Tribute to the DC-3

In fifty-one they tried to ground the noble DC-3,

Some lawyers brought the case before the mighty C.A.B.,

The board examined all the facts behind their great oak portal,

And pronounced these simple words "The Gooney Bird's Immortal ! "

The Air Corps toast their "Sky Train" in lousy scotch and soda,

The Tommies raise their glasses high to cheer their old "Dakota",

Some claim the C-47's best, or the gallant R4D

Forget that claim, they're all the same, they're the, noble DC-3.

Douglas built the ship to last, but nobody expected,

This crazy heap would fly and fly, no matter how they wrecked it,

While nations fall and men retire, and jets go obsolete,

The Gooney Bird flies on and on at seven thousand feet.

No matter what they did to her the Gooney Bird still flies,

One crippled plane was fitted out with one wing half the size,

She hunched her shoulders then took off (I know this makes you laugh),

One wing askew, and yet she flew, the DC-2 and a half.

She had her faults, but after all, who's perfect in every sphere?,

Her heating system was a gem, we loved her for her gear

Of course the windows leaked a bit when the rain came pouring down,

She'd keep you warm, but in a storm, it's possible you'd drown.

Well now she flies the feeder lines and carries all the freight,

She's just an airborne office, a flying twelve-ton crate,

They patched her up with "duck" tape, with paper clips and strings,

And still she flies, she never dies, Methuselah with wings.

- Anonymous

I am looking for former members of the 3rd Combat Cargo Group, 1st, Combat Cargo Group, 2nd Combat Cargo Group and the 4th Combat Cargo Group. In fact I would like to hear from anyone who flew over the Hump during WW II, or flew any Combat Cargo Missions at any time (Berlin Air-Lift, Korea, etc.)

Please e-mail comments, suggestions, corrections, etc. to: bill@comcar.org

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