OUR "GOONEY BIRD"

 

There's something very unique about G-Star (actually there's many!), but one of the things G-Star has that no other high school in the world has is a World War II C-47 Douglas Skytrain (aka "Gooney Bird").  This plane is a WWII veteran with an amazing history!

     

     Our Douglas C-47 Skytrain was built for the USAAF in 1941 in Long Beach, CA and the military acquired it Oct. 26, 1942.  C-47’s were one of the most well-known aircraft used in WWII.  It went to North Africa May 15, 1943 and flew the 12th Air Force.  The aircraft flew supplies to front line units in Casablanca, Algeria and Tunisia during the North African Campaign and evacuated wounded soldiers and casualties back to rear area hospitals. 

     The aircraft was engaged in combat operations, dropping airborne units into Sicily during the Operation Husky Invasion and later into areas around Anzio, Italy as part of Operation Shingle, in January 1944.  Our aircraft moved north through Europe in 1944 in support of Allied ground forces, evacuated wounded personnel and flew missions behind enemy lines.  While in Italy and in the Balkans, our aircraft hauled guns, ammunition, food, clothing, and medical supplies to our troops.

    The aircraft flew to England in Feb. 1944 and flew in the invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe.  In June 1944, our aircraft dropped paratroops in Normandy, subsequently flying numerous missions to bring in reinforcements and needed supplies.  During the airborne attacks on the Netherlands in Sept. 1944, the aircraft dropped paratroops, towed gliders and flew in re-supply missions.  The aircraft also participated in the Battle of the Bulge by towing gliders full of supplies near Bastogne in Dec. 1944.

     When the Allies made their air assaults across the Rhine River in March 1945, each aircraft towed two gliders with troops of the 17th Airborne Division and released them near Wesel.  The aircraft also hauled food, clothing, medicine, gasoline, ordinance equipment and other supplies to the front lines and evacuated wounded soldiers and casualties to rear area hospitals.  In late May 1945, after V-E Day, the aircraft was moved to Waller Field in Trinidad, then taken back to Morrison Field, Florida in the beginning of June 1945. 

     Dec. 4, 1945, the aircraft was loaned out to the Royal Flying Corps from Great Britain and transported British soldiers and cargo back to England. 

 

We are currently raising funds for the restoration of this incredible piece of World War II history.  There are only 1500 C-47 Douglas Skytrain's left in the WORLD and only a very small handful of C-47's that flew in D-Day.  We're very proud to have this unique piece of history.  Help to restore our "Gooney Bird" back to an original World War II aircraft.  

If you are interested in making a donation to go specifically to the restoration, contact Dawn Hauptner at 561-818-6534 or dawnhauptner@gmail.com or Greg Hauptner at 561-386-6275 or greghauptn@aol.com.