Douglas DC-5

Douglas DC-5

By Wikipedia,
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_DC-5

DC-5/C-110/R3D

US Navy Douglas R3D-2
Role	Transport
Manufacturer	Douglas Aircraft Company
Designed by	Donald Douglas
First flight	20 February 1939
Introduced	1940
Retired	1949
Primary users	KLM United States Navy United States Marine Corps
Number built	12

The Douglas DC-5, the least known of the famous DC airliner series, was a 16-22 seat, twin-propeller aircraft intended for shorter routes than the DC-3 or DC-4. However, by the time it entered commercial service in 1940, many airlines were canceling orders; consequently, only five civilian DC-5s were ever built. With the Douglas Aircraft Company already converting to war production, the DC-5 was soon overtaken by events, although a limited number of military variants were produced.

Design and development

The Douglas DC-5 was developed as a 16/22 passenger civilian airliner, with a high wing and innovative tricycle landing gear (unique for the time). One prototype and four production aircraft were constructed prior to World War II.

Operational service

Ironically, the prototype (configured with just eight seats) became the personal aircraft of William E. Boeing; since his own company was already in full military production mode. It was later impressed into the Navy and converted for military use as an R3D variant.

The other four planes were sold to KLM and used by their colonial subsidiaries. They were used to evacuate civilians from Java to Australia in 1942. One aircraft, ex-PK-ADA was captured by the Japanese and operated as a transport, in camouflage with Japanese markings. Two of them later operated in Australia and, in 1948, the last surviving DC-5 (c/n 426) was smuggled to Israel for military use. The aircraft arrived at Haifa in May 1948, and from there went to Sde Dov, where its former markings were removed and the name "Yankee Pasha - The Bagel Lancer" crudely painted on the nose by hand. The aircraft joined the 103rd transport squadron at Ramat David, but as Israel was in the midst of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, was occasionaly used as a bomber as well. This was achieved by removing the aft door and pitching the bombs out of the opening. When the war ended and the 103rd squadron moved, the DC-5 was left behind. It eventually found its way to the Israeli Air Force's Technical School in Haifa Airport, but was scrapped some time after 1955.

Variants

DC-5: Basic passenger version - 5 aircraft were built.
C-110: Designation of single aircraft in USAAF service.
R3D-1: Military version of the DC-5 built for the Navy as 16-seat personnel carriers - 3 were produced.
R3D-2: Military version of the DC-5 built for the US Marine Corps as 22-seat paratrooper version - 4 were produced.
R3D-3: Designation of prototype of DC-5 used by Willam E. Boeing as a personal aircraft and converted for military use.