The DC-3 Aviation Museum
Introduces:
The JOHN W. SWANCARA Collection
Author, Aviation Historian
EXCERPTS FROM
"A MISSION MOST SECRET".
COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL,
RELEASED BY JOHN W. SWANCARA,
TO: The DC-3 Aviation Museum.
"PROJECT 19 - A MISSION MOST SECRET."
COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL,
RELEASED BY JOHN W. SWANCARA,
TO: The DC-3 Aviation Museum.
C-47 UNREPORTED SPECIAL PROJECT. IN 1943,
SEVERAL C-47'S WERE MODIFIED AT PROJECT 19 TO CARRY ENTIRE P-40'S FROM THE COMBAT AREA BACK TO PROJECT 19 FOR REPAIRS. THIS PHOTO SHOWS THE PROTOTYPE WING CARRIER WHICH WAS ATTACHED TO THE UNDERSIDE. THE P-40 FUSELAGE, ENGINE, COWLINGS AND TAIL ASSEMBLY WERE LOADED INSIDE. THE FULL STORY, WITH MANY PHOTOGRAPHS, IS DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK.
"PROJECT 19 - A MISSION MOST SECRET."
COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL,
RELEASED BY JOHN W. SWANCARA,
TO: The DC-3 Aviation Museum.
NOT ALL C-47'S WERE C-47'S AS THIS PHOTO SHOWS C-53B S/N:120059,
READY FOR THE NOON FLIGHT TO CAIRO. TAKEN IN MID 1943 AT PROJECT 19, MOST
WERE MANNED BY MIXED CREWS OF SGT. PILOTS AND CIVILIANS FOR THE ATC.
DELIVERED TO PAN AM IN NOVEMBER,1941, IT WAS REDESIGNATED ON 2/27/42 AND
SERVED IN THE STATES AND AFRICA UNTIL 3/09/45. SOLD BY THE RFC TO AVIANCA
AND REGISTERED AS C-108, IT CRASHED ON JAN. 22, 1947 NEAR PUERTO ARUJO,
COLUMBIA. FROM:
"PROJECT 19 - A MISSION MOST SECRET."
COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL,
RELEASED BY JOHN W. SWANCARA,
TO: The DC-3 Aviation Museum.
JIMNEY CRICKET
C-47, #5. S/N: 41=18527, was one of the first from the 316th Sq.
ATC, to visit Project 19, delivering worn out parts and returning rebuilt
engines to the RAF. It eventually took part in the invasion of Sicily,
where, the pilot, Sgt. George Quisenberry received wounds from German FLAK.
The shell destroyed the nose of the Aircraft, knocking out all instruments
except the stand by compass. Jiminy carried the crew back with nothing but
the moon and the sticking standby compass. Jiminy Cricket was repaired and
served through May 1, 1947, then was "SALVAGED."
"PROJECT 19 - A MISSION MOST SECRET."
COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL,
RELEASED BY JOHN W. SWANCARA,
TO: The DC-3 Aviation Museum.
"BOOMERANG"
C-47C, #9, S/N: 41-1859. Flown often by Sgt. Lee Arbon, it was
given the name to ensure it would always come back.
The engines were named"Blonde" and "Peggy. by the flight crew.
Delivered at Douglas Aircraft on August 12, 1942,
it ran support missions into and out of GURA until the invasion of Sicily.
It was listed as "CONDITIONED - MIA" August 16,1943.
Sgt. Lee Arbon missed that mission.
The destruction of this plane and loss of all on board is worthy of
a "TWILIGHT ZONE" episode.
The full story is detailed in the book
"PROJECT 19 - A MISSION MOST SECRET."
