The Douglas R4D-8 (later redesignated C-117D) is a military transport aircraft developed from the civilian Douglas DC-3S (Super DC-3) airliner. It was used by the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps during the Korean War and Vietnam War.

The U.S. Air Force turned it down, but the U.S. Navy awarded a contract for conversion of 98 existing R4Ds to the new configuration, which was designated the R4D-8 (later C-117D). With Wright...

The USN was impressed with the aircraft and signed a contract with Douglas to convert 100 R4D-5's, -6's and -7's to the R4D-8 configuration. In 1962, the U.S. Department of Defense adopted a new, standard designation system based on the USAF …

The United States Naval Aviation Resource Center covers naval flight operations from 1920-1960, including aircraft, carriers and pilots.

The Douglas R4D-8 is a military transport aircraft developed from the civilian Douglas DC-3S airliner. It was used by the United States Navy and United States M...

names. The R4D-1 was a cargo transport counterpart of the C-47 Skytrain. Ex-airline R4Ds used as personnel transports were the R4D-3 and the R4D-4 which, respectively, were equivalent to the USAAF's C-53 and C-53C Skytrooper. Later major US Navy cargo transport variants were the R4D-5 (with a 24-Volt electric system,

"R4D" was the Navy's designation for the DC-3, first flown as an airliner in 1935. Also known as the C-47, C-53, C-117, Skytrain, Dakota, and other names and designations, the aircraft was flown by all U.S. and many allied services during and after WWII.

New construction number, 32818, assigned to the airframe. Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 44-76486. Not TOS: transferred directly to USN. Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 39103 as a R4D-7. Transferred to NAS Clinton, OK. Transferred to NAS Pensacola, FL.

dihedral in the outer sections. Large engine nacelles protrude forward of the leading edg. and are close to the fuselage. The fuselage, with its rounded nose and stepped-up cockpit. tapers evenly toward the tail. A long slender dorsal fairing is combined with …

Listing of Douglas R4D in service with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps including R4D-1, R4D-5 and R4D-6 variants.