17-6-10 Garand Picture of the Day - Korea

[Mark in Rochester]

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[browningautorifle]

Those aren't Dakotas are they, sort of hunchbacked at the tail...thicker...

[Cosine26]

If you are talking about the aircraft, They are C-46's. I flew into K-9, Pusan East in one.

[browningautorifle]

the aircraft, They are C-46's.

Yes, that's what I was asking. I forgot you had firsthand experience there...looking at those guys must bring back some fond memories...and a few others.

Here's a couple of links of interest... Curtiss C-46 Commando - Wikipedia

Here's one showing how many remain, surprising after this time. List of surviving Curtiss C-46 Commandos - Wikipedia

[BEAR]

There is a TV show called "Ice Pilots" that takes place in the wilds of Canada. They fly a C 46 in that show,

BEAR

---------- Post added at 06:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:38 PM ----------

Did they ever get the C-46 fuel leak problem worked or or do they fly with an exception certificate and fire observers like the B-29s?

Bob

The C 46 did not have self sealing tanks that made it an easy target for ground fire. Not exactly what paratroopers like to ride in for combat jumps.

[browningautorifle]

"Ice Pilots" fly a C 46 in that show,

That's right too...

The C 46 did not have self sealing tanks. Not exactly what paratroopers like to ride in for combat jumps.

'Zactly...

[Cosine26]

The Brits, who like to call aircraft by names, called them the Commando. They flew me into Korea and out after my fifty mission B26 tour. When I was in the USAF, we hardly ever called an aircraft by its name, only by it number, ergo: B-47, B-29 F-51, F-80 except for Gooney Bird.
FWIW.

[Bob Womack]

Did they ever get the C-46 fuel leak problem worked or or do they fly with an exception certificate and fire observers like the B-29s?

Bob

[browningautorifle]

The Brits, who like to call aircraft by names, called them the Commando.

Commonwealth also changed names. For instance an A20 Havoc became an RAF Boston.

[Cosine26]

Bob
I do not know about the fuel leak in the C-46. I took only two flights in a C-46-one the worst (into Korea) and the other the best (out of Korea) .
I under stand that the C-46 did not fair well in the post WWII era as a commercial transport- due to high operating costs. The C-47 was OK and then the airlines started moving to the DC-4 and DC-6. Those two- R2800 engines burned about 200 gallons per hour, so a leak would have to be big to our run the engines.
FWIW