Douglas DC-3 ‘Spirit of the Skeena’

General Description

The Douglas DC-3 is widely regarded as one of the most influential aircraft in aviation history. First flown in 1935, the DC-3 revolutionized air travel by combining reliability, comfort, and performance in a way no previous aircraft had done. Originally designed as a commercial airliner for American Airlines, it quickly became the backbone of passenger air service across North America and beyond. With its fast cruise speed and excellent range, it made coast-to-coast travel practical and efficient. By the late 1930s, airlines around the world were operating DC-3s.

When World War II broke out, many already existing DC-3s were modified for military use and designated the C-49, while airframes built brand-new for military use were designated the C-47 Skytrain (or Dakota in Commonwealth service). The C-47 was fitted with a reinforced floor, a large cargo door, and provisions for troop and cargo transport. C-49s and C-47s played a critical role in nearly every theatre of the war—from towing gliders on D-Day, to troop transport, and air-dropping supplies to besieged troops in Burma and the Pacific.

DC-3 variants were involved in some truly extraordinary missions. During the Berlin Airlift of 1948–49, C-47s flew thousands of sorties to supply West Berlin during the Soviet blockade. Others operated from makeshift runways in jungles, deserts, and arctic outposts—earning the aircraft its legendary reputation for toughness and versatility. Remarkably, many DC-3s are still flying today. In Canada, Buffalo Airways of Yellowknife, NWT continues to operate DC-3s and C-47s on regular cargo and charter flights where the DC-3s ruggedness and reliability are still valued.

In total, over 16,000 DC-3s and its variants were built. Interestingly, only 607 DC-3s were built for civilian use while all the rest; over 10,000 C-47s, almost 5000 Lisunov Li-2s built under license in the Soviet Union, and 487 Showa L2Ds built under license in Japan, were built for military use.

Our Douglas DC-3

Our DC-3 was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft Company in Santa Monica, California on February 19th, 1940. It was built as a DC-3-227B for American Airlines and was flown as “Flagship Texas” with registration NC-21793. When the United States joined WWII, it was pressed into military service with the USAAF, given serial number 42-57506, converted to a C-49H-DO, and painted in standard USAAF green with blue and white star roundels. Between 1942 and 1943 it served as a transport aircraft based in such places as Kellogg Field Michigan, Patterson Field Ohio, Sedalia and Rosencrans in Missouri, Del Valle Army Air Base and Love Field in Texas, and Roanoke Virginia.

On May 2^nd, 1943, while stationed in Roanoke, Virginia our DC-3 was involved in an accident that nearly took the lives of the three crewmembers onboard and nearly destroyed the airplane. The DC-3 was on a routine training flight when it was hit by an unexpected updraft so strong that both wingtips and the majority of both ailerons were ripped off. The airplane abruptly entered an uncontrollable downward spin starting at 9500 ft and saw the airspeed exceed the upper limit of the dial; this meant that the airplane was flying at a speed well beyond its maximum structural speed (Vne). Both pilots attempted to stop the rotation by having both their feet pressed with all their might against their respective right rudder pedal opposite to the rotation of the spin, but even that did nothing to help. In a last-ditch effort the pilot in command and former airline pilot, Capt. W. J. Hull, rapidly turned the rudder trim servo all the way to the right, and after two more rotations of the spin, the airplane began to stabilize, and they were able to recover to level flight. Once in level flight a mere 1000-2000 ft above the terrain the crew confirmed the damage to the airplane. They also determined that they had no roll control and the only way to turn the airplane was by using the secondary effects of the rudder to bank the airplane and affect a turn. Because of this they also discovered that banking the airplane any more than 5-degrees would risk them entering another spin. With such a limiting bank angle they experimented and found that to safely make a 180-degree turn it would result in a turn with a diameter of 12 to 15 miles. With this knowledge, high terrain at all other options, and sunset soon approaching, they elected to attempt a belly landing at nearby Pulaski Field.

Despite having a barely controllable airplane, the crew were successful in performing a safe belly landing at Pulaski. The airplane was then recovered from Pulaski and transported to Gravely Point near Washington DC, then to Rosencrans Missouri. Somewhere within this time the DC-3 was repaired and brought back to airworthy status.

In 1944, the airplane was returned to American Airlines but never returned to passenger service with the airline. It was re-engined with Pratt & Whitney 1830 engines and by 1949 it was operated by Trans Alaska Airlines on the route between Seattle, WA and Anchorage, AK. In 1952, it was imported into Canada, registered as CF-HCF, and operated by Queen Charlotte Airlines until the airline was sold to Pacific Western Airlines. With this change, the DC-3 was also re-registered as CF-PWH. In 1968, the DC-3 was leased by Pacific Western Airlines to Great Northern Airways in Edmonton, AB. Later that year, it was sold to Trans Provincial Airlines who then operated it until 1972, By this time it was relegated to being a spare parts airframe for the other DC-3s in their fleet and after the removal of all useful parts, CF-PWH was pushed into the bushes adjacent to the Terrace Airport, and abandoned.

Thankfully, in 1979 a founding member of the “Friends of the DC-3 – Canada” recognized its long contribution to the people of British Columbia and through last minute negotiations with the scrap dealer, the DC-3 was purchased. In 1987, CF-PWH was moved from Terrace to the now-defunct Transportation Museum in Cloverdale. Upon the closure of the Transportation Museum in 1992, The Township of Langley invited the Friends of the DC3 to relocate the airplane to Langley Municipal Airport and the majority of the restoration work was accomplished here.

In 1996, CF-PWH was donated to the Canadian Museum of Flight, where it has finally been able to enjoy its retirement. It went through a harrowing experience while in USAAF service, it was the first DC-3 to be owned and operated by the “home grown” B.C. airline, Queen Charlotte Airlines, and it was also Pacific Western Airlines first DC-3 in their fleet. Last, but not least, it is the second oldest surviving DC-3 in Canada, second only to the DC-3 owned and operated by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Mount Hope, Ontario.

Since its arrival in 1992, our DC-3 has been a true landmark at Langley Airport. It was first displayed adjacent the museum on 216th Street and later relocated to the west side of the airport in 2017. Most recently the DC-3 returned to a position along 216th, but this time to the north side of the terminal building. Both moves were major undertakings, requiring close coordination between airport management, Museum personnel, and the excellent team at Maxum Crane Rentals, whose support was essential during both moves.

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