Position 2: Sgt. George H. Ratliff
18108127, below left photo:
United States
Douglas C-47A "Skytrain" Cargo Aircraft
A.A.F. Serial Number 43-15137
History of C-47A-80-DL 43-15137:
Craft Number: 19603
Built under A.A.F. Contract Number: AC-32725
Contract Serial Number Range: 43-15033 to 43-16132
Gross weight 29,300 lbs. Wingspan 95', length 63' 9".
Engine type: (2) Pratt and Whitney R-1830-92. Max speed 220 MPH.
Total cost $101,644 per aircraft - to include cost of aircraft, engines, propellers, and radios.
Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft, Long Beach California
Accepted: 08 February 1944
CHALK 40 - JUNE 6th 1944
C-47A 43-15137 was assigned to the 306th Troop Carrier Squadron (TCS) 442nd Troop Carrier Group (TCG) 50th Troop Carrier
Wing (TCW) IX Troop Carrier Command, Royal Air Force (RAF) Station Fulbeck England (also known as USAAF station 488).
The 442nd TCG comprised of the 303rd TCS - Nose Code J7, 304th TCS - Nose Code V4, 305th TCS - Nose Code 4J and the
306th TCS - Nose Code 7H.

On June 6th 1944 C-47A 43-15137 was assigned the Airborne "Chalk" number 40. The "Chalk" number was the number
assigned to each aircraft during an operation and literally written on the side of the aircraft next to the jump door in white
chalk. On C-47A 43-15137, the number assigned was "40".
1st Lt. Buckley A. Maynard O-529480 with is his crew, Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Elmer W. Ambler O-816197, Navigator 2nd Lt. Donald J.
Markey O-697797, Flight Engineer SSgt. Francis A. Kline Jr 13145545 and Radio Operator Sgt. Vernon F. Coss 17098809 took
off under Mission "Boston", Serial 26 for Operation Overlord - the invasion of Normandy France.
The 306th TCS formation comprised of 9 aircraft on June 6th 1944. The first "V" was formed by Chalk 37, piloted by Major
Royal S. Thompson, Chalk 38 by 2nd Lt. Billy Imboden Jr and Chalk 39 by 1st Lt. Cornell C. Houston.
The second "V" formation was lead by C-47A 43-15137. Her sister aircraft were Chalk 41 piloted by 2nd Lt. Douglas H. Lippe
and Chalk 42 by 2nd Lt. Thomas H. Mills.
The last "V" in the entire formation of Serial 26 was led by Chalk 43, piloted by 1st Lt. James M. Myers, Chalk 44 by 1st Lt.
Ardall C. Tiedeman and Chalk 45 by 2nd Lt. William J. McCormick Jr.
Only the lead plane in each "V" was crewed by a Navigator. This was done due to a shortage of Navigators available in the
306th TCS on June 6th 1944.

The 306th TCS was responsible for carrying all of "B" Company, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division.
Image courtesy http://www.6juin.com
306th TCS C-47s with Nose Code 7H,
prior to the invasion of Normandy, left
photo.
Note - none of the aircraft have been
painted with "invasion" recognition
stripes on their tails or wings, which
defines this as a pre D-Day picture. The
lead C-47 (far left row) is 43-15137 (Tail
Letter H). The second aircraft is Tail
Letter O (S/N unreadable). The third
aircraft is Tail Letter A (S/N unreadable).
No other aircraft tail or serial numbers
were readable in this photo.

Photo from  (342-FH Box 76 A18095) National Archives.
The destination of 43-15137 (Chalk 40), as well as the other 44 aircraft for Mission "Boston" was Drop Zone T, the Merderet
Sector of the Cotentin Peninsula. The objective was Amfreville. The responsibility for this objective was trusted to the
members of the 82nd Airborne Division, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR).
The order was to hold the La Fiere causeway in support of the 505th PIR (ordered to seize the town of Sainte-Mere-Eglise) and
hold the defensive line between Gourbesville and Le-Hameau-Renouf.

At approximately 0244 hrs on June 6th, Chalk 40 dropped her paratroopers:
Position 1: 2nd Lt. James F. Clarke O-1294267 (KIA 13 June 1944)
Position 2: Sgt. George H. Ratliff 18108127
Position 3: PFC William J. Siekierski 12073110
Position 4: PFC Cecil W. Hindman 38232461
Position 5: PFC Steven P. Paris 36728347
Position 6: PFC Chris Courneotes 33549442
Position 7: Pvt. Audra Pritchard 20524699
Position 8: Pvt. Michael Tojchak 33077400
Position 9: Pvt. Ezio Fontanella 33264276
Position 10: Pvt. John R. Oxford 34687047
Position 11: Pvt. John M. Jefferson 32808293 (KIA 7 June 1944)
Position 12: Cpl. Robert B. Roussey 33315798
Position 13: T-5 Charles C. Peckham 32281987 (KIA 19 January 1945)
Position 14: PFC Roy V. Moeller 18017873
Position 15: PFC Paul L. Collins 14120167
Position 16: PFC Roland H. Daniel 35622178
Position 17: Pvt. Reinhold W. Bonnell 36569887 (KIA 15 June 1944)
Position 18: Cpl. Edward J. Schwartz 36152479
When 2nd Lt. James F. Clarke was killed, his personal effects were sent to his mother Elizabeth Clarke, above left photo.
His effects included his wallet, insignia, dog tags (one early war brass and one pre-war steel style), two aircraft spark plug
shipping plugs and a lanyard made from parachute cord. His mother embroidered a gold star over the flag that she had for her
two sons that were in the service. His brother wrote on the inside cover of his pocket
dictionary: "My Brother Jim died June 13, 1944 in the invasion of France on a Tuesday with the Paratroopers", above right
photo.
To read the detailed story of 2nd Lt. James F. Clark, CLICK HERE
CHALK 76 - SEPTEMBER 17TH 1944
On September 17th 1944, C-47 43-15137 was again assigned the role of deploying paratroopers, but this time it was for
Operation Market Garden - the Allied invasion of Holland. 43-15137 was assigned the  "Chalk" number 76. 1st Lt. Buckley A.
Maynard (O-529480) was again the pilot of this aircraft, but with a different crew: Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. John A. Bolt, Navigator 2nd
Lt. Robert D. Marrington, Flight Engineer TSgt. Francis A. Aline Jr. and Radio Operator Cpl. Joseph J. Calder.

On this mission, 43-15137 (Chalk 76) ferried the members of "I" Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), 101st
Airborne Division to Holland:

Position 1: 1st Lt. Fred Anderson Jr. O-1283357
Position 2: Pvt. Frederick Olszewski 32673022
Position 3: Pvt. David M. Dillon 35800403
Position 4: Pvt. Edmond T. Riley 38471475
Position 5: PFC. Carmel J. Curtis 34037831
Position 6: Cpl. Harry D. Watson 16110874
Position 7: Cpl. John H. Siesennop 16096286
Position 8: Pvt. George E. Albers 36859775
Position 9: Pvt. Victor J. Deluca 36177147 (KIA 18 September 1944)
Position 10: Pvt. Merrill A. Goldsmith 39714847
Position 11: Pvt. Martin J. Descant 38486267
Position 12: Pvt. Robert A. Cerio 39535536
Position 13: Pvt. Paul J. Jackson 38599152
Position 14: SSgt. Alexander W. Engelbrecht 12138873
Position 15: Sgt. Murton J. McCarty 17108479
Position 16: T/5 Lawrence F. Lane 19127572
Position 17: (No Rank Listed) Peter C. Pzaszynski 32071402
POST-WAR HISTORY:
Currently only 3 days of C-47A 43-15137's wartime history are currently known. After World War Two, 43-15137 was flown to
the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) Bush Field, GA on 18 November 1945. She was then registered as NC36699 to
Bruning Aviation, Hampton MS 29 January 1946; followed by Consolidated Air Transit Inc., East Orange, NJ 23 December 1947;
Air Parts Inc., NY 09 November 1948; Regina Cargo Air Lines Inc., NY 14 April 1949; A.J. Williams, trading as British Guiana
Airways, Ltd., Miami, FL 13 October 1950; registered as VP-GAG 27 December 1950; Guyana Airways Corp. 1963 and
re-registered as 8R-GAG 1967; East West Helicopters Inc., Harrison, OH 22 February 1979; registered to Air Service Center,
Inc., Hamilton, OH 22 February 1979 and re-registered as N9060Y 01 March 1979; registered to Hoganair Inc., Hamilton, OH 15
June 1979 and re-registered as N89HA 01 July 1980; purchased by H.A. Hartley 25 July 1985 (registration pending to estate of
H.A. Hartley Jan 1991); registered to Aviation Consulting & Services, Mineral Wells, TX 15 April 1992 (registration pending to
Hal & Vicki Davidson, Weatherford, TX May 1994) and finally to the Confederate Air Force (Rio Grande Valley Wing),
Brownsville, Texas. C-47A 43-15137 was registered to the City of Brownsville, Brownsville TX 17 August 1998 and stored at
Brownsville, TX October 1998.

In the fall of 2006 the decision was made to sell C-47A 43-15137 at auction after six decades of hard service. At that time, her
wartime service history was a complete mystery. The high bidder was a scrap dealer. C-47A 43-15137 was cut apart to reclaim
her body for her precious aluminum.
Her remains were dragged to a scrap field. Later, a careful eye would see the only significant section still intact - the cockpit. A
deal was struck, and her cockpit was saved.

QuestMasters obtained this cockpit section during the summer of 2007. Her wartime service history is still being pieced
together.
C-47A 43-15137 wearing the colors of Guyana Airways, registration 8R-GAG Barbados 1969, above left photo.
C-47A 43-15137 wearing the colors as N98HA - Ohio U.S.A. 1986, above right photo.
C-47A 43-15137 wearing the colors as N98HA, just prior to destruction - Brownsville TX 2006, above left photo.
C-47A 43-15137 after destruction, above right photo.
Her nose section is all that remains of her proud past....but, it has been saved.
QuestMasters will restore this section with her wartime paint scheme of the 306th Troop Carrier Squadron nose code 7H.
306th Troop Carrier
Squadron C-47 with nose
code 7H, left photo.
This aircraft carries the tail
letter P. This photo was
taken after June 5th 1944,
as indicated by the five
alternating white and black
recognition stripes painted
on the tail. These stripes
were painted within hours
of the invasion of
Normandy France, June 6th
1944.
This aircraft serial number
is not currently known.
The nose of this C-47
carries the artwork of
Alberto Vargas, and what
appears to be the name:
"PRECIOUS CARGO".
THE PARATROOPERS OF CHALK 40:
Position 1: 2nd Lt. James F. Clarke O-1294267 (KIA 13 June 1944) - Chalk Leader:
Position 3: PFC William J. Siekierski
12073110, below center photo:
Position 4: PFC Cecil W. Hindman
38232461, below right photo:
Position 5: PFC. Steven P. Paris
36728347, below left photo:
Position 10: Pvt. John R. Oxford
34687047, below center photo:
Position 12: Cpl. Robert B. Roussey
33315798, below right photo:
Position 13: T-5 Charles C. Peckham
32281987 (KIA 19 Jan 1945), below photo:
Position 14: PFC Roy V. Moeller
18017873, below center photo:
Position 15: PFC Paul L. Collins
14120167, below right photo:
On September 18, 1944 at 15:06 HRS, D+1 of Operation Market Garden, Lt Buckley Maynard piloted a C-47A "Skytrain" over
Holland. This was his second mission for Operation Market Garden. His first was the previous day piloting C-47A 43-15137
"Chalk 76" carrying paratroopers of the I Company, 3rd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division.

On September 18th, members of the 326th Airborne Engineer Battalion (AEB), 101st Airborne Division were to be glider landed
with a Willys MB 1/4 Ton Truck. 9 Minutes from Landing Zone (LZ) W near Son, Flight Officer Noel McCann piloted a CG-4A 42-
79151 Glider named "Queen City" being towed by Lt Maynard. The CG-4A was is given the nickname ‘Queen-City’, after F/O
McCann's hometown and the name ‘Clara’ after his wife.

German anti-aircraft artillery targeted the CG-4A and shot it down while in tow behind the C-47A. The CG-4A crashed in
Oisterwijk, Holland. She was one of eighty gliders that had previously taken off from Chilbolten Airfield in the south of England.

The crash killed Pilot F/O Noel McCann T-122016 306th Troop Carrier Squadron (TCS) 442nd Troop Carrier Group, 1st Lt Ray
Hiltunen O-1103214 B Company 326th AEB (seated in the Co-Pilot seat), PVT Raymond L. Carson 36176352 326th AEB and T-5
Ray J Le May 36239073 326th AEB. Due to the shortage of glider pilots during war, Lt Hiltunen was assigned as the Co-Pilot to
assist during flight to check instruments and fly the glider in the event something happened to the pilot.
The cargo, a Willys MB "Jeep" serial number 313624 survived the crash and was captured and used by the Wehrmacht.
To read the story of Pilot F/O Noel McCann CLICK HERE
SEPTEMBER 18TH 1944
"KOOL AID"
During the 1980s C-47A 43-15137 carried an unusual nick name. Skydivers often jumped from her for sport, and when they did,
she was referred to as "Kool Aid". This nick name stemmed from her service time with Guyana Airways Corporation as
8R-GAG after 1967. It was in 1977 that James Warren "Jim Jones" the founder and leader of the Peoples Temple moved his
followers to Guyana, South America. Later these followers would refer to this place as "Jonestown". C-47A 43-15137 was one
of the aircraft contracted to fly the followers to Jonestown. Jonestown would forever be written into the history books when
over 900 followers of "Jim Jones", 276 of which were children, died when they consumed a cyanide laced grape "Flavor Aid"
beverage on November 18th 1978. History would remember the beverage as "Kool Aid".
Position 1: 2nd Lt. James F. Clarke
(KIA 13 June 1944), below photo:
Position 18: Cpl. Edward J. Schwartz
36152479, below photo:
Position 17: Pvt. Reinhold W. Bonnell
36569887 (KIA 15 June 1944), below: