Douglas DC-5
Encyclopedia
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.
An very early change in design was changing the horizontal tail group from straight to a 15-degree dihedral to improve stability while another significant modification was in altering the nacelles to have exhaust stacks, retroactively incorporated after the series entered production. An unusual
"optical trick" applied to the profile of the prototype was painting the top of the vertical stabilizer and outline of the engine nacelles a darker color, the shapes curving to follow the aircraft's contour, thus making the tail and engines appear somewhat smaller and the aircraft sleeker.
Prior to the US entry into World War II
, one prototype and four production aircraft were constructed.
The first customer for the DC-5 was KLM (Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij) of The Netherlands. A US domestic carrier, Pennsylvania Central (which would be renamed Capital, then incorporated into United Air Lines), ordered six and SCADTA, (Sociedad Colomba-Alemana de Transportes Aéreos) ancestor of today's AVIANCA in Colombia, another two DC-5s. The other four aircraft were sold to KLM and used by their colonial subsidiaries, Indonesia in particular. When Douglas went on a war footing, DC-5 production was curtailed so as to build additional Dauntless dive bombers for the Navy and Marines with only KLM receiving delivery of the high-winged airliner.
A dozen DC-5s were completed but the SBD contracts prevailed. The first two airliners initially flew the Paramaribo-Curaçao route, and the other two operated from Batavia (now Jakarta, Indonesia). All four were used for the 1942 evacuation of civilians from Java to Australia, during which "PK-ADA" was damaged and abandoned,along with the destruction of "PK-ADB" at Batavia Kemajoran airport in an air strike by the JAAF on February 9, 1942. Japanese forces captured "PK-ADA" and using parts from the ruined "ADB", subsequently repaired and tested it in Tachikawa, later during 1943, operating the DC-5 in camouflage with Japanese Army Air Force markings as a transport from bases back in the Home Islands.
The two remaining aircraft, "ADC" and "ADD" made their way safely to Australia where the aircraft were interned by the Allied Directorate of Air Transport there and operated by the USAAF as the C-110. The wartime history of "PK-ADC" was brief, however, for it was destroyed in a landing accident shortly after its arrival "down under". "ADD" flew for the balance of the war under the aegis of Australian National Airways, on support missions inside the country with the temporary license "VH-CXC".
In 1939, the US Navy ordered seven aircraft; three of the R3D-1 version (of which the first one crashed before delivery), and four R3D-2s. The latter were used by the USMC because of the 1,015 HP R-1820-44 engines, the large cargo holds and the 22 seats for paratroops.
After World War II, the DC-5 did not re-enter series production as an abundance of surplus DC-3/C-47 aircraft were released into civil service. 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" was crudely painted on the nose by hand. The aircraft joined 103 transport squadron
at Ramat David
, but as Israel was in the midst of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
, was occasionally used as a bomber as well. This was achieved by removing the aft loading door and rolling the bombs out of the opening "by a judicious shove from a crewman's foot."
The operational record of the aircraft is in dispute as authoritative sources do not verify its combat service, nonetheless, when the war ended and the 103rd squadron moved, the DC-5 was left behind. It eventually found its way to the Airline Technical School where it was used extensively as a ground instruction airframe at Haifa Airport
. When it no longer was serviceable due to a lack of spares, the airframe was stripped of its engines and instruments and the last DC-5 was reduced to scrap in Israel some time after 1955.
DC-5
C-110
R3D-1
R3D-2
R3D-3
Japan
United States
United States
Airliner
An airliner is a large fixed-wing aircraft for transporting passengers and cargo. Such aircraft are operated by airlines. Although the definition of an airliner can vary from country to country, an airliner is typically defined as an aircraft intended for carrying multiple passengers in commercial...
series, was a 16-22 seat, twin-propeller
Propeller (aircraft)
Aircraft propellers or airscrews convert rotary motion from piston engines or turboprops to provide propulsive force. They may be fixed or variable pitch. Early aircraft propellers were carved by hand from solid or laminated wood with later propellers being constructed from metal...
aircraft intended for shorter routes than the DC-3
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
or DC-4
Douglas DC-4
The Douglas DC-4 is a four-engined propeller-driven airliner developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company. It served during World War II, in the Berlin Airlift and into the 1960s in a military role...
. 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 Commercial Model 5 was developed in 1938 as a 18/24 passenger civilian airliner, designed to use either Pratt & Whitney R-1690 or Wright Cyclone engines. Innovative features for the time included a high wing and tricycle landing gear, the relatively unique configuration providing for ease of passenger entry, loading and engine servicing.An very early change in design was changing the horizontal tail group from straight to a 15-degree dihedral to improve stability while another significant modification was in altering the nacelles to have exhaust stacks, retroactively incorporated after the series entered production. An unusual
"optical trick" applied to the profile of the prototype was painting the top of the vertical stabilizer and outline of the engine nacelles a darker color, the shapes curving to follow the aircraft's contour, thus making the tail and engines appear somewhat smaller and the aircraft sleeker.
Prior to the US entry into World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, one prototype and four production aircraft were constructed.
Operational history
The prototype DC-5, Douglas serial 411, built at El Segundo with Wright Cyclone 1,000 hp R-1820-44 engines, made its first flight on February 20, 1939 with Carl A. Cover at the controls. The sole prototype (originally configured with just eight seats) became the personal aircraft of William E. Boeing which he named "Rover". It was later impressed into the US Navy and converted for military use as an R3D variant in February 1942.The first customer for the DC-5 was KLM (Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij) of The Netherlands. A US domestic carrier, Pennsylvania Central (which would be renamed Capital, then incorporated into United Air Lines), ordered six and SCADTA, (Sociedad Colomba-Alemana de Transportes Aéreos) ancestor of today's AVIANCA in Colombia, another two DC-5s. The other four aircraft were sold to KLM and used by their colonial subsidiaries, Indonesia in particular. When Douglas went on a war footing, DC-5 production was curtailed so as to build additional Dauntless dive bombers for the Navy and Marines with only KLM receiving delivery of the high-winged airliner.
A dozen DC-5s were completed but the SBD contracts prevailed. The first two airliners initially flew the Paramaribo-Curaçao route, and the other two operated from Batavia (now Jakarta, Indonesia). All four were used for the 1942 evacuation of civilians from Java to Australia, during which "PK-ADA" was damaged and abandoned,along with the destruction of "PK-ADB" at Batavia Kemajoran airport in an air strike by the JAAF on February 9, 1942. Japanese forces captured "PK-ADA" and using parts from the ruined "ADB", subsequently repaired and tested it in Tachikawa, later during 1943, operating the DC-5 in camouflage with Japanese Army Air Force markings as a transport from bases back in the Home Islands.
The two remaining aircraft, "ADC" and "ADD" made their way safely to Australia where the aircraft were interned by the Allied Directorate of Air Transport there and operated by the USAAF as the C-110. The wartime history of "PK-ADC" was brief, however, for it was destroyed in a landing accident shortly after its arrival "down under". "ADD" flew for the balance of the war under the aegis of Australian National Airways, on support missions inside the country with the temporary license "VH-CXC".
In 1939, the US Navy ordered seven aircraft; three of the R3D-1 version (of which the first one crashed before delivery), and four R3D-2s. The latter were used by the USMC because of the 1,015 HP R-1820-44 engines, the large cargo holds and the 22 seats for paratroops.
After World War II, the DC-5 did not re-enter series production as an abundance of surplus DC-3/C-47 aircraft were released into civil service. In 1948, the last surviving DC-5 (c/n 426) was smuggled to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
for military use. The aircraft arrived at Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
in May 1948, and from there went to Sde Dov, where its former markings were removed and the name "Yankee Pasha - The Bagel Lancer" was crudely painted on the nose by hand. The aircraft joined 103 transport squadron
103 Squadron (Israel)
The 103 Squadron of the Israeli Air Force, also known as the Elephants Squadron, is a C-130E and KC-130H squadron based at Nevatim Airbase.-References:...
at Ramat David
Ramat David Airbase
Ramat David Israeli Air Force Base is one of three principal airbases of the Israeli Air Force, located southeast of Haifa, close to kibbutz Ramat David and Megiddo in the Jezreel Valley...
, but as Israel was in the midst of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
1948 Arab-Israeli War
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, known to Israelis as the War of Independence or War of Liberation The war commenced after the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and the creation of an independent Israel at midnight on 14 May 1948 when, following a period of civil war, Arab armies invaded...
, was occasionally used as a bomber as well. This was achieved by removing the aft loading door and rolling the bombs out of the opening "by a judicious shove from a crewman's foot."
The operational record of the aircraft is in dispute as authoritative sources do not verify its combat service, nonetheless, when the war ended and the 103rd squadron moved, the DC-5 was left behind. It eventually found its way to the Airline Technical School where it was used extensively as a ground instruction airframe at Haifa Airport
Haifa Airport
Haifa International Airport is an Israeli airport located in Haifa. It is located to the east of the city, close to Kishon Port and Israel Shipyards and mainly serves civilian flights, with some military usage. Most passenger flights passing through the airport are domestic operations to Eilat...
. When it no longer was serviceable due to a lack of spares, the airframe was stripped of its engines and instruments and the last DC-5 was reduced to scrap in Israel some time after 1955.
Variants
Prototype DC-5- The prototype was sold to by William E. Boeing as a personal aircraft, modified to fit 16 passenger seats.
DC-5
- Basic passenger version, five aircraft were built, one prototype and four production series.
C-110
- Two former Indonesian registered KLM aircraft that had been used by the RAAF impressed into United States Army Air Corps service in Australia in March 1942.
R3D-1
- Military version of the DC-5 built for the Navy as 16-seat personnel carriers, three were produced. Douglas #606 crashed at Mines Field, June 1, 1940 -- #607 retired January 1946 and #608, believed to have been used briefly by Gen. MacArthur; retired January 1945
R3D-2
- Military version of the DC-5 built for the US Marine Corps as 22-seat paratrooper version, four were produced. Douglas #609 crashed in Jan. 1942 on island off Australian coast under enemy submarine fire. Stricken from inventory January 31, 1942. # 610, 611 and 612 retired October 1946.
R3D-3
- The prototype registered NC-21701 was impressed into military service, February 1942; thought to have been lost off Australia due to enemy action in 1943.
Military operators
- Royal Australian Air ForceRoyal Australian Air ForceThe Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
- No. 21 Squadron RAAFNo. 21 Squadron RAAFNo. 21 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force general reserve squadron. It saw action as a fighter, dive bomber and heavy bomber unit during World War II.-History:...
- No. 21 Squadron RAAF
- Israeli Air ForceIsraeli Air ForceThe Israeli Air Force is the air force of the State of Israel and the aerial arm of the Israel Defense Forces. It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence...
operated one DC-5.
Japan
- Imperial Japanese Army Air Force operated one captured Dutch DC-5.
United States
- United States Army Air ForcesUnited States Army Air ForcesThe United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
operated one C-110. - United States NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
operated two R3D-1. - United States Marine CorpsUnited States Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
operated four R3D-2.
Civil operators
- KLM received four DC-5.
United States
- BoeingBoeingThe Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
operated one DC-5.