WeRead Powered by ReaderPub
Up The Slot: Marines in the Central Solomons cover

Up The Slot: Marines in the Central Solomons

Chapter 11: The Douglas R4D ‘Skytrain’
By Charles D. Melson
Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

History - AmericanHistory - Modern (1750+)History - Warfare

About This Book

The narrative provides a chronological operational history of Allied campaigns in the Central Solomon Islands in 1942–43, centering on amphibious planning and combat to seize forward bases and airfields—particularly the occupations of the Russell Islands, Rendova, and the drive on Munda. It outlines task-force organization, joint Army, Marine, naval, and Seabee roles, reconnaissance and coastwatcher intelligence, engineering of airstrips, the logistical and climatic hardships of jungle warfare, and the tactical actions and outcomes that determined the campaign’s progress in the Central Solomons.

[Sidebar (page 30):]

The Douglas R4D ‘Skytrain’

Drawing by Kerr Eby, U.S. Navy Combat Art Collection

Not all aircraft in the Central Solomons were fighters or bombers. The Douglas DC-3 Skytrain or Dakota (C-47 in the Navy version) was designed in 1933, and became the standard American transport of the war. The plane was an all-metal monoplane with twin engines and retractable landing gear. It was powered by two Pratt & Whitney radial engines of 1,200 horsepower each. It carried a crew of three, 28 passengers or 18 stretchers, and three medical attendants. It could also carry up to 6,000 pounds of cargo at average speeds of 185 miles-per-hour. The U.S. Navy and Marines had some 600 Skytrains, designated as R4Ds. In the Central Solomons they were used for air resupply and medical evacuation. The Marines were still using the C117, a variation of the R4D into the 1970’s.