(no subject)

[winterbadger]

I really didn't expect to be this upset by something this early in the morning.

But I was looking for this story from NPR about a free health care event held recently in West Virginia (followed by a similar event in LA organised by the same group).

And I also hit the website for the group, called Reach Across America.

Where I learned that they use C-47, also known as DC-3 or Dakota, transport aircraft to get their supplies and equipment from place to place.

Any of you who are among my wargaming/military history buff friends will likely know the C-47 from its pivotal role as a military aircraft. The C-47 was used to drop US paratroops over Normandy and British paras over Arnhem, to bring supplies to Bastogne and across the "Hump" from India to China. The plane my Dad hopped on in 1942, to spend hours flying in the freezing cold over the Himalayas, so as to spend part of his 21st birthday in Chengdu "because it was better than sitting around the barracks" was probably a C-47.

Folks, they stopped making these planes in 1945. They were great planes, but they are older than *I* am. By 20 years.

And that's what this group of volunteers is depending on to move medical supplies they are giving away for free to people who have no other hope for healthcare.

Please consider donating to their appeal for funds for an upgraded aircraft. I know I will be giving them what I can.

Comments

[cmlc.livejournal.com]

I'm appalled all over again :-( Those things are legal to fly?

[winterbadger]

There were, I think, 16,000 built, of which, if I recall correctly, about 300 are still flying. From what my other commentor says, most of them apparently in Alaska (the ones that aren't used for making WWII movies--even allowing for tricky camera and film manipulation, there must have been dozens of them in "A Bridge Too Far"--though that was made 30 years ago...)

Yeah, appalled is about how I feel. Just knowing that's what my dad's buddies flew says it all for me.