LAB DC-3 Aircraft
AVIATION 101 - DOUGLAS DC-3 / C-47
The Douglas Aircraft Co. DC-3 revolutionized air transport in the 1930's and 1940's. Its lasting effect on the airline industry and on World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made.
The major military version, of which more than 10,000 were produced, was designated the C-47 Skytrain in the USA and the Dakota in the UK.
The DC-3 (DC stands for Douglas Commercial) was the Douglas Aircraft response to the Boeing 247. The Douglas design began with the DC-1 in 1933, the DC-2 in 1934 and finally a much improved DC-3 which began production in 1935 and continued until 1942. Military versions continued to be built until the end of the war in 1945. A total of 10,048 military C-47 and C-53 variants were built. Including the civilian versions produced in the USA (607), a large number of aircraft were built under license in Japan (487) and the Soviet Union (4937), making a total production of 16,079 aircraft.
Performance information:
Cruising speed: 207 mph (333 km/hr)
Range: 1500 mi. (2400 km.)
Cargo capacity: 8300 lbs. (3800 kg)
Service ceiling: 23,200 ft. (7100 m)
Specifications (DC-3A)
Cockpit of DC-3 formerly operated by the FAA
Data from McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: two
- Capacity: 21–32 passengers
- Length: 64 ft 8 in (19.7 m)
- Wingspan: 95 ft 2 in (29.0 m)
- Height: 16 ft 11 in (5.16 m)
- Wing area: 987 sq ft (91.7 m2)
- Airfoil: NACA2215 / NACA2206
- Empty weight: 16,865 lb (7,650 kg)
- Gross weight: 25,199 lb (11,430 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 822 gal. (3736 l)
- Powerplant: 2 × Wright R-1820 Cyclone 9-cyl. air-cooled radial piston engine, 1,100 hp (820 kW) each
- Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S1C3G Twin Wasp 14-cyl. air-cooled two row radial piston engine, 1,200 hp (890 kW) each
- Propellers: 3-bladed Hamilton Standard 23E50 series, 11.5 ft (3.5 m) diameter
Performance
- Maximum speed: 200 kn; 370 km/h (230 mph) at 8,500 ft (2,590 m)
- Cruise speed: 180 kn; 333 km/h (207 mph)
- Stall speed: 58.2 kn (67 mph; 108 km/h)
- Service ceiling: 23,200 ft (7,100 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,130 ft/min (5.7 m/s)
- Wing loading: 25.5 lb/sq ft (125 kg/m2)
- Power/mass: 0.0952 hp/lb (156.5 W/kg)
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LAB Douglas DC-3 / C-47 Aircraft Fleet
Detailed histories and photos of 19 aircraft
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CB-29 - CP-529
| Photo from Roll Out - Spotting Aeronautico del Cono Sur |
DC-3A-453 c/n 4980
History:
Douglas Aircraft Co. - Santa Monica, CA First flight: 1942
Northwest Airlines NC30027 1942
- ordered by Northwest as DC-3-414A, but diverted on production line to military use
- also listed as DC-3A-S1C3G; ntu - not taken up by NW; civil reg. cancelled 3 Jul 1942
USAAF 43-2024 1942
- converted to military version C-53C
Sedalia Army Airfield, MO " ?
Accident at Sedalia AAF " 7 Apr 1944
- landing accident; pilot: William C. Brynes
Assigned to the 63rd Troop Carrier Group " 1944
- training organization; did not serve overseas
Reconstruction Finance Corp. " 13 Apr 1945
- stored as surplus aircraft
LAB CB-29 20 Aug 1945
LAB CP-529 1 Oct 1953
Sudamericana - leased " 1973
Crashed; later rebuilt " 5 May 1973
Frigorifico Santa Rita " 1977
- wfu- at La Paz " May 1985
Incident: " 11 Nov 1991
Accident Report:
The DC-3 met with an accident on 11 Nov 1991 when its props struck the ground. The aircraft was repaired and the engines were started for the first time since the accident, [on Sat. 29 Feb 1992]. A fire erupted and the wing caught fire, destroying the whole plane. One crew member was on board, no fatalities. Aircraft was damaged beyond repair and was written off.
Location: Estancia La Carolita.
Source: Aviation Safety Network
| CB-29 with Panagra DC-3 at La Paz mid 1940's - Photo from the Ed Coates Collection |
| CB-29 and CP-529 |
| 6 Apr 1976 at La Paz - Photo by Tony Pearce |
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CB-30 - CP-530 - CP-720
| Photo by D. Ostrowki |
Douglas C-47B-50-DK c/n 17084
History:
Built by Douglas Aircraft Co. at the Oklahoma City, OK plant 1945
- assigned a new construction number: 34351
USAAF 45-1081 1945
LAB CB-30 Aug 1945
LAB CP-530 1 Oct 1953
Global Aero Service, Inc. N343G 29 Sep 1961
- the only information I could find about Global Aero was a lawsuit between them and LAB in 1963 over aircraft parts; settled in favor of LAB
Compania Boliviana de Aviacion CP-720 Feb 1963
Aerolineas Abaroa - ALA " 1968
- merged with CBA in 1968
- wfu - withdrawn from use
- derelict in El Alto, La Paz
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CB-31
| Excellent photo of CB-31 and El Trompillo Airport, Santa Cruz in the late 1940's. From the Ed Coates Collection and Roll Out |
Douglas C-47A-60-DL c/n 13837
History:
Built by Douglas Aircraft Co. at Long Beach, CA 1943
USAAF 43-30686 1943
Transferred to Smoky Hill Army Airfield, KS " ?
- 204th Base Unit
Accident at Rosecrans Field, MO " 6 May 1945
- landing accident due to mechanical failure
- Pilot: Clarence R. Cragoe
- no other information has been found
Reconstruction Finance Corp. NC54088 27 Apr 1946
LAB CB-31 Aug 1945 or 1946
LAB CP-531 1 Oct 1953
Accident at El Alto, La Paz CB-31 1 Jan 1951
- aircraft damaged beyond repair, written off
- no other information has been found
- rebuilt ?? re-registered in 1953
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CB-32
| Uyuni, Bolivia - A DC-3S restored by Lineas Aereas Canedo and leased to Aerosur. |
I have not found any photos of CB-32
Douglas C-47A-75-DL c/n 19445
History:
Built by Douglas Aircraft Co. 1942
USAAF 42-100982 ?
Reconstruction Finance Corp. " 2 Nov 1945
- stored at Walnut Ridge Army Airfield, AR
Unknown civilian operator NC19900 1945
LAB CB-32 1946 ?
Accident near Trinidad " 29 May 1947
- Aircraft crashed into a swampy area near Mamore
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair - dbr
- No further information has been found
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CB-33
| Similar C-47 aircraft from Roll Out and Fotografia Airlinehobby |
Douglas C-47 c/n ?
History:
Built by Douglas Aircraft Co. ?
USAAF ? ?
LAB CB-33 Aug 1945
Aircraft was destroyed in Cochabamba during a revolution 28 Aug 1949
Revolution of Aug 1949: The government in La Paz sent military planes of FAB to Cochabamba to put down a rebellion. LAB property including fuel tanks, hangars and planes were attacked and set ablaze. The fighting continued for two days and extended to the rest of the city. It was during this action that CB-33 was destroyed.
As you can see very little is know about this aircraft except that it met a sad ending.
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CB-34 - also known as CP-534 and CP-607
| CB-34 later CP-607 - 6 Apr 1976 La Paz - Photo by Tony Pearce |
Douglas C-47A-10-DK Skytrain c/n 12570
History:
Built by Douglas Aircraft Co. at the plant in Oklahoma City, OK 1942 or 1943
USAAF 42-92736 19 Feb 1944
Assigned to 9th Air Force " "
Transferred to 8th Air Force " 18 Mar 1944 - Assigned to 34th Troop Carrier Squadron, 315th Troop Carrier Group Apr-Sept 1944
- Based in Europe
- Possibly involved in "Operation Overlord" - Normandy invasion 6 Jun 1944
Transferred to Air Transport Command 14 May 1945
- returned to US
Reconstruction Finance Corp. " 15 Sep 1945
- Bush Field, Augusta GA
[The above USAAF activity information is based on the article mentioned below by Aviacion Boliviana; I haven't been able to find their source for this information among USAAF web sites. As you can see, some of the information dates conflict with other sources. Mark]
Pan American-Grace Airways NC19364 Aug 1945
- not certain if this aircraft was actually flown by Panagra
LAB CB-34 20 Aug 1945
Accident near Rio Pilcomayo " 15 Apr 1953
- severely damaged but salvaged and repaired
- no other information has been found
LAB CP-534 ?
- registration reserved but not used
LAB CP-607 Jun 1954
Cooperativa Aerea de Transportes - CADET " after 1969
YPFB " 1970's
- Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Bolivianos
- aircraft known as "El Petrolero"
Private owners:
- Heberto Peinado Salvatierra " Jul 1978 ?
- Hermanos Suarez y Oviedo Salas " 1986 ?
Transportes Aereos Tadeo - TAT - ? " mid 1980's
Frigorifico Santa Rita " early 1990's
Transportes Aereos Virgen del Carmen - TAVIC 1994
- wfu - withdrawn from use and stored
Aircraft CP-607 was being restored as of 2011 for possible use by a sky diving group. Hopefully more information will become available concerning this amazing survivor of more than seventy years of flight.
| 25 Jan 1986 - La Paz Photo by NJP |
| 18 Aug 1993 - La Paz Photo by Franz Oberlechner
|
| 25 Sep 1994 - CBBA Photo by Peter M. Garwood |
| 10 Jun 2010 CBBA - Photo by Michael Prophet |
| 14 Jan 2015 - CBBA Photo by Robert Domandl |
This aircraft has had a very interesting history that has been well chronicled (in Spanish) and illustrated by this excellent article from AviacionBoliviana.Net:
http://www.aviacionboliviana.net/civil/art_cp607.htm
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CB-35 CP-535
| A similar C-53 or DC-3 |
Douglas C-53-DO Skytrooper c/n 4867
History:
Built by Douglas Aircraft Co. at the Santa Monica plant, CA First flight: 1942
USAAF 41-20097 29 Jan 1942
Reconstruction Finance Corp. " 16 Jan 1945
Pan American-Grace Airways (p.55) NC15583 1945
LAB CB-35 20 Aug 1945
LAB CP-535 1 Oct 1953
Accident: " 18 Mar 1957
- CP-535 departed from Cochabamba en-route to Oruro on a regularly scheduled flight. The aircraft crashed into a mountain (Challa ?) near Sayari. All 19 on board were killed; 3 crew and 16 passengers. No other information is available.
| A similar Pan American-Grace Airways DC-3 |
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CB-36
| Drawing of similar C-47 |
Douglas C-47B-1-DL c/n 20619
History:
Built by Douglas Aircraft Co. at the Long Beach plant, CA First flight: 1944
USAAF 43-16153 1944 ?
Accident (on delivery to LAB ?) " 18 Jan 1948
- Pilot: John M. Turner
- accident occurred in or near La Paz
LAB CB-36 15 Apr 1948
LAB CP-536 1 Oct 1953
Accident near Cochabamba " 21 Aug 1962
- aircraft crashed during a six-month post maintenance check flight
- five crew members on board, four fatalities including Cap. Luis Uriona Torrico
- damaged beyond repair and written off - w/o
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CB-68 CP-568
| USAAF 42-10056 in England in 1944 |
Douglas C-47A-65-DL c/n 19024
History:
Built by Douglas Aircraft Co. in the Long Beach plant, CA 1942 ?
- First flight 1943
USAAF 42-10056 ?
- sent to Baer Army Airfield, IN for processing and flight crew training 1943
- assigned to the 82nd Troop Carrier Squadron, 436th Troop Carrier Group, 9th Air Force
- arrived at Royal Air Force Station Bottesford, England Jan 1944
- sent to RAF Membury, England; underwent training for D-Day landing 3 Mar 1944
D-Day: This aircraft 42-10056, along with the rest of the 436th TCG transported members of the 1st Battalion, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment and the 377th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion to the drop site on the Cherbourg Peninsula, France early in the morning of 6 June 1944. This was Mission Albany, part of Operation Neptune, the assault portion of the Allied invasion of France. That morning 443 C-47's delivered 6928 paratroopers to their drop zones five hours ahead of the D-Day landings. Ninety of the aircraft were from the 436th TCG in Membury. Their carefully scheduled drop zone times were 0055 hrs (36 aircraft at drop zone A) and 0108 hrs (54 aircraft also at drop zone A). On the evening of 6 June the 436th TCG dispatched 50 C-47's towing manned gliders
to un-powered landings in Normandy.
| Each squadron had its own coding for the D-Day operation, 82nd TCS code was "3D". |
| The above three photos were taken by Sidney E. Risher, crew chief on 42-100561. His son Bobby Risher allowed these rare photos to be included in the book "Membury at War" by Roger Day, in hopes that someone would be able provide he and his two brothers with information about their father's wartime career with the 436th TCG. They can be contacted at: Robert.Risher@msjack.ang.af.mil |
|
Preparing for takeoff; gliders line both sides of the runway. |
| A similar C-47 restored with D-Day markings - Rotterdam 1985 |
| A similar C-47 of the 436th TCG in operation in April 1945. |
- 436th TCG left RAF Membury for Villaroche, (Melun) airfield, France 25 Feb 1945
- Accidents:
- ground accident at Melun, pilot: Robert G. Johns 30 Mar 1945
- landing accident at Mourmelon-le-Grand Airfield, pilot: Robert E. Sanders 3 Apr 1945
- landing accident at Haguenau Advanced Landing Ground, pilot: Thomas R. Card
29 May 1945
- no further information is available from these three accidents
- all locations in France
- returned to US ?
Reconstruction Finance Corp. NC41756 ?
American Air Export and Import Co. NC1844M 1946
- during 1946 this company- later Aaxico- acquired nine DC-3 aircraft - the civilian version of the military C-47 for its use in the eastern US. Following a downturn in business in 1947 they sold off six of the aircraft including one that ended up in Bolivia.
LAB CB-68 1947
LAB CP-568 1 Oct 1953
Accident: this aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Yacuiba airport 4 Feb 1964
- two fatalities among 26 passengers and 3 crew members
- aircraft was damaged beyond repair and was w/o
| CP-568 in Bolivia - from the Ed Coates Collection |
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CB-72 CP-572
| "Lupita" |
DC-3 DST-144 c/n 1549
History:
Built by the Douglas Aircraft Co. at the Santa Monica, CA plant 20 Aug 1936
Manufactured under Approved Type Certificate (ATC) #607 : Douglas DST - the 12th production DC-3
American Airlines NC16007 21 Aug 1936
- named "Flagship California" by AA
| NC16007 in Chicago - 6 May 1937 - Note upper row of windows for upper berths - Photo by W.A. Traver Sr. |
| NC16007 in Chicago - 6 May 1937 - Photo by W.A. Traver Sr. |
DST - Douglas Sleeper Transport: was licensed to carry 31 people including a pilot and co-pilot; and was designed to carry 28 passengers by day and 14 passengers by night. For night travel, four seats were folded into each of seven lower beds and an additional seven beds were suspended from the ceiling. This provided 14 individually curtained upper and lower berths. One source states that the feather beds were topped with down comforters; quite luxurious. Only 21 Douglas DST aircraft were manufactured.
| Magazine article from Mar 1936 |
Four model designation changes were made between 1938 and 1940
Flight hours: 12,658:14 as of 29 Sep 1940
Flight hours: 14,795:26 as of 22 Sep 1941
Sold to Defense Supplies Corp. NC16007 25 Aug 1942
Sold to US War Dept. -CAA license cancelled 23 Mar 1943
- converted to C-49E military version
USAAF 42-56094 1943
- Ground accident at LaGuardia Field NY " 16 Apr 1943
- mechanic: A. Nunez Jr.
- unknown damage repaired
Sold back to American Airlines NC16007 2 Nov 1944
- Purchase price: $31,506.44
- Renamed "Flagship Newark"
- Converted to civilian version DC-3 G-102 with Curtiss-Wright engines
- Total flight time at time of purchase: 24,650:34 hours
- Conversion under ATC #618: Douglas DC-3G2
- wfu May 1949
Sold to L.B.S. Aircraft Corp. of Camp Hill, PA 18 May 1949 - possibly the same as L.B. Smith Aircraft Corp. of Jacksonville, FL
- overhauled; new engines installed: Curtiss-Wright G-202A
- designated DC-3 G202A
Sold to SANTA of Quito, Ecuador HC-SMB 19 Aug 1949
- Sociedad Anonima Nacional de Transportes Aereos
LAB CB-72 Jan 1951
| Rurrenabaque 1951 - Government officials and business leaders from several countries - Photo from the Ramon Huidobro Collection |
LAB CP-572 1 Oct 1953
Mid-air collision " 5 Sep 1955
- Between LAB CP-572 on a scheduled passenger flight and LAB cargo plane Boeing B-17 CP-597. Collision occurred near Cochabamba. The DC-3 CP-572 sustained substantial damage but made a successful emergency landing at Trinidad airport. It was later repaired and returned to service. The B-17 CP-597 crashed killing the three occupants.
Sold to CADET of La Paz " Nov 1969
- Cooperativa Aerea de Transportes Ltda.
- named "Lupita"
Sold to CAT of La Paz " 1975
- Carga Aerea Transportada
- wfu 1977
- scrapped ?
| La Paz - 6 Apr 1976 - Photo by Tony Pearce |
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CB-73 CP-573
| CP-573 arriving at El Trompillo - 29 Oct 1972 - My photo |
Douglas C-47-DL c/n 4682
History:
Built by Douglas Aircraft Co. at the Long Beach, CA plant 1941-1942
USAAF 41-18557 2 Sep 1942
- Assigned to AAF 813 Base Unit Sedalia Army Airfield, MO 1944
- Accident during taxiing at Vichy Army Airfield, MO 20 Oct 1944
- Pilot: Gaden R. Sheetz
- Aircraft was listed in the accident report as "dbr"- damaged beyond repair - ?
- several other assignments in the US and possibly in Europe during 1942-1945
Reconstruction Finance Corp. 41-18557 26 Sep 1945 - in storage
Freight Air Inc. - Miami, FL NC51879 5 Jul 1949
International Air Transport " 26 May 1950
SANTA - Ecuador HC-SMC ?
- Sociedad Anonima Nacional de Transportes Aereos
LAB CB-73 Jan 1951 ?
LAB CP-573 1 Oct 1953
| Loading my luggage for the flight to Camiri - 29 Oct 1972 |
Personal Note: I flew on CP-573 from Santa Cruz to Camiri on 29 Oct 1972. For a description of the flight and photos, see the entry on this page: La Paz to Camiri in Six Days - My Ride on a DC-3
| Safe arrival at Choreti airport near Camiri - 29 Oct 1972 |
| Another visit to Choreti - 1972-1973 - my photo |
Aircraft sold to Frigorifico Maniqui CP-573 Apr 1975
Accident: " 18 Jan 1976
"Following takeoff, No. 2 engine problems forced the crew to return to the San Borja airport. The aircraft crossed runway 18, continued, struck some trees 3 km past the end of the runway and crashed. Probable cause: Malfunction or failure of the right engine and landing gear, and improper balked landing procedure. " Fatalities: all 3 of the crew and 4 of the 7 passengers. Aircraft was damaged beyond repair [again!] and was written off (w/o).
- Accident report from the Aviation Safety Network.
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CB-83 CP-583
Douglas C-47A-35-DL c/n 9668
History:
Built by Douglas Aircraft Co. at the Long Beach, CA plant 1942-1943
USAAF 42-23806 12 Jun 1943
- Assigned to Sedalia Army Airfield, MO " 1943-1944 - Assigned to 813th Army Air Force Base Unit "
- Accident: unknown damage while parked at Sedalia AAF 8 Dec 1944
Reconstruction Finance Corp. 42-23806 16 Nov 1945
- in storage
Valadares Vasconcelos - Brazil PP-XAZ 1946
Linhas Aereas Paulistas - LAP PP-LPE 12 Nov 1946
Loide Aereo Nacional - LAN " Apr 1951
- merged with LAP
- ntu - not taken up - not flown by LAN
LAB CB-83 22 Jul 1951
LAB CP-583 1 Oct 1953
Personal Note: I flew on this aircraft from Camiri to Santa Cruz on 9 Mar 1973.
| Safe arrival in Santa Cruz - 9 Mar 1973 - My photo |
VIBAS Ltda. - La Paz " Sep 1975 or 1978
| La Paz - 7 Apr 1976 - Photo by Tony Pearce - Air-Britain |
Centro de Entrenamiento Aeronautico " Feb 1979
Lineas Aereas Canedo - LAC " 1981
Trans Aereos San Miguel - (TASMI) " 1982
Transportes Aereos Alfa - Transalfa " 1982
- Santa Cruz
| Flying with Transalfa - 1980's |
Seized for drug running by the Bolivian AF - FAB in Trinidad 1990
Used in fire fighting training in Trinidad
Parked and abandoned in Trinidad as of 2015
| Abandoned near Trinidad - Photo by Robert Domandl |
| 26 May 2008 - Photo by Trevor Bartlett - Air-Britain |
| Photo by Canberra - Scramble |
| Interior of CP-583 - Photo by Robert Domandl |
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CB-84 CP-584
| Similar C-47 of the 88th TCS |
Douglas C47A-70-DL Skytrain c/n 19226
History:
Built by Douglas Aircraft Co. at Long Beach, CA plant First flight: 1943
USAAF 42-100763 1943
- Aircraft was ferried across the Atlantic; co-pilot: 1st Lt. Andrew Chambers Jan 1944
- Assigned to RAF Station Greenham Common Air Field, England Jan 1944
- 88th Troop Carrier Squadron, 438th TC Group, 53rd TC Wing, Ninth Air Force
- Fuselage code was "M2" for operations within Europe
| C-47s of the 88th TCS towing gliders on D-Day - Normandy |
Reconstruction Finance Corp. 42-100763 30 Oct 1945
- in storage at Walnut Ridge,AR
- Note: Walnut Ridge RFC received and disposed of 10,000 surplus aircraft following WWII
Valadares Vasconcellos - Brazil PP-XAV ?
Linhas Aereas Paulistas - Brazil PP-LPD Aug 1951
- Damaged in accident " ?
- Repaired and sold
Linhas Aereas Paulistas PP-LPF ?
Loide Aereo Nacional " ?
LAB CB-84 Aug 1951 ?
LAB CP-584 1 Oct 1953
Accident: Aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from San Jose de Chiquitos airport
Fatalities: all 11 occupants 31 Dec 1959
Note: I haven't found any photos of this aircraft in the LAB color scheme.
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CB-91 CP-591
| CP-591 in Cochabamba - Photo by R.E.G. Davies - berlin-spotter.de |
C-47A-90-DL c/n 20200
History:
Built by Douglas Aircraft Co. at Long Beach, CA plant 1943
USAAF 43-15734 1943 ?
Reconstruction Finance Corp. " 1945 ?
Lone Star Cargo Lines - TX NC79022 1945-1947 ?
Transportes Carga Aerea - Brazil PP-ASC 1947-1949 ?
Loide Aereo Nacional - Brazil PP-LDA Jan 1952
LAB CB-91 ?
LAB CP-591 1 Oct 1953
- wfu, parts removed, abandoned in Cochabamba 1975
Trans Oriental - v/a - ? " Dec 1976
Current status of this aircraft is unknown
| Similar C-47 flown by Lone Star Air Cargo |
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CB-100 CP-600
| A similar Braniff DC-3A in the 1940's
|
DC-314 c/n 2181
History:
Built by Douglas Aircraft Co. First flight: 1939
Braniff Airways NC21775 30 Dec 1939
Converted to military version C-49H-DO by Douglas at the Santa Monica, CA plant ?
USAAF 42-68689 17 Sept 1942
Returned to Braniff Airways NC21775 21 Jun 1944
Converted to DC-3A " ?
- wfu " Jun 1953
LAB CB-100 3 Jun 1953
LAB CP-600 1 Oct 1953
Accident: " 3 Nov 1953
On a scheduled passenger flight from Camiri to Sucre the CP-600 crashed on the top of Rodeo Pampa mountain range, some 60 km SE of Sucre and south of Tarabuco. Fatalities: all 28 onboard, 3 crew members and 25 passengers.
- Information from the Aviation Safety Network.
| A similar Braniff DC-3 - Photo by Ken Stoltfus |
I have not been able to find any photos of CP-600; it was only flown by LAB for 5 months.
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CB-101 CP-601 CP-733
| CP-601 possibly in El Alto - 1950's - Photo by Miguel Irigoyen |
Douglas DC-3-314 c/n 2182
History:
Built by Douglas Aircraft Co. at the Santa Monica, CA plant First flight: Dec 1939
Braniff Airways NC21776 29 Dec 1939
Note: This aircraft was not requisitioned by the US military for use during WWII.
Braniff Airways operated a total of 46 DC-3s; the first started service in 1939 and the last DC-3 was retired in Apr 1960.
- wfu Jun 1953
| NC21776 in 1940 over Dallas - Photo from Romlee Stoughton collection High Altitude Braniff - FB |
LAB CB-101 Jun 1953
LAB CP-601 1 Oct 1953
Accident: " 15 Jan 1964
On takeoff from the Potosi airport a tire blowout caused a crash resulting in one fatality and the determination that the aircraft was damaged beyond repair - dbr. However the aircraft was repaired and re-registered later that year.
Most of this information comes from one source: an economic feasibility study prepared by an engineering firm located in Los Angeles, CA. The 109 page study was conducted with assistance from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) for the Bolivian Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Public Works and Communications. The subject of the study was projected improvements (as of 1964) to the airports at El Alto - La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz and Trinidad. Most other sources that I have found concerning this aircraft, CP-601, give the accident date as 15 Jan 1954; allowing ten years from the accident date to the repair of the aircraft and re-registration as CP-733. I find the 1964 date to be more logical and this study, that was submitted to the Bolivian government in 1968, as being more reliable.
LAB - aircraft rebuilt and re-registered as CP-733 Nov 1964
SAVCO " 1970 or later
- Servicios Aereos Virgen de Copacabana
LAC - Lineas Aereas Canedo - CBBA " Sep 1979 ?
Transalfa - Transportes Aereos Alfa " 1981 or later
TAMPA - Transportes Aereos Tampa " 1990 or later
In storage in Santa Cruz " as of 2012
| CP-733 at Santa Cruz - 2012-2013 - Photo from the Chris Mack Collection |
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CP-605
| Similar USAF C-47B during the Korean War - Photo: USAF |
Douglas C-47B-28-DK orig. c/n 15794 // new c/n 32542
History:
Built by Douglas Aircraft Co. at the Oklahoma City, OK plant First flight: 1945
USAAF 44-76210 ?
Assigned to Elmendorf Air Force Base, AK ?
Service with the USAF during the Korean War
Assignment with the 57th Air Base Group, HQ SQN
Accident: 15 miles SW of Elmendorf AFB - Pilot: Jack A. Matlock 3 Oct 1950
Landing accident causing a ground loop due to weather
Aircraft was repaired and returned to service
Unknown operator N1268N ?
Empresa Agropecuaria y de Colonizacion Ixiamas Ltda. - Bolivia - unknown reg. no. ?
LAB CP-605 Apr 1954
Accident: " 25 Aug 1956
On a cargo flight, CP-605 crashed on approach at El Alto airport; fatalities: one crew member and the lone passenger; one crew member survived. Aircraft was damaged beyond repair - dbr.
| Similar USAF C-47B Photo: Ken Marshall collection |
I have been unable to find any photos of CP-605, especially in the LAB color scheme.
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CP-734
| A similar VC-47D stored at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ |
C-47B-40-DK c/n 17045 new c/n 34311
History:
Built by Douglas Aircraft Co. at the Oklahoma City, OK plant 9 Aug 1945
Assigned for shipment to the Soviet Union thru the Lend-Lease program. Painted in full Soviet Union Air Force colors; but stopped at Fairbanks, AK in Aug 1945, (along with at least 12 other C-47B aircraft); diverted to the USAAF.
USAAF 45-1042 Oct 1945
- converted to VC-47D for VIP transport role
- assigned to the 54th Troop Carrier Squadron, 11th Air Force at Elmendorf Army Air Field, AK
- accident during taxiing at Elmendorf AAF - Pilot: Joseph C. Matthews 4 Dec 1945
- accident of unknown circumstances at Elmendorf - Pilot: Victor R. Lagerson 2 Dec 1951
Corp. Boliviano de Fomento CP-734 1964 ?
LAB " Jun 1965 ?
Accident: " 19 Apr 1968
On this date CP-734 was scheduled to make a routine passenger flight from Trinidad in the north of Bolivia to La Paz. The takeoff begin routinely enough but instantly changed to an emergency situation following engine problems at a critical moment. The pilots were able to bring the aircraft down in a somewhat controlled crash-landing which undoubtedly saved many lives. The occupants survived the impact but were unable to open the main aircraft doors which had been damaged in the crash. An airport emergency crew soon arrived and pried open the doors. There were no fatalities, but certainly some injuries. The aircraft was declared damaged beyond repair and was written off by LAB. Information and photos from Aviation Safety Network.
Photos of the accident
| Photo by Alejandro Cardona - Aviation Safety Network |
| Photo by Ian Blumgart - Aviation Safety Network |
| Photo by Ian Blumgart - Aviation Safety Network |
| Photo by Ian Blumgart - Aviation Safety Network |
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CP-735
| Abt. 1975 - Photo by Michael Prophet |
Douglas C-47B-40-DK c/n 16805 new c/n 33553
History:
Built by Douglas Aircraft Co. at the Oklahoma City, OK plant First flight: 1945
USAAF 44-77221 1945
Royal Air Force KP-251 abt. 1948 - RAF designation - Dakota IV
- assigned to No. 240 Operational Conversion Unit - one of 41 Dakota IV aircraft
- used in flight crew training - unit code was "NU"
- based at RAF North Luffenham in Rutland, England
| KP-251 in England - sometime between 1948-1954 |
| Drawing of KP-251 with RAF No. 240 OCU |
USAF Military Assistance Advisory Group 44-77221 25 Aug 1954
- MAAG units were used by the USAF in many countries around the world to provide military aid, training and equipment to that government as part of the US diplomatic mission to that country.
- It is not known to which country this aircraft was assigned; possibly the UK or elsewhere in Europe.
Corporacion Boliviana de Fomento CP-735 Apr 1964
LAB " 27 Mar 1965
- wfu May 1975
VIBAS - Bolivia " 20 May 1975
- accident of unknown circumstances or result Oct 1975
- aircraft was repaired and returned to service
Bolivian Air System - BAS " ?
- supposedly ceased operations in 1971
BAFIN - Bolivian Air Flight International " ?
| Photo by Michael Prophet |
Accident: 19 Oct 1990
On a flight carrying a cargo of beef from the Santa Ana-Yacuma airport destined for La Paz, CP-735 crashed into the mountain Huayna Potosi, Los Novios Peak at an elevation of 17,815 feet (5430 meters). The last radio contact with the flight was when the pilot reported climbing thru FL160, approximately 16,000 feet. Fatalities: 3 crew members, no passengers aboard. The wreckage was found six years later. The frozen body of the co-pilot was found in Nov 2010, after 20 years, by a group sponsored by his family.
| Huayna Potosi near La Paz - Elevation: 19,974 feet |
- end of this section - LAB DC-3
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Comments
Latest comments
Los K-8 llegaron a Bolivia recién en 2011,no en 1993. La pista podría ser la de Tarija.
FRIMO= Frigorífico Movima, empresa de carga de los años 70- 80 
Thank you for creating this website on the LAB fleet. I am writing a book, set in 1996, flight Riberalto, Bolivia to La Paz Bolivia & my research led me here. It was incredibly informative & helpful!
Steeling my pictures from La Paz 1973 they have my copyright, no permission is ask
Carlos R Dorado
Why I cannot see the photographs on the DC-3 / C-47 section?
Thank you.
Jose Lourenco dos Santos
Great job. I am locking for the c/n of DC-3 CP-1990. Do you have any information? Thanks in advance.
Marco Illescas
Saludos desde Camiri, Bolivia...
jam
The pictures of the aeroplan are very impressive for me. I like all of these sharing stuff. I will share this with my father after coming back from my https://www.goldenbustours.com/new-york-ny-tours/
Americo Camachho
Excellent work! ,