Douglas C-47 Skytrain

The Douglas C-47 Skytrain, C-53 Skytrooper, and C-47 Dakota (RAF designation) are military transport aircraft that were developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. Used extensively by the Allies during World War II, including license-built Russian Lisunov Li-2, and civilian DC-3s modified and pressed into military service, the planes proved to be quite versatile and robust, serving as transporters of personnel, cargo, and wounded. The C-53 Skytrooper variant was used in vast numbers later in the war, towing gliders and dropping paratroops. By the time production ceased in 1952, over 16,000 of these aircraft had been produced and remain in use all over the world to this very day.