Douglas C-47 Skytrain 'Old 635' transport aircraft in D-Day invasion stripes - 7628 inspired real world MOC

[Murdoch17]

This Douglas C-47 Skytrain is modeled after one at the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Missouri. The real aircraft served in the D-Day landings, among other events of the European theatre of WWII. In August 1945, it was taken back to the US to be stationed with the 817th Base unit, at Kellogg Field, Michigan. It was turned over to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation for disposition in October 1945 and may have been sold to Bonanza Airlines for passenger service between Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada for a time. It was reacquired by the Air Force (now an independent service) in December 1948 and assigned to the 131st Fighter Group, Missouri Air National Guard, located at Lambert Field in St. Louis in May 1950. It was used as a VIP transport and used to carry the governor and other state officials, as well as Air Guard personnel. Former President Harry S. Truman was a passenger on at least two occasions. In October 1972 'Old 635' as it was known, was retired and the Air Force Museum placed it at the Museum of Transportation on permanent loan.

My LEGO C-47 is in D-Day invasion stripes (just like the real plane is painted these days), and was based off of 2008 Indiana Jones set 7628 - this set features a DC-3 aircraft, which is the civilian version of the C-47, so it was rather easy to convert it to military use.

The rear of the plane.

This singular C-47 Skytrain is one of over 800 such planes that loaded paratroopers for Operation Neptune, part of Operation Overlord - AKA the D-Day invasion of Normandy of June 6, 1944 by the Allies. These paratroopers were dropped before the main invasion force storms the beaches, attempting to capture bridges and strategic defensive points held by the Axis powers, before linking up with the incoming ground troops.

Thoughts?

Edited 9 hours ago by Murdoch17

[Feuer Zug]

Nice work on the DC-3 / C47 model.

[Murdoch17]

4 hours ago, Feuer Zug said:

Nice work on the DC-3 / C47 model.

Thank you @Feuer Zug!