along with Fieldair in Southern Air Super Ltd. of Palmerston North, and this DC-3 was transferred into Southern Air Super ownership on 11May1971.

In SAS colours, Hood airfield 1971 - 72





Less than two years later ZK-AOI crashed after a wing separated during a topdressing flight at the head of Ure River, inland Kaikoura Ranges, 23Feb73. killing the pilot Don Thorp.
According to the CAA accident report the accident was caused by in-flight separation of the starboard wing due to a loss of structural strength brought about by extensive fatigue cracks in the lower centre wing wraparound and internal doublers inboard of Sta. 142, initiation and propagation to failure of the starboard wing cracks being due to consistent overstress.

[Peter Lewis]

Douglas DC-3C ZK-AOJ had seen RNZAF service as a C-47B-20-DK serialed NZ3533 from February 1945.
Converted to civilian status in June 1947, it was given the name Piopio.

ZK-AOJ in a very basic early scheme. The gunport windows are still fitted, maybe while serving as a freighter. Location looks to be Paraparaumu.





Loading freight at Paraparaumu, while Grandma supervises







By the 1950s ZK-AOJ appeared in the classic silver and red NAC livery, seen here at Parapaumu





and at Rongotai



After serving during the following years in a passenger configuration, it was upgraded to Skyliner status in April 1964 and then renamed Whangarei.

Skyliner ZK-AOJ at Whenuapai 23Aug1964





Withdrawn from NAC use, ZK-AOJ was leased by NAC to Polynesian Airlines for several months from October 1967, but retained its NZ registration.
Following its return in April 1968, it was sold to a Laotian operator and repainted at Christchurch in their colours.

ZK-AOJ at Christchurch mid-1968



Departing NZ, it became XW-TDI with Laos Airlines from 20Oct1968 but was destroyed in a crash at Ban Houeisai, Laos, 30Jun1971

[Peter Lewis]

ZK-AOK - see ZK-APK

ZK-AOZ had served with the RNZAF as a C-47B-30-DK NZ3537 from 4Apr1945.
Transferred to NAC as a Pacific regional DC-3D, it adopted its civil registration on 28Apr1947 and carried the name Pakara.

ZK-AOZ in the wet at Whenuapai, late 1940s





By the 1950s, it was flying in the more elaborate NAC colour scheme

At Whenuapai, again



At Paraparaumu, parked, September 1953



Active at Paraparaumu, 9July1954



The whitetop scheme dates this shot around 1962



NAC withdrew ZK-AOZ from service as from 30Jun1962 @ 28896hrs. Soon after this date, Polynesian Airlines leased it to operate as a replacement for its now-retired Percival Prince aircraft. ZK-AOZ was modified at Christchurch with the fitment of an AiResearch 'Maximiser' kit involving fairing the undercarriage and engine modifications to increase cruising speed and extend the operational range so that it could be used on the 800nm Samoa - Rarotonga route.



The aircraft was reregistered 5W-FAA (the first on the Samoan register) and departed from Whenuapai for Faleolo on 31May1963.

The aircraft returned to NZ at completion of this lease and is seen here at Whenuapai 13Jun1965







After completion of its PAL services, 5W-FAA was sold via Australian Aircraft Sales to an Indonesian operator, Seulawah Air Service.
The aircraft was to be delivered through Australia and left Auckland on 27Sep1965. By 2Oct1965 it had reached Darwin but remained there as payment from the end customer had not been received and the allotted registration PK-RDB was never taken up. Parked at Darwin for years, it suffered terminal damage from Cyclone Tracy that passed through the area on 24/25Dec1974.



(Photo credit RAAF via QAM)

The battered remains of the aircraft went to the Darwin Air Museum, East Point, Darwin.

Remains of ZK-AOZ at Darwin



The remains of ZK-AOZ were used in repair work to the museum's RAAF Dakota A65-104, which had also been damaged in the storm.
The Maximizer undercarriage fairings, not being used in that repair work, were donated to the Queensland Air Museum at Caloundra mid-2011.

[Peter Lewis]

The third long-range DC-3D for NAC was ZK-APA. This aircraft had served as a C-47B-45-DK with the RNZAF as NZ3555 from 20Aug1945 and was registered as a civilian aircraft on 28Apr1947, named Puweto.

ZK-APA in early post-war colours at Paraparaumu, November 1947



and (probably) at Whenuapai around the same time



ZK-APA office, November 1947



During the late 1950s ZK-APA made the one trip to the Chatham Ilalnds on 14 Dec 1957 with Captains Peter Mathison and Ken Moss after the airstrip had been constructed and the TEAL flying boat service to those islands had ceased with Solent 3 ZK-AMQ carrying out the final flight 19/20Oct1956.

ZK-APA in NAC colours at Whenuapai





an NAC Dominie also just sneaking into the shot



The Whenuapai environs were not exactly built out at that time



Ready to load passengers, Rongotai January 1964



ZK-APA was upgraded to Skyliner status in November 1964, and then carried the name Hokitika

Taxiing at Whenuapai May 1965





Following the leasing of ZK-AOZ as 5W-FAA, Polynesian Airlines had acquired an ex-US Navy R4D-5 DC-3 which they operated as 5W-FAB. On the 11May1966, this aircraft left Faleolo at 17:45 for a training flight. While descending back for Faleolo at 18:10 an airstair door was seen to separate from the aircraft, striking the tail. The DC-3 lost control and crashed into the sea killing all three on board.

Polynesian then arranged to lease ZK-APA from NAC and operated it as 5W-FAC from 23Nov1966.


Graham Summers photo, reproduced by arrangement

On 13 January 1970 at 02:54 Polynesian Airlines Flight 208B operated by 5W-FAC crashed into the sea shortly after take-off from Faleolo International Airport on an international non-scheduled passenger flight to Pago Pago International Airport, American Samoa. All 29 passengers and three crew on board were killed.
The accident report found that about one minute after take-off the aircraft encountered windshear and possible precipitation turbulence, causing the nose to pitch up. The aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea; an explosion followed.
CAUSE: Unrecoverable stall due to shifting of winds.

[Peter Lewis]

ZK-APB was the first NAC DC-3 to be properly fitted out as an airliner, rather than just an ex-military transport with basic seating. Ex-NZ3534,this C-47B-25-DK left the military on 28Apr1947 and was flown to Melbourne where the civil conversion took place and the name Popotea applied. It became a civil DC-3D on 9Sep1947.

ZK-APB posing some sort of maintenance problem at Whenuapai



What do you do then? Send the passengers off in either direction



and bring in a trio of Tiger Moths to ferry them. Looks like two RNZAF Tigers and one civil



ZK-APB as part of an interesting line-up at Paraparaumu. This would have been pre-23Oct48, as Electra on the left of the photo, ZK-AGK, crashed on Mt Ruapehu on that date.



and an angle view of a similar scene



Parked at Paraparaumu mid-1952



ZK-APB somehow avoided becoming a Skyliner, retaining the classic colour scheme right through to the end if its NAC service.

Rongotai, January 1963



At Whenuapai 13Jun1965





Withdrawn from NAC service on 30Jun1965 @ 29746hrs, ZK-APB was sold to Airland (NZ) Ltd., a Palmerston North-based consortium of James Aviation, Rural Aviation, and Fieldair that had been set up to operate heavier aerial topdressing aircraft throughout New Zealand. Taking ownership of ZK-APB on 31Aug1965, the aircraft was converted to its new role and operated in a fairly utilitarian colour scheme.

ZK-APB at Milson 19Aug1966



At a later date





The consortium eventually broke up, and Fieldair took sole ownership of ZK-APB on 20Feb1978.

ZK-APB operating in classic Fieldair colours





A book-entry ownership change saw ZK-APB transferred to Fieldair Holdings (Central) Ltd. on 18Nov1980, but its final flight took place just over a year later on 16Nov1981. Retired at Palmerston North, it had clocked up 41588hrs.

The stripped hulk was moved to the Wellington area and found a home at a Fun Park, Petone from 30Nov83. When that closed, ZK-APB was sold C Denham and lurked in the hills on the Wellington foreshore from 6Mar85.

In the hills, Wellington coast, 1993



Eventually it migrated to a restaurant in Mirimar, where the nose section appeared on the front of the building and various other pieces were displayed inside.



Leaving there for a scrap yard some years later, the cockpit section was eventually rescued and taken to SVAS at Masterton where it is stored.

[Peter Lewis]

C-47B-45-DK NZ3556 had been allotted to NAC as ZK-AOK. However, with the airline being busy in set-up mode, the allocation at that time was postponed.

In mid-1947  the aircraft took up the registration ZK-APK and was flown to Melbourne for conversion to civilian DC-3D standards.

Passengers disembarking at Paraparaumu soon after ZK-APK entered airline service..
Note that no aircraft name had been applied at this time, and the military emergency escape hatches are still stencilled on the fuselage



Named Poaka,  it was one of the NAC aircraft used on the Pacific regional services.

ZK-APK arriving at Paraparaumu November 1947







ZK-APK outside a hangar at Whenuapai now in full early NAC colours



In the 1950s, ZK-APK was painted up in the classic NAC colour scheme and operated on internal services.



Awaiting another load of passengers on a sunny day



Later, ZK-APK appeared in the 'white top' colour scheme



ZK-APK was one of the four DC-3Ds withdrawn from service on 30 June 1962. It returned to service in August 1963 and converted to Skyliner status in August 1964 in replacement for the crashed ZK-AYZ.
ZK-APK was then renamed Kaikohe.



ZK-APK was leased to Fiji Airways from 1965 until 1967 and operated with them as VQ-FAH.

Returning to NAC service in September 1967, ZK-APK was finally retired in October 1968.

Sold to Airland (NZ) Ltd. in November 1968, it was not registered in their name until 7May1969 and not actually used operationally until 13Oct1970.



When Airland dissolved, Fieldair took ownership of ZK-APK from 20Feb1978.

ZK-APK in Fieldair colours at Milson



About to receive another load of superphosphate from the loader rig



Ownership was transferred to Fieldair Holdings (Central) Ltd. as from 18Nov1980. The final flight of this DC-3 took place on 3Jul1981 and the aircraft was WFU Milson @ 42764hrs. The registration was cancelled on 30Mar1984.

Stored at Milson until sold to Rangitikei River Aventures mid-1985. To Mangaweka for display as ZK-AOK at their base beside the petrol station.



Repainted as the Cookie Time DC3

At Mangaweka 2006



and latterly as the Mangaweka Skyliner

At Mangaweka 8Jan2010



Still on-site there today.

[Peter Lewis]

I must admit I'm a little surprised that no-one else seems to have any photos of these aircraft to add.

I'm away for a few days in the sub-polar regions (Wellington) and will resume on my return.

[flyjoe180]

I can but offer more of the same Peter, and some others not in order: