Vintage Aircraft History

C-47 Bones

Built in 1942, the Douglas DC-3 was lend-leased to the Royal Air Force in Great Britain in February 1943 where it flew with the Royal Air Force towing gliders and hauling paratroopers over the English Channel to fight during WWII. After the war the aircraft flew for many airlines in many countries across Europe and Asia. After its tenure in the airlines it was placed at the Imperial War Museum and became the backdrop for several movies including “The Dirty Dozen”, “The Eagle Has Landed” and “War and Remembrance”. In 1994 the aircraft was purchased and returned to the US by a regional airline in upstate New York. Since that time the aircraft has been completely refurbished to its current condition and paint scheme. In 2007 Barry Avent purchased the airplane and moved it to South Carolina. The airplane is now used as an active example of flying history at local air shows and flying events throughout the southeast.

Navy C-45

The Beechcraft D-18 was built in 1945 and the orange and white paint scheme is an exact reproduction of how the airplane was looked when based at LeMoore Naval Air Station in California in 1945. This aircraft was used as an executive transport for the Naval administration during WWII. After its career in the Navy this airplane was use as a maintenance training aircraft at South Carolina Tech Schools before being purchased and restored by Wendell Hall in South Carolina. The aircraft is now used as an example of flying history throughout the southeast.

Air Force C-45

The Beechcraft D-18 was built in 1945 and painted silver to represent the paint scheme of its military history. This airplane was use by the Army Air Corp for executive transportation during WWII.

After its time in the military it was purchased by several corporations and used as executive transportation until the late 1970’s. Later it was purchased and restored to its current condition and is now owned by Hal Ewing in South Carolina. The aircraft is now used as an example of flying history throughout the southeast.

Globe Swift

Globe Aircraft Company of Ft. Worth, Texas was started in early 1941. The War (WWII) caused the development of its aircraft to halt to slow pace, but in 1945 the company started building The Swift, a 2 seat all medal monoplane with retractable landing gear. Globe marketed them for sale to the public as a personal mode of transportation for pilots coming out of the military. The examples of Swift being flown for Salute from the Shore range in production dates from 1946 to 1950. These aircraft are owned and flown by gentlemen from North and South Carolina.