Harry A. Willenberg First C-47 Flight

I hold a founding plank in the First Combat Cargo Group. My assignment was to the Third Squadron, Major Moriarity, Commanding. Three of us arrived in late April, from Columbus AAFB, Mississippi, by UC-78. Our destination was Bowman Field, Louisville, Kentucky. The operation we were posted to was so secret that my Orders to Travel were marked as confidential and it didn’t specify my unit. The Brass at Columbus AAFB were so certain we would be late; they set up a flight for us, to make sure we arrived on time. (We arrived fifteen days early). I learned I had volunteered for this assignment when I was flying somewhere over the Great Cypress swamp to deliver a PT-17 airplane to Arcadia, Florida. I was a brand new Second Lieutenant fresh from my first class as an Advanced Twin Engine Flight Instructor on a ferry flight. I was on this flight as a means to kill time between classes. Bowman Field was the Training Base for the Flight Nurse school. My first ride in a C-47 was as copilot on a Flight Nurse training flight. As you can guess I was told to sit in the copilot’s seat and DON’T TOUCH ANYTHING. Can you imagine - eighteen nurses on board to learn how to set up the aircraft for Air Evacuation and to practice in flight nursing? You probably know, at that time, most flight nurses were former stewardesses with the airlines. About half way through our flight one of the trainees came up front and, using the two pilots seat inboard armrests and the flap handle, made a seat for herself and lit a cigarette. It was obvious to me; she was very much at home in the front office of a DC-3. She had her smoke and a conversation with us before returning to the rear. I can say that the flight was educational from the aspect of a pilot learning a new aircraft. Even though I wasn’t permitted to touch any thing; I watched the cockpit procedures and observed the eye level above the ground for landing. All this for a much bigger aircraft than I had ever flown on, as a pilot.

From a Manscript 'Tales of Combat Cargo' written by Harry A. Willenberg which was written from memory December 20, 1999. Copyright Š 2001

I am looking for former members of the 3rd Combat Cargo Group, 1st, Combat Cargo Group, 2nd Combat Cargo Group and the 4th Combat Cargo Group. In fact I would like to hear from anyone who flew over the Hump during WW II, or flew any Combat Cargo Missions at any time (Berlin Air-Lift, Korea, etc.)

Please e-mail comment, suggestions, corrections,etc to: bill.b@erols.com

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