This Douglas DC-3 began life as a C-47 in 1944. It was the 100th C-47 delivered to the China National Aviation Corporation, in August 1944, piloted by Peter Goutiere from Miami to Kolkata, India in 90 hours of flying over 14 days.
Historic C-47 —
This Douglas DC-3 began life as a C-47 in 1944. It was the 100th C-47 delivered to the China National Aviation Corporation, in August 1944, piloted by Peter Goutiere from Miami to Kolkata, India in 90 hours of flying over 14 days.
Courtesy Scott Hamilton
Peter Goutiere, who will be 100 on Sept. 20, 2014, is one of two living pilots who flew for China National Aviation Corporation during World War II.
Rare bird —
Peter Goutiere, who will be 100 on Sept. 20, 2014, is one of two living pilots who flew for China National Aviation Corporation during World War II.
Courtesy Scott Hamilton
Serial No. 20806 is probably the only surviving CNAC C-47 today.
Lone survivor —
Serial No. 20806 is probably the only surviving CNAC C-47 today.
Courtesy Scott Hamilton
Peter Goutiere and Moon Chin, 102, are the only two living pilots from the China National Aviation Corp. service in World War II. The two greeted each other warmly at a CNAC reunion in San Francisco on September 5.
Grand reunion —
Peter Goutiere and Moon Chin, 102, are the only two living pilots from the China National Aviation Corp. service in World War II. The two greeted each other warmly at a CNAC reunion in San Francisco on September 5.
Courtesy Scott Hamilton
Chin set a record for C-47 operations, when 71 people were evacuated ahead of the Japanese advance in China. Among the passengers was Colonel Jimmy Doolittle, who was making his way back to U.S. forces after crash-landing his B-25 bomber in China following the famous Dootlittle Raid on Tokyo in April 1942.
Legendary pilots —
Chin set a record for C-47 operations, when 71 people were evacuated ahead of the Japanese advance in China. Among the passengers was Colonel Jimmy Doolittle, who was making his way back to U.S. forces after crash-landing his B-25 bomber in China following the famous Dootlittle Raid on Tokyo in April 1942.
Courtesy Scott Hamilton
Goutiere inspected his old plane on September 4, 69 years after he last saw the aircraft during the closing days of World War II. The airplane carried Goutiere and members of his family to a reunion of the China National Aviation Corp. from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco.
Not-so-routine inspection —
Goutiere inspected his old plane on September 4, 69 years after he last saw the aircraft during the closing days of World War II. The airplane carried Goutiere and members of his family to a reunion of the China National Aviation Corp. from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco.
Courtesy Scott Hamilton
The Douglas C-47/DC-3 was located in 2006 by John Sessions (right), founder of the Historic Flight Foundation of Everett, Washington, which owns the plane.
Historic preservation —
The Douglas C-47/DC-3 was located in 2006 by John Sessions (right), founder of the Historic Flight Foundation of Everett, Washington, which owns the plane.
Courtesy Scott Hamilton
During World War II, Goutiere flew over the dangerous Hump, the Himalayas between India and China, delivering supplies and fuel to Chinese and U.S. forces. "I was home," an emotional Goutiere said at the reunion on Saturday. "I was homesick."
Emotional reunion —
During World War II, Goutiere flew over the dangerous Hump, the Himalayas between India and China, delivering supplies and fuel to Chinese and U.S. forces. "I was home," an emotional Goutiere said at the reunion on Saturday. "I was homesick."
Courtesy Scott Hamilton