airplane
Douglas C-53-DO Skytrooper was on the factory floor in Santa Monica, California when Pearl Harbor was attacked and was accepted by the USAAC weeks later in January 1942. This C-53-DO was turned into a citizen soldier after war was declared, just like so many young Americans at the time. Given serial number 41-20095 it was accepted on January 29th, 1942 and sent to Bolling Field, Washington DC. The aircraft was then assigned to the Ferry Command shortly there after and flown to Presque Isle, Maine where it flew under the command of pilots from “Northeast Airlines” while with Ferry Command. Our “095” flew some of the very first survey routes and ferry flights to and from England laying the ground work for what would become known as the North Atlantic Routes used by thousands of aircraft to deliver supplies and personnel to England.


In November 1942, 41-20095 was then transferred to North Africa with the Air Transport Command where it shuttled troops and wounded in and out of the North African campaign. It was here that our aircraft served with the North African Division of ATC where it supported the war in North Africa and eventually took place in the Invasion of Sicily and Italy. The aircraft was last assigned to FEA, Cairo Division until May 12th, 1945.
In 1963, the aircraft made one of its most important moves to the State of Ohio. From 1963 TO 1983 it was known as “Buckeye One,” the official state transport aircraft of the Governor. The airplane participated in the opening of many General Aviation Airports in the state of Ohio. Governor Rhodes was a champion of aviation and our C-53 was his pride and joy. His Director of Aviation and DC-3 pilot, Norm Crabtree, is famously quoted as saying that “the airport runway is the most important main street in any town.” They recognized the importance of General Aviation and their goal was to open an airport in every county in Ohio. After it’s retirement, it was then flown to the US Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio where she sat until 1990.