Type: C-47

Model Year: 1943

Construction Number:  9380

Owner/Operator: Wings of Flight Foundation

Based: Falcon Field (FFZ)
Mesa, Arizona

Captains: Dale Churchill, Patrick McGarry

Co-Pilots: Chris House, Brian Churchill

Crew Chief: Stu McDonald

Passengers:
 

42-23518 started life at Long Beach in April 1943 as a C-47A and served with the 12th Air Force in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, participating in the invasion of Sicily and the D-Day invasion, returning to the U.S. in September 1945. From 1946 to 1952, N53ST had several owners and operators. In 1952, purchased by the Hoover Vacuum Company, it was converted to a DC-3C, and became the company's main executive aircraft until 1967. The corporate interior, including a fully functional galley and executive seating remain in the aircraft today. In 1985, N53ST proudly participated in the DC-3's 50th Anniversary celebrations, flying from Long Beach to Amsterdam, Holland and throughout Europe.

N53ST went through several more owners and operators, and in 2008 was graciously donated to the Wings of Flight Foundation by Mr. Cliff O'Brien.

Wings of Flight Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit, tax-exempt IRS 501(c)(3) educational foundation dedicated to the preservation of aircraft of historical significance, education of the public with regard to the role these aircraft played in the history of America, to honor the men and women who manufactured, serviced and crewed training and fighting aircraft, and to honor all of those who serve or have served, in the Armed Forces of the United States of America.