Night and day with Drag 'em oot
Night and day with Drag 'em oot
This years Abingdon Airshow was always going to be a very important time for me after Neil Porter had announced that C-47 Drag 'em oot was going to display. After getting permission from Neil and C-47 owner Paddy Green, I went on a search for a Yak-52 owner who'd be willing to fly me for an air to air shoot with the C-47 on its departure from Abingdon. The saviour came in the form of an Aussie named Colin Short who partly owns G-YAKI and readily agreed to fly me.
The night before the show was also an opportunity too good to miss when I delivered the jeep.
Anyway, C-47 Drag 'em oot 42-100882 is a true veteran of WWII. Assigned to the 87th Troop Carrier Squadron, 438th Troop Carrier Group, it was based at Greenham Common airfield. On the night of D-Day, Drag 'em oot was to drop paratroopers from the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne to drop zone A where it was aircraft No 2 in Serial 7. Serials 1 to 6 had dropped Pathfinder teams earlier in the night to guide the main body of aircraft to the correct drop zones.
She was also fitted with Model 80 Glider pickup equipment to retrieve assault gliders from the Normandy fields so that they could be re-used for further ops. The specialised pick-up was in great demand especially for the RAF and an agreement was made between the RAF and the USAAF for a straight swap of aircraft and from the 2nd of September 1944 she was in RAF hands. For the rest of the war she participated in Operation Market Garden and Operation Varsity (the largest single airborne operation of WWII where gaining a foothold across the river Rhine was the objective). It is most likely that during these operations, she received the battle damage from flak and ground fire which is still visible inside the aircraft today.
I have a huge interest in the airborne ops of WWII especially during D-Day and it was a privilege to spend some time with a true aviation legend.
Enjoy the photos.
DSC_0894-2forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr
DSC_0911forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr
DSC_0900forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr
DSC_0915-2forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr
DSC_0845forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr
DSC_1010forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr
IMG_0515forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr
IMG_0500-2forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr
IMG_0544forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr
IMG_0425forum2 by jonesy1275, on Flickr
IMG_0545forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr
IMG_0522forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr
A huge thank you to Neil Porter, Colin Short and Paddy Green for literally getting this off the ground and awesome flying from the C-47 crew, John Dodd and Mark Edwards.
Thanks for looking,
Neil.
Oh and if somebody has a spare £1000, would they be willing to donate it so that I can get Drag 'em oot to do a flypast over a new memorial in Normandy which is being unveiled on the 6th of June that I'm assisiting?
The night before the show was also an opportunity too good to miss when I delivered the jeep.
Anyway, C-47 Drag 'em oot 42-100882 is a true veteran of WWII. Assigned to the 87th Troop Carrier Squadron, 438th Troop Carrier Group, it was based at Greenham Common airfield. On the night of D-Day, Drag 'em oot was to drop paratroopers from the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne to drop zone A where it was aircraft No 2 in Serial 7. Serials 1 to 6 had dropped Pathfinder teams earlier in the night to guide the main body of aircraft to the correct drop zones.
She was also fitted with Model 80 Glider pickup equipment to retrieve assault gliders from the Normandy fields so that they could be re-used for further ops. The specialised pick-up was in great demand especially for the RAF and an agreement was made between the RAF and the USAAF for a straight swap of aircraft and from the 2nd of September 1944 she was in RAF hands. For the rest of the war she participated in Operation Market Garden and Operation Varsity (the largest single airborne operation of WWII where gaining a foothold across the river Rhine was the objective). It is most likely that during these operations, she received the battle damage from flak and ground fire which is still visible inside the aircraft today.
I have a huge interest in the airborne ops of WWII especially during D-Day and it was a privilege to spend some time with a true aviation legend.
Enjoy the photos.
DSC_0894-2forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr
DSC_0911forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr
DSC_0900forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr
DSC_0915-2forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr
DSC_0845forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr
DSC_1010forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr
IMG_0515forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr
IMG_0500-2forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr
IMG_0544forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr
IMG_0425forum2 by jonesy1275, on Flickr
IMG_0545forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr
IMG_0522forum by jonesy1275, on Flickr
A huge thank you to Neil Porter, Colin Short and Paddy Green for literally getting this off the ground and awesome flying from the C-47 crew, John Dodd and Mark Edwards.
Thanks for looking,
Neil.
Oh and if somebody has a spare £1000, would they be willing to donate it so that I can get Drag 'em oot to do a flypast over a new memorial in Normandy which is being unveiled on the 6th of June that I'm assisiting?
Last edited by Jonesy on Tue 15 May 2012, 2:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Why so serious?
Re: Night and day with Drag 'em oot
Superb mate, the A-2-A's are very special...
Re: Night and day with Drag 'em oot
Fantastic air to air shots Neil. It's nice to see a warbird that looks used rather than factory-fresh.
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Re: Night and day with Drag 'em oot
Great story, and superb shooting Neil.
Those air to airs are nothing short of stunning.
Those air to airs are nothing short of stunning.
Re: Night and day with Drag 'em oot
Great results Mr J
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Re: Night and day with Drag 'em oot
Worth all the effort Neil Interesting to hear about her past too!
Re: Night and day with Drag 'em oot
Best post I have seen in a long time, stunning and a great experience, thanks for sharing
Re: Night and day with Drag 'em oot
Cracking post Neil.....and I thought night shots were good (vert well done to Shaggie and crew for organising/allowing). Good to catch up again after too long.
Cheers Ian
Cheers Ian
Re: Night and day with Drag 'em oot
Anyone know what the mission marks represent? ?The train is intriguing, and is there a difference in the glider missions?
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Re: Night and day with Drag 'em oot
Love them all, Neil, but No. 10 made me chuckle with the C-47 passenger can be seen photographing you in the Yak. Any chance of seeing that on here?
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Re: Night and day with Drag 'em oot
Brilliant post. One question why the serach for the YAK52? Is that the best photographic platform?
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Re: Night and day with Drag 'em oot
tankbuster wrote:Brilliant post. One question why the serach for the YAK52? Is that the best photographic platform?
I'd previously done an air to air from a Yak-52 and got good results. Plus there's quite a few around so I was hoping I could get one fairly easily.
I'd like to see the photos of the Yak from the C-47 too.
Why so serious?
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Re: Night and day with Drag 'em oot
Lovely set Neil. As good as the A2A shots are, my personal favourite is the night shot with your Jeep.
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Re: Night and day with Drag 'em oot
Fantastic!
Re: Night and day with Drag 'em oot
LN Strike Eagle wrote:my personal favourite is the night shot with your Jeep.
Yes, two of Ike's four war winning weapons together. Just needs a bazooka and an atomic bomb to complete the foursome in that great shot!
Pte. Aubrey Gerald Harmer, R. Suss. R. (att. to the Sherwood Foresters) KIA 26/9/1917 Polygon Wood, aged 19, NKG. RIP
Re: Night and day with Drag 'em oot
AlexC wrote:LN Strike Eagle wrote:my personal favourite is the night shot with your Jeep.
Yes, two of Ike's four war winning weapons together. Just needs a bazooka and an atomic bomb to complete the foursome in that great shot!
I don't think I can get an atomic bomb but a bazooka...well maybe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtL5ECKKlls
I'm the bazooka assistant in the clip.
Why so serious?
Re: Night and day with Drag 'em oot
Great shots of a superb example of the C47.
Re: Night and day with Drag 'em oot
Love the first of those air-to-airs; nice topside, contrasty background and a sun-kissed Dak.
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Hey jet pilots! Do a barrell roll!
Re: Night and day with Drag 'em oot
Beautiful Neil
What a great experience and good to see the jeep in your night shots
What a great experience and good to see the jeep in your night shots
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Re: Night and day with Drag 'em oot
Fantastic
Re: Night and day with Drag 'em oot
Wonderful set, the second Jeep shot is just superb.
Re: Night and day with Drag 'em oot
Cracking stuff Neil, really like the air-to-airs!