Douglas C-53D, N700RC / 11628, Red Carpet Airlines
This picture is © Roger Syratt and may not be used or published without permission.
Registration: N700RC
Construction Number: 11628
Model Douglas C-53D
Operator: Red Carpet Airlines
Airport: St. Petersburg - Clearwater International (PIE / KPIE), USA - Florida
Photographer: Roger Syratt
Date Taken: 04/11/1979
Date Submitted: 02/05/2024
The aircraft was built as USAAF C-53D 42-68701, and on D-Day 6th June 1944 it carried US Army paratroopers from RAF Folkingham in Lincolnshire to a drop zone in Normandy. Civilianised in 1946 as NC86588 it served with Penn Central, Capital, and Continental Airlines. It was re-registered as N87SA to Southern Airways in 1954 and to N8701 with Carolina Aircraft in 1967 operating for Florida Air Taxi before sale to Red Carpet as N700RC in 1975 and then to Key West Airlines in July 1980. Finally it was sold to Hill Air at Fort Lauderdale Int. in July 1988 and was last reported in one piece there in 1991.
Picture ID:1886618