C47 Hairless Joe

It's easy to say that the air war in WWII was won by fighters and bombers.  But as a cargo guy, I'm going to toss my opinion that cargo was also a very important element in in how the war, and post war turned out.  I'm not the only one who sees the value of the aircraft and how it was used.

...four other pieces of equipment that most senior officers came to regard as among the most vital to our success in Africa and Europe were the bulldozer, the jeep, the 2-ton truck, and the C-47 airplane. Curiously, none of these is designed for combat.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF)

What I know of the C47 has been taught to me by movies such as the Longest Day and a Bridge to Far.  But I also know of the Berlin airlift where the C47 was a major player.  In the post WWII cold war, this was a huge victory for the Allies and the people of Berlin who lived in the section under Western control.  From June of 1948 to May of 1949 the Soviet Union blocked all land and water access to West Berlin.  To keep the people of West Berlin supplied with food and fuel, air crews from the Allied powers crewed over 200,000 sorties in one year.
The C47 is still flying in good numbers today for many uses.  When you have a good design, it is tough to replace it.
The C47 at the Wings over Northern Michigan airshow is owned and maintained by the Yankee Air Museum.  

C47 in Flight

NIKON D500 Ver.1.15/70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6

450 mm, 1/200 sec, f/20, ISO 140 (Auto)

EV -.33, Manual Mode

C47 on Approach

NIKON D500 Ver.1.15/70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6

480 mm, 1/200 sec, f/20, ISO 200 (Auto)

EV -.33, Manual Mode