Douglas C-133 Cargomaster

1956

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Douglas C-133 Cargomaster

The C-133 was a four-engined transport which - although not much bigger in overall dimensions than the earlier C-124 Globemaster II - could carry payloads equivalent to twice the normal cargo capacity of the C-124. The first production C-133 made its maiden flight on 23 April 1956 and deliveries to the USAF began the following year.

The first version was the C-133A powered by four 4,844kW Pratt & Whitney T34-P-7WA turboprop engines. A total of 34 were delivered. It was followed by the C-133B powered by 5,589kW T34-P-9W turboprops and with increased loaded weight and an enlarged main cargo door to permit easier loading of the Atlas ICBM, and Thor and Jupiter IRBMs. Fifteen were delivered to MATS, production ending in April 1961.

All had been withdrawn from service ten years later, although a few were thereafter used in civil roles.

Douglas C-133 Cargomaster

Specification 
 CREW4
 PASSENGERS200
 ENGINE4 x turbo-prop P+W T-34-P-9W, 4410kW
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight129700-136000 kg285941 - 299830 lb
  Empty weight54600 kg120373 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan54.8 m180 ft 9 in
  Length48.0 m158 ft 6 in
  Height14.7 m48 ft 3 in
  Wing area248.3 m22672.68 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed558 km/h347 mph
  Cruise speed500 km/h311 mph
  Ceiling6125 m20100 ft
  Range w/max.fuel7000 km4350 miles
  Range w/max payload3600 km2237 miles

Comments1-20 21-40 41-60 61-80
Hans Walrecht, e-mail, 16.05.2013 15:41

This site is very interesting. The C-133 is a great, but little forgotten plane.
I'm planning to write an article about the C-133 for a non profit magazine. It's free for members of Dutch vintage aircraft clubs.
But I must have permission for using materials.
My first question is: who is the owner of the dimensions drawing above? I'd like to use that.

My second question is: who can help me in finding a photograph (with permission to use it) of a cargo in the hold of the C-133?

I hope someone can help me in this.

Best regards,
Hans Walrecht
The Netherlands

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Richard Justis, e-mail, 09.05.2013 19:46

Bobby Reardon, Please contact me at the above address.
Richard Justis Dover A.F.B.1961-65
P.P.C.T. 1617 O.M.S.. Your address won't work.

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Walter McCann, e-mail, 12.04.2013 20:06

Stationed at DAFB from 1956 to 1974. Went to Douglas for training on C-133 in April 1957. Flew as Flight Engineer until the C-5 came along. Taught as Instructor and Flt Exam. in the C-133 simulator. Wonderful crew members and memories.

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Joe McNully, e-mail, 21.03.2013 17:57

I flew as a civilian contractor passenger on The Gray Ghost, from Antigua to Ascension Island, circa July 1963. We made an unscheduled stop in Zanderiz, Surinam, to replace a fuel transfer valve. We stopped for RON in Recife, Brazil. For a while when we were flying over the Amazon the crew could not raise anyone on the radio.

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stan higginbotham, e-mail, 04.01.2013 05:27

Went to Dover from Sheppard as 43121F in Spring 68 . First and second in class drew Travis and Dover as duty stations, rest sent to 130 bases. As young flight line airmen I took ever FCF and static display I could talk my way into. C /Msgt Chambers line chief. Don't recall tail number may be 0135. Left in Oct 68 for CCK. Imagine getting paid to work on such a awesome aircraft

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Thomas Fitzgerald, e-mail, 28.09.2012 17:53

Came to Dover and "A" flight 1617 OMS on January 15 1962 as a Reservist on Active duty for 4 years. Was assigned to A /C 0142, Crew chief T /Sgt Rudy Parish Asst C /C Elmer Keeney. Parish transfered and Keeney became C /C and I became Asst C /C. Don't remember how the shuffle occured but I ended up as C /C on A /C 0135 until I received orders for Flt Eng duty on C-130s and sent to 57 TH ARRS Lajes Azores. While at Dover I accompanied my aircraft to many different countries, many we can no longer enter. I always thought the C-130 was one of the greatest aircraft ever built and to this day think so. I left Dover in April 65, Retired in 78.

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Bob Reardon, e-mail, 19.09.2012 22:36

Worked as a jet engine mechanic at Dover AFB from 1962 - 1966. I was part of the 1617 OMS. Flew back home with 133A from Turkey to Dover after a TDY with the 101st Airbore. Also had the privilege flying from France to Azores to Dover after spending a week trying to get one of our planes fixed in France. The last flight I had was in 65. I was on TDY with our engine repair shop or most of it at Travis to get a quicker turnaround on our "A" models. Seem to me that the Travis guys were using our planes for spare parts and our Colonel decided we could get better maintenance back in Dover. That Christmas we jumped a flight back home for two weeks leave. Base Brass frowned on that so free hops ended very quickly. As I remember from that time we were resupplying VN and our plases were taking vital war materials and returning with body boxes from fallen warriors. Cal Taylor has written a great book titled Remembering An Unsung Giant. Its a must read for everyone who worked and flew the C-133's.

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James Edwards, e-mail, 09.09.2012 03:20

Does anyone remember a layover in australia.The night was memorable.If you were there talk to me.

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james edwards, e-mail, 05.09.2012 03:11

I was a flying crewchief 1965 thru 1970.We flew supplies in and out of vn.I now have medical problems.The VA said my records do not show that I got off the plane.That was my job to take care of scheduled and unscheduled maintenance.If the is anyone who knows how to handle this please let me know.

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james edwards, e-mail, 05.09.2012 03:06

I was a flying crewchief 1965 thru 1970.We flew supplies in and out of vn.I now have medical problems.The VA said my records do not show that I got off the plane.That was my job to take care of scheduled and unscheduled maintenance.If the is anyone who knows how to handle this please let me know.

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Jerry, e-mail, 15.05.2012 03:00

I was stationed at Travis from 1966-70, working in transient maint. We caught a lot of C-133's goin to and from VN. It was a large AC, with prop, eng, and doppler issues. I can still hear the low, loud rumble of them comin in to the base. One of my observations was no matter what kind of AC it was, there was always many, many more problems with the planes going overseas, than when they were returning home!

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Robert Wiedemann, e-mail, 12.04.2012 03:12

I have a large model of this plane made of cast aluminum!, with Air Force marking,s.

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Jerald Moriarty, e-mail, 09.03.2012 05:50

Where can I find a C133B..iwas a navigator from 1963 to 1967 at Travis AFB

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mike, e-mail, 22.02.2012 06:56

was maint- crew chief on #0135 at dover for over one and a half years had all the flight recording data after wright patt testing hadto put 300hrs on recording time onbefore it could go on trip 84 days of flying time kept, that puppy flying #0135 only plane that supplied cargo to north pole up at tule 38 days fly and tske off org. flight manual was writrten wrong no more accidents best times married girl from dela( at dover 62_65 )

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Ralph Neumeister, e-mail, 09.02.2012 19:36

I flew with the 39th out of Dover as a loadmaster. I was there from 1966 to 1967, then again in 1969 for a brief period. Wonder if anyone has any infromation of me flying with them on log books or orders. also spent some time flying c-124's with the 22 nd mas in Japan. Loved the C-133

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Cal Taylor, e-mail, 20.12.2011 20:35

For those who want to hear the airplane again, the video DVD is done. It has 90 minutes to cover the last flight of 61999 from Anchorage to Travis, in 2008. A short video give 24 minutes about an Alaska airlift mission to deliver three shool buses to North Slope towns. A second DVD has more than 2,000 C-133 pictures. Check the web site for The C-133 Project.

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Dennis Eck, e-mail, 16.11.2011 21:37

I was stationed at DAFB 1962 - 1966 as a 1617 th FLMS jet engine mechanic. In our shop we worked in pairs on the flught line to troubleshoot engine problems, fix them, run the engines to check our work. Also, we would change engines in the hangers. Did a lot of TDY all over the states, Labrador several times, Germany several times, France, Spain, Azores. Flew on 124's, 130's and 133's a lot. With the 133 you were either in the cockpit or in a seat strapped to the tail ramp, and very noisy with a lot of vibration. Enjoyed working on all these airplanes and more. Once while at Fort Campbell, KY the 101st airborne took us for a ride on one of theri M60 tanks, and we took them and their tank for a ride. Sometimes while in Labrador, we would have to change an engine and prop on the flight line at night - outside when it would be about 40 below zero. Had to use a crane to hoist the prop and engine while in the cold, snow and wind. Never worked in the Black Hanger engine shop, liked the action of finding the problem, fixing it and getting the aircraft on its way as quickly as we could and fixed right. Command was interested in being on time and getting the payload to its destination in one piece and we tried. The 133's were involved in several very important missions for eathquake, flood, hurricane humanitarian relief, to supporting NATO, to supplying our troops in Vietnam and returning those that gave their all. Good memories.

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Bob Ginn, e-mail, 12.06.2011 04:47

Just reread the above comments for old times sake and must say: Lots of insight, lots of nonsense. But the love shines through all.

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Paul C Campo, e-mail, 18.05.2011 00:01

I was at Dover AFB, 61 to 65 . We lost two c-133, one over the pond,and one at Dover on a hot spot while doing matance. they Had vibration and wing spar problems with the C - 133.

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Don Blake, e-mail, 03.05.2011 02:40

Originally trained on 130's but was sent to Travis. Worked in the docks there - mostly grave shift, and had a crew as an A3C... The guys on my crew were like F Troop - mostly drunks from the Ozarks - so I had to keep finding them - sleeping inside the wings usually! I remember the nights out on the line - like Joe above - windy as hell - trying to walk the wings - changing the anti-collision light on the tail... In those days you couldn't put me up high enough! Engine checks were awesome! ... Sittin in the cockpit with some of the crewchiefs - the rush of all that horse power! I remember one night we brought a plane in from 'Nam right into the dock for some problem... Cold winter night but warm inside with the doors closed up... As the plane warmed up, some big-ass snake woke up and crawled out of the l /g pod and booked across the shop floor... Can't remember where they found it, but everybody was thinking it was a cobra....
yep - the days of MATS were cool... Most guys never looked like they were even in the Air Force - shaggy hair, mustaches, I'd take my lunch in my '57 Plymouth hardtop - A cup of coffee, a warm heater, and WOLFMAN JACK! OWWWWWOOOOOOO! That's when I wasn't sitting in the cockpit eating by all the instrument lights! The last Weenie I saw was grounded at the airport in Anchorage in 1982... They probably never did fly it out.... But ya never know!

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