Figure 1.--Here we see civilians inspecting a military configured DC-2. They were done in various configurations -- C-32-42. Notice the wide door, the feature to permit cargo loading. We are not sure what the KE5 markings mean, probably squadron markings. The scene took place in Spokane, Washington. The DC-1 appeared in 1933 and within a year the improved DC-2 appeared (1934) Only small numbers were buolt. Only on DC-1 was built and 198 DC-2s. The DC-2 was a sucess and orders came in from TWA and other airlines. It would be the DC-3 which followed in 1935 that would prove a phonomenal success--essentially making commercial passanger travel an industry. Over 600 were built--impressuve give the small size of the commercial airline industry. All three planes of the series had very similar appearances. But SC-3 production proved to be a small fraction of the over 16,000 built in the military C-47 version. Some aviation historians call it the most significant transport aircraft ever made. The C-47 became the Allied transport workhorse during the War and was also used to drop parachute troops. No other country had anything like it nor any where near the number of planes. The C-47s provided to the Butish became known as Dakotas. Nearly 5,000 were built in the Soviet Union under license and were called Lisunov Li-2 and PS-84. The Japanese bult nearly 500 under license.

The Douglas Aircraft Company was founded Donald Wills Douglas in Long Beach California after World War I (1921). The company also had manufacturing plants in Rock Island, Illinois and Dayton, Ohio. The company developed ties with the military, both the Navy and Army, made a name for itself from a very early point. The U.S. Army Air Service decided on a headline grabbing mission, in part to gain public attention and greater allocations. They decided to conduct the first circumnavigate the earth by aircraft which they called 'World Flight'. Donald Douglas took a personal interest in the project, recognizing the importanc of making a name for his company. The Company modified its two-man, open cockpit DT biplane torpedo bomber which it had designed for the Navy. The modified aircraft was called the Douglas World Cruiser (DWC). Future aircraft company owner Jack Northrop was involved in the project. The successful circumnavigation of the world firmly established Douglas as a major American aircraft builder (1924). by air in Douglas airplanes in 1924. The successful circumnavigation led to the company's motto, 'First Around the World - First the World Around'. The company's new logo became an aircraft circling the globe. The Army Air Service was happy with the World Cruiser and ordered ordered six similar aircraft which they used as observation aircraft. The company was a major player in the commercial aviation industry before the War. Douglas became famous for its Douglas Commercial (DC) series of commercial aircraft. The United States is a large country and from an early pont there was a demand for commerical air travel, as soon as a safe comfortable plane became available. The answer to this was the DC series. Douglas produced a commercial two-engined transport, the DC-2 (1934). The much improved DC-3 followed 2 years later. This was the firt streamlined all metal commerial airliner. The speed and range of the DC-3 revolutionized commercial passenge air transport. Some aviation historians call it the most significant transport aircraft ever made. As a result of its commercial aircraft production line, Douglas began making transport/cargo aircraft with the outbreak of World War II. Douglas began making a military version of the DC-3, the iconic C-47 Skytrain called the Dakota by the British. One of the featiures of the C-47 was the wide cargo door (figure 1). No other country had anything like it nor any where near the number of planes. The C-47 became the military transport workhorse. Douglas Aircraft turned out one C-47 transport every 5 hours. While Douglas is probably most accociated with the C-47 during the War, it also produced combat aircraft, for both the Army and Navy. Douglas also manufactured the Scout Bomber Douglas (SBD) Dauntless. It was the the U.S. Navy's main carrier-borne scout plane and dive bomber (mid-1940). The punch of the Imperial Navy was its torpedo bombers, for the Americans it was its dive bombers. he SBD is most notable for tearing the heart out of the Japanese Imperial Fleet. sinking four of their six main-line carriers at Midway (June 1942). Other Douglas planes included the DB-7 (known as the A-20 Havoc or Boston) and the A-26 Invader. In addition to its own planes, Douglas joined the (Boeing-Vega-Douglas (BVD) consortium and built B-17 Flying Fortresses under contract for Boeing. Douglas poduced some 30,000 aircraft during the War. At its peak, the company's workforce reached 160,000 mployees, including many women. The company faced a crisis after the War as military contracts were drastically cut and surplus aircraft cut commercial orders. More than half of the workforce had to be let go.

Company History

The Douglas Aircraft Company was founded Donald Wills Douglas in Long Beach California after World War I (1921). The company also had manufacturing plants in Rock Island, Illinois and Dayton, Ohio. The company developed ties with the military, both the Navy and Army, made a name for itself from a very early point. The U.S. Army Air Service decided on a headline grabbing mission, in part to gain public attention and greater allocations. They decided to conduct the first circumnavigate the earth by aircraft which they called 'World Flight'. Donald Douglas took a personal interest in the project, recognizing the importanc of making a name for his company. The Company modified its two-man, open cockpit DT biplane torpedo bomber which it had designed for the Navy. The modified aircraft was called the Douglas World Cruiser (DWC). Future aircraft company owner Jack Northrop was involved in the project. The successful circumnavigation of the world firmly established Douglas as a major American aircraft builder (1924). by air in Douglas airplanes in 1924. The successful circumnavigation led to the company's motto, 'First Around the World - First the World Around'. The company's new logo became an aircraft circling the globe. The Army Air Service was happy with the World Cruiser and ordered ordered six similar aircraft which they used as observation aircraft. The company was a major player in the commercial aviation industry before the War.

Douglas Commercial (DC) Series

Douglas became famous for its Douglas Commercial (DC) series of commercial aircraft. The United States is a large country and from an early pont there was a demand for commerical air travel, as soon as a safe comfortable plane became available. The answer to this was the DC series. Douglas showcased the DC-1, a commercial two-engined airliner (1933). This was the firt streamlined all metal commerial airliner. Only one was built, but it impressed commercial airline companies. Douglas produced the slightly upgraded DC-2 (1934). TWA was the first to buy. The much improved DC-3 followed a year later (1935). The speed and range of the DC-3 revolutionized commercial passenge air transport. Some aviation historians call it the most significant transport aircraft ever made. As a result of its commercial aircraft production line, Douglas began making transport/cargo aircraft after Pearl Harbor (1942). The military version of the DC-3, the iconic C-47 Skytrain called the Dakota by the British. One of the features of the C-47 was the wide cargo door whuch can be seen on the DC-2 her (figure 1). Douglas built 600 DC-3s, but during World War II an amazing 16,000 were built. They were used not only by the Americams, but British, Soviets, and other countries. Even the Japanese had DC-3 they produced under a pre-War license. No other country designed anything like it nor any where near the number of planes. Many Douglas aircraft, especially the DC-3s, were sturdy, easyvto maintaun, and had unusually long service lives. Some DC-3s (actually mostly C-47s) remain in service even today.

Pre-War Military Aircraft

Douglas built some of the first torpedo bombers for the U.S. Navy as it developed an air arm after World war I. Douglas developed a wide range of variants using the basic plane with a range of modificatiions. This included reconnaissance (scout) aircraft and a commercial airmail variant. The wide range of aircraft produced by Douglas included airliners, light and medium bombers, fighters, transports, observation aircraft, and experimental aircraft. During WWII, to produce the B-17 Flying Fortress. After the war, Douglas built another Boeing design under license, the B-47 Stratojet.

World War II Aircraft

World War II Plants

Douglas poduced some 30,000 aircraft during the War. The single largest nymber was the C-47. At its peak, the company's workforce reached 160,000 mployees, including many women.

Post-War Adjustment

The company faced a crisis after the War as military contracts were drastically cut and surplus aircraft cut commercial orders. More than half of the Douglas workforce had to be let go.

Created: 6:03 AM 2/22/2013
Last updated: 4:36 AM 8/30/2017