Dates

Event

Constructed as a C-39.
This was the 14th C-39 built.

1939

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Corps with s/n 38-0515.
Delivered to Patterson Field, OH.

7 July 1939

Transferred to Fairfield Air Depot, Patterson Field, OH.

10 July 1939

Transferred to 1st Transport Squadron, 10th Transport Group, Patterson Field, OH.

21 June 1941

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 38-0515.

28 June 1941

Damaged.
Ground Collision at Schoen Field, IN, pilot R.W. Springer.

24 April 1942

Transferred to Fairfield Air Depot, Patterson Field, OH.
Sent here for overhaul. Total flying hours at this point was 2,289. Overhaul took three months.

31 July 1942

Transferred to Bowman Field, KY.

August 1942

For the next nine months, the plane was assigned to numerous air fields including Lawson Field, La.; Kansas City Field, Kan. and Sedalia Field, Mo.

From 9 March 1943 to Circa 10 March 1943

Transferred to Middletown Air Depot, PA.
Used as a transport aircraft at Middletown for more than a year.

Transferred to 496th Air Base Squadron, Middletown Air Depot, PA.
While based at Middletown was assigned to the 496th for a period of time.

Due to two name changes - Middletown Air Depot became Middletown Air Service Center then Olmstead Air Service Center - this C-39 was transferred on paper several more times. (NMUSAF).

Sent for a third round of depot maintenance.

1944

Transferred to Air Transport Command, Cincinnati, OH.
Served as a ferry aircraft.

February 1945

Struck off Strength/Charge from the United States Army Air Force.
Declared surplus. This C-39 accumulated more than 5,000 flight hours during its six years in military service. (NMUSAF).

23 February 1945

To Pan American Airlines.

February 1945

To Lineas Aereas Guerrero-Oaxaca, S. A., Mexico with new c/r XA-DUF.

To R. G. Torres, Mexico with new c/r XB-YAV.

Damaged.
Involved in an accident.

Withdrawn from use.

By 19 November 1949

To Meteor Air Transport with new c/r NC54337 (Douglas C-47A (DC-3), 20136).

19 November 1949

Crashed.
Summary: The damage to the airframe was substantial. There were two fatalities. There were 3,416 hours on the airframe at the time. The cargo flight departed Dunkirk Airport, NY (DKK/KDKK), United States of America and was destined for Detroit City Airport, MI (DET/KDET), United States of America. The accident occurred at Detroit, MI (United States of America) while on approach. The airframe was repaired. Narrative: Meteor Air Transports Trip W-959 departed Teterboro, N. J., at 23:38, on an IFR flight plan for Detroit, with a refueling stop at Dunkirk...
For a complete description of the event read the Aviation Safety Network Report.

21 January 1955

To Bankers Life and Casualty Co, Chicago, IL with new c/r N54337 (DC3C-S1C3G, 20136).

12 December 1955

Civil registration, N54337, cancelled.
Exported to Brazil.

12 December 1955

Civil registration, N54337, cancelled.

To unknown owner with c/r PP-AOD.

To unknown owner with c/r PP-AKD.

Taken on Strength/Charge with the Forca Aerea Brasileira with s/n 2072.

To unknown owner with c/r PT-KVB.

43-15633. 43-16132 (EXACT MATCH)Douglas C-47A-90-DL SkytrainMSN 20099/2059815670 (MSN 20136) to Meteor Air Transport as NC54337 (aircraft rebuiltafter an accident on Nov 19, 1949 in which 2 were killed) ToPP-AOD, to Transportes Aereos Nacional (Nacional) as PP-AKD.To Brazilian AF as FAB 2072. To Clube Nautico Agua Limpa as PT-KVBDestroyed while used by Clube Nautico.

From 1956 to 1959

To unknown owner with c/r N6097C.

June 1958

Photographer: Peter W. Orr
Notes: Douglas DC-3 spray plane. Western spruce budworm control project. Baker, Oregon.

1959

Withdrawn from use.

By 1963

To Leo John Demers, Salem, OR with new c/r N6097C.

February 1969

To Lemaster Aerial Spraying/Glenn Lemaster, KS keeping c/r N6097C.

1969

To R. G. Brown keeping c/r N6097C.

1970

To R. W. Duff keeping c/r N6097C.

Circa 1 April 1970

Certificate of airworthiness for N6097C (DC2, 2072) issued.

1 April 1970

To R W. Duff, Miami, FL keeping c/r N6097C.

July 1970

Ferry flight. Delivered to United States Air Force Museum, Patterson Field (East Side), Dayton, OH.
Aircraft was donated to the museum and was ferried to Wright Field for storage until the new museum opened at Wright Field.
View the Location Dossier

July 1970

Photographer: NMUSAF
Notes: Arrival at the Wright Field

July 1970

Photographer: NMUSAF
Notes: Arrival at Wright Field

3 September 1971

To United States Air Force Museum, Wright Field, Dayton, OH.
New museum opened.
View the Location Dossier

10 February 1972

Civil registration, N6097C, cancelled.

By 1977

Restored.
Restored to its original configuration while assigned to the 10th Transport Group at Patterson Field, Ohio between 1939 and 1942.

19 September 1987

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: Displayed on ramp by Annex while celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the USAF.

By 1995

Markings Applied: 15, 10TG
Markings are on the tail and under port wing.

Photographer: NMUSAF
Notes: Official photo by NMUSAF after restoration

20 September 1995

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

18 July 1996

Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photographed at the USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio.

18 July 1996

Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photographed at the USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio.

By 2000

Aircraft moved out of display to make room for VC-137C, and placed off-display in storage.

2004

To National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright Field, Dayton, OH.
Name of museum changed.
View the Location Dossier