Old photos of C-119s

[John Baker]

These are photos of C-119s a friend sent me. I have around ten or so jumps from these planes. He was crewing these things at the time. He was in the air force when I was with the 101st. Here is the copy he sent with them:

"Cuban Crisis" was taken over Illinois during the time we were activated during the crisis. The others were at EAFB in preparation for war-games with the Canadians. I have additional pics but seems I am limited by Yahoo as to the total megs permitted.


John

 

[MachFly]

That's one good looking plane. It has that nice classic look to it.

Thanks for posting

 

[Anthony]

We used to call these the flying boxcar when I was a kid. I'd see them fly over the house, and could always pick them out due to the distinctive twin boom design.

Nice photos!

 

[ScottM]

Classic!

 

[chambers]

We had abunch of these at RCAF station Downswiew (Toronto) in the early sixties when I was stationed there. They provided many hours of entertainment watching them landing without nosegear.

 

[denverpilot]

There's one outdoors at the museum at KPUB. Their outdoor displays are looking a little ratty, but they're trying with an all volunteer crew...

 

[John Baker]

We just called them boxcars, as in; "what are we jumping today?"

John

 

[Anthony]

There's one outdoors at the museum at KPUB. Their outdoor displays are looking a little ratty, but they're trying with an all volunteer crew...

I've seen that one. The B-29 inside is awesome.

 

[Punzomatic]

I remember them as leaky, drafty and cold; and a real bear to wrestle on one engine. As little as a cocktail glass of ice could cause you to start looking for a way out. Granted, they are neat to look at, but that's where the fun ends. Lots of 119 wrecks in Alaska.

 

[j1b3h0]

They used be operated by the California National Guard, out of Hayward, when I was kid. Flew Helio Couriers also. The C-119 is (not so afectionately) known as the flying coffin. It was equipt with turbo-compound R-3350s. Nice simple engine (kidding). 18 cylinders in 2 rows, 2 stage, 2 speed blowers, and turbo-compounding provided by 3 power recovery turbines...imagine a turbo - but instead of it spinning an impeller for added ram air, it spun a shaft to provide additional torque to the crankshaft. Developed well over 3,000shp...and a reputation for ventilating the cowling with thrown rods and the like. Every airliner with these engines had a less than stellar safety record. Some parts of the world DC-6s still fly for hire...but no DC-7s. Turbo-compounding is why.

 

[John Baker]

I remember someone telling me when I was in the Army that the designer of the C-119 said after being told it would never fly; "If you give me enough horsepower, I'll make a f***ing barn fly."

John