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Description
| Manufacturer: | Douglas | |
| Base model: | R4D | |
| Designation: | R4D | |
| Version: | -6 | |
| Nickname: | Skytrain | |
| Equivalent to: | C-47B C-47J | |
| Designation System: | U.S. Navy / Marines | |
| Designation Period: | 1931-1962 | |
| Basic role: | Transport | |
| Crew: | Pilot, Co-Pilot, Navigator | |
Specifications
| Length: | 63' 9" | 19.4 m | |
| Height: | 17' | 5.1 m | |
| Wingspan: | 95' 6" | 29.1 m | |
| Wingarea: | 987.0 sq ft | 91.6 sq m | |
| Empty Weight: | 18,135 lb | 8,226 kg | |
| Gross Weight: | 30,934 lb | 14,058 kg | |
| Max Weight: | 31,000 lb | 14,061 kg | |
Propulsion
| No. of Engines: | 2 | ||
| Powerplant: | Pratt & Whitney R-1830-90 | ||
| Horsepower (each): | 1200 | ||
Performance
| Range: | 1,600 miles | 2,575 km | |
| Cruise Speed: | 160 mph | 257 km/h | 138 kt |
| Max Speed: | 224 mph | 360 km/h | 194 kt |
| Climb: | 10,000 ft/min | 3,050 m/min | |
| Ceiling: | 26,400 ft | 8,045 m | |
Examples of this type may be found at
| Museum | City | State |
| Museum of Aviation | Warner Robins AFB | Georgia |
C-47J on display
Museum of Aviation |
Recent comments by our visitors
| Alan Hiatt Chelsea, AL | There are two sites that are interesting in Chile . These were found while searching for the R4D-8 that disappeared August 4, 1969. Coordinates are 34 22.328 S / 70 1.702W. Elev. 13536 ft. and Eye Alt. 14261 ft This is about 15 miles East of Pulma Lodge. The other location is coordinates are 34 3.527S / 70 13.705 W Elev. 11967 ft. Eye Alt. 12514 ft. about 9 miles East of Sewell Chile These coordinates are from Google Earth. 11/07/2013 @ 07:48 [ref: 68150] |
| Ron Thompson paso robles, CA | Eric McInteer: Your comments nobly done, answering some questions I always had about cousin Don's disappearance. As a toddler I remember him in Navy Whites, as the tallest person I had ever seen. This at a family gathering at the farm near Mineola. RT 10/27/2013 @ 19:32 [ref: 68129] |
| B. Burris , GA | Hello Jose C. Moiso in Mendoza, YT, I do not know if this message will reach you or if you even are a subscriber here at this time. It looks like the last message you left was in 2000 regarding the disappearance of the U.S. Navy plane on 4 August 1969. I may have some information I can share with you. 04/01/2012 @ 15:54 [ref: 54581] |
| B. Burris , GA | Hello Jose C. Moiso in Mendoza, YT,
I do not know if this message will reach you or if you even are a subscriber here at this time. It looks like the last message you left was in 2000 regarding the disappearance of the U.S. Navy plane on 4 August 1969. I may have some information I can share with you. 04/01/2012 @ 15:53 [ref: 54580] |
| Eric M. McInteer Lincoln, NE | In doing some research with my uncle into the disappearance and subsequent loss of his father, my grandfather in the Pacific Theatre, I found that he was the pilot of an R4D-6 which was lost in March, 1945 flying from Morotai to Samar. Both airfields are still visible from satellite images, but neither is used anymore. The letter written by my grandfather to his parents the day before his last flight was telling. He commented about the diverse weather systems in the area, and how squalls would blow up out of nowhere. He said that their protocol was to fly at around 7,000-8,000 feet, but during foul weather they were to descend to stay below the clouds and would fly right through the storms. As the R4D was unpressurized and did not carry oxygen, this was their only recourse. Here is the report from the U.S. Navy on their last flight.
R4D-6 Bu No #50770 19 Mar 1945 (0800) Commander Aircraft 7th Fleet Flight: Morotai Island to Samar, PI Scheduled flight Weather satisfactory for flight with some instrument conditions- Pilot total hours: 2728.5 This model: 434 hrs Pilot; Lt. Donald Leslie McInteer, USNR CAP. Richard A. Kirkland (C-Pilot) USNR James Thompson Jr. AMM1c. USN Barton J. Rassmussen, AM1c. USN Edmund Z. Szczygiel, ARM2c. USNR Passengers: Donald V. Johnson, Lt. USNR Louis C. Skinner, Lt. USNR G. M. L. Costner. Ls, USCG Alsie a. Porterfield. USN Alpha Scott, ART1c, USNR Charles W. Kallal, AMM2c. USNR Alfred A. France, ARM3c. USNR Tony D. Drakos, ARM3c. USNR Ben Williams, SM1c. Bennice Hathaway, SM1c A. B. Bosely, Sgt. US Army H. L. Straub, Pvt. US Army Missing In Action Plane and all personnel aboard are missing on a scheduled flight from Morotai Island to Samar. Cause is unknown but bad weather probably was a contributing factor. Another pilot in the area reported instrument weather over most of the course, rain, turbulence, violent updrafts and 20kt wind from the east. The last report from the missing plane gave its position as 05N 127deg 35min East, which was approximately 34 nautical miles west of prescribed course. The operation of the Flag Utility Unit, Aircraft Fleet, more closely approximate those of a combat transport squadron, then those of regular airlines. Missions are usually flown in forward areas where no standard routes have been established and changes in the tactical situation may require deviation from prescribed routes and landing fields. Action has been taken carefully to instruct pilots in applicable airlines procedures, and to require adherence there to as recommend by this board in para. 2 of there recommendations. Although desirable to equip transports of Flag Utility Unit with oxygen in accordance with paragraph 3 of the recommendations, it is not considered practicable to do so, nor essential fr operations in the SWPac area. The normal maximum altitude for flights should not exceed 8000'. Repeated experience in this area has been indicated that on encountering storms the most desirable level is below 600; and when passage through fronts at the level is impracticable about plans to return to base or to an alternate field. While not brought clear in the investigation, the principal cause for delaying initiation of search for the missing aircraft was inefficient internal communications at the terminal station. Action to correct this deficiency was taken on 20 Mar 1945. 06/21/2011 @ 09:25 [ref: 39746] |
| Chris Barry Bridgeport, CT | I was wondering do any of these aircraft fly today? and if so where do they fly? 05/22/2001 @ 07:11 [ref: 2331] |
| Jose C. Moiso MENDOZA, YT | Dear sres: We are aeronautical investigators. and we discovered the english plane "Lancastrian" crashed 53 years
ago in Los Andes mountaing, flying Buenos Aires to Santiago de Chile.. This new was announced to the world by the press of all the world. Since several years we are investigate also about Douglas R4D-6 "Skytrain" serial nº 17264 disapeard 4/8/1969 probably in Los Andes mountain , flying from Santiago to Buenos Aires whith 16 persons on board and never was founded. Flow in this plane crew and familiy in diplomatic mission EEUU en Santiago de Chile. As we are mountaneers and pilots, is our intention to obtain more information about this airplane. and will treat a search next summer. Please we need some answer from you: ? is this plane lost for EEUU¿ the name of pilot Lt.Cl.Ralph J.Touch,,, cop. James Kuhn... Tank you very much Jose Moiso 12/06/2000 @ 17:15 [ref: 1146] |
| Jose C. Moiso MENDOZA, YT | Dear sres: We are aeronautical investigators. and we discovered the english plane "Lancastrian" crashed 53 years
ago in Los Andes mountaing, flying Buenos Aires to Santiago de Chile.. This new was announced to the world by the press of all the world. Since several years we are investigate also about Douglas R4D-6 "Skytrain" serial nº 17264 disapeard 4/8/1969 probably in Los Andes mountain , flying from Santiago to Buenos Aires whith 16 persons on board and never was founded. Flow in this plane crew and familiy in diplomatic mission EEUU en Santiago de Chile. As we are mountaneers and pilots, is our intention to obtain more information about this airplane. and will treat a search next summer. Please we need some answer from you: ? is this plane lost for EEUU¿ the name of pilot Lt.Cl.Ralph J.Touch,,, cop. James Kuhn... Tank you very much Jose Moiso 12/06/2000 @ 17:14 [ref: 1145] |
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