Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

1947

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Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

During 1947 Fairchiid developed an improved version of the C-82, the XC-82B prototype being a conversion from a production C-82A. It differed primarily by having the flight deck resited into the nose of the aircraft and the installation of 1976kW Pratt & Whitney R-4360-4 Wasp Major 28-cylinder radial engines. Following service tests it was ordered into production as the C-119B Flying Boxcar (55 built), these having the fuselage widened by 0.36m, structural strengthening for operation at higher gross weights, and more powerful R-4360-20 engines. Accommodating up to 62 paratroops, and with increased cargo capacity, the C-119s gave excellent service during operations in Korea and Vietnam, as well as in a wide variety of other heavy transport applications. C-119s also serve or served with the air forces of Belgium, Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Italy, Nationalist China and South Vietnam, many supplied under the Military Assistance Program. In addition, some surplus military aircraft, both C-82s and C-119s, were acquired by civil operators.

In 1961 Steward-Davis Inc. of Long Beach, California, developed a Jet-Pak conversion for C-119 aircraft. This involved the installation of a 1542kg thrust Westinghouse J34-WE-36 turbojet engine in a specially-developed nacelle mounted on the upper surface of the wing centre-section. At least 26 Indian Air Force C-119s had a more powerful HAL-built Orpheus jet pod to enable them to operate with greater payloads under 'hot and high' conditions.

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

Specification 
 MODELC-119G
 CREW5
 ENGINE2 x Wright R-3350-85, 2610kW
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight33747 kg74400 lb
  Empty weight18136 kg39983 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan33.3 m109 ft 3 in
  Length26.37 m87 ft 6 in
  Height8.0 m26 ft 3 in
  Wing area134.43 m21446.99 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed470 km/h292 mph
  Cruise speed322 km/h200 mph
  Ceiling7300 m23950 ft
  Range w/max.fuel3669 km2280 miles

Comments1-20 21-40 41-60 61-80 81-100 101-120 121-140 141-160 161-180
Jonah Peterson, e-mail, 13.02.2024 02:26

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Robert W. Bosler, e-mail, 22.08.2022 01:36

Looking for a vector drawing of the C-119 Flying Boxcar.
I make laser cut model airplanes for a hobby. This plane was flown out of Willow Grove Naval Air Station, Willow Grove, PA on week ends by the Air National Guard. My house was near the base so I could watch them fly over. Any help would be appreciated.

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Skip Meerdink, e-mail, 01.02.2022 03:34

From June 53 to Nov 55 at Charleston, SC. Worked on 119's as a crew chief and flight engineer. The aircraft was changed from clam shell to beaver tail during that time. Our special mission began when we arrived in Japan (just outside Tokyo). We were known as the "Balloon Chasers".

Does anyone remember the Nov 53 accident at Fort Bragg?? Seems the reported circumstances were changed. Did not report the real reason for the aircraft that went through the jumpers. Surely there is a crew member that has the truth.

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DENNIS Boerger, e-mail, 15.01.2021 20:59

Was the cargo area large enough to carry a couple of truck or jeeps?

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Skip, e-mail, 01.02.2022 DENNIS Boerger

No. The commander's Buick fit in nicely. One truck and maybe two jeeps.

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marinerg6, e-mail, 03.01.2021 18:13

The highly-successful C-119 was basically an improvement upon the C-82 with more-powerful engines and the flight deck moved forward to improve pilot visibility from the cockpit. In fact, the Air Force was originally going to label the C-119 as the "C-82B". However, the airplane's appearance was so greatly altered that it was given a whole new designation.

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Murray Stollman, e-mail, 02.09.2020 20:02

I was stationed at Ashiya AFB, 816th TCS, as radio operator and OJT loadmaster and earned my wings in C-119G's from 1954-56 servicing the USAF needs in Asia. In March, 1955, on takeoff from Tachikawa AFB at 60mph our starboard prop reversed pitch sending us off the active across the grass. Very fast action by our left seat, who reversed the port prop and got us stopped. We spent 30 days working in the prop lab to prove what the problem was that had caused 3 other C-119Gs to crash with loss of lives: The hydraulic fluid in the regulators had been contaminated crossing the Pacific Ocean without being preserved with cosmoline or sealed so lost viscosity. All C-119Gs went on AOCP until new regulators were shipped to Japan to replace our bad ones. That was just one of a bunch of hairy stories i could tell if anyone is interested(including the first c-119 to land on an island beach just 3 miles from North Korea to deliver cigarettes + more).

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charles e pfeiffer, e-mail, 29.02.2020 20:47

my aircraft c119f was build in hagertown Maryland mmfg fairhiller s n 517994

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Bill Heaphy, e-mail, 06.02.2018 06:10

Recently came across a scrapbook of a C-119 Radio Operator during the Korean Conflict at a second hand store. His name was Gerald Highet (now deceased) and photos show he was attached to the 50th TCS at Ashiya, Japan and various bases in Korea. His final assignment was at Paine Field, WA.. Is there a 50th TCS reunion group that might be interested in this mans history on the Boxcar? My days at the 65th TCS in Muskogee, OK were not so hazardous. TIA

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Vance Kirkpatrick, e-mail, 09.05.2022 Bill Heaphy

In about 1953 I was an AD in the Navy on Kwajalein. The Air Force left a c119 with mag drop for us to fix. It had a 4360 engine with seven double mags. to us it was a nightmare to fix.

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Cecil Oglesby, e-mail, 02.12.2017 22:23

I have a dinner plate that depicts a C-119 and a C-123. Don't remember where I got it and don't know why it exists.
Marked "Fairchild Aircraft" "Hagerstown, Maryland.
Kettle Springs Kiln Alliance Ohio. Information?

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Ray Sanderford, e-mail, 07.10.2017 07:23

The Kaiser Co. of Willow Run, Mich. built 71 of the C-119's in the old Ford B-24 factory. These had the R-3350 Engines; the ones built by Fairchild in Maryland had the 4360 engines.

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Frank Warner, e-mail, 03.07.2017 08:17

My uncle, Carl J. Dorsey, was an Air Force mechanic on a C-119 flying supplies from Japan to South Koren during the Korean War. He was killed when the plane he was in was shot down by friendly fire on June 2, 1951.

How can I find out more about his group, and who else was on board with him when the plane was shot down. I see by old pictures they named his plane the "Little Billie." I don't know why.

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Bill Heaphy, e-mail, 20.06.2017 03:22

Stood ready to defend Muskogee, Oklahoma at Davis Field with 26th TCS USAFR 1964-65. Flew as Flight Engineer with some great people. AC was not listening to Navigator one afternoon and he dropped late. Bulls eyed a small waterhole causing cows to haul butt downwind. Captured at least 4 bovines in canopy that collapsed downwind. SecDef McNamara closed that outfit down later. Lots of fun and experience. Retired as 747 Captain 17 years ago.

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CHARLES E PFEIFFER, e-mail, 19.06.2017 18:30

I was a crew cheif on C119F s /n 517994 with 3350- 75 engines it had prt 3 each water injection also .my friend s /sgt ernest v crabtree had was crew cheif and engineer his ac s / was 517993 which crash in 1953 out of bolling afb , crash was in maryland . never found out for the cause of its crash. hope you can tell me?

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Bob Short, e-mail, 30.04.2017 03:12

Forgot mention, I was in the 50TCS /36TCS at Ashiya, Japan. 1953-1955.

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Bob Short, e-mail, 30.04.2017 03:07

I need to know the cockpit decibel level during flight. I flew as a radio operator for two years on C-119c and C-199G models. Have been denied claim for hearing loss and tinnitus by the VA. Need proof of decibels.

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ken taylor, e-mail, 21.09.2021 Bob Short

Hi Bob, I am working on a hearing claim for a vet. Did you ever get approved for hearing loss due to the c-119?

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Fran Koebert, e-mail, 31.01.2022 ken taylor

I was a flight line crew chief and engineer on c119g aircraft with 1000 hours in the air as a crew member. I developed both tinnitus and hearing loss. There was no sound proof in that aircraft and the decibels were way over 100 because you had to yell to communicate. The head set had to be turned all the way up it was so loud. In the jump seat next to the puttputt on the A deck the noise was horrible.

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raymond perez, e-mail, 23.03.2017 03:02

I trying to find news of the crash near Nashville Ky of a c119 crash that took off from fort Cambell,Ky with paratroopers on board about Jan 15,1955

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Mike Mansfield, e-mail, 01.03.2017 03:56

My dad, Sgt. William J. Mansfield,was a crew chief on a C119 out of El Toro. He was killed in a bar fight at The Bar Red Lip November 1956. Is there anyone out there that knew him?

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tom cotter, e-mail, 29.03.2016 13:31

In my 10 years of service, I only flew twice in a C-130...
(NTC, Barstow,Ca;`round trip').
But I enjoy these classic workhorses.... even over fighters or bombers.
The C-119 was a design anomality that fit into that rare place in aviation that will never come again. Evolving from
a disposable glider into a light tactical cargo carrier....
the variants we're literally developed on-station for what ever was needed. Be it an air ambulance, airborne troop wagon, gunship even a spacecraft recovery vehicle?
DOD or defense contractors will never do this again.
It was a kind of 'barnstorming' approach to aircraft development.
In an age of orbital reconnaissance and strategic drones, the 'boxcar' still inspires a 'blue collar independence' that makes living very interesting.

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Michel Verheughe, e-mail, 03.03.2016 13:52

My father flew the first Belgian C-119 OT-CAC in October 1952. I try now to reproduce it for the flight simulator X-Plane. I have some photos of the aircraft from the museum in Brussels but I wonder about the cockpit. E.g. how were the parking brakes activated? If anybody still remember how to fly this aircraft, please contact me. My father passed away in 1986 and I don't know anybody I could contact from here. Thanks in advance.

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charles E. swinson, e-mail, 18.01.2016 04:42

I,sp3rd class,1955 fort Campbell KY(503rd 11th abn(hells angels(don't knock the rock-was stationed,after(1955)warner kasern,leopold strasa-1958-army medic.now(71yrs of age.503rd 11th abn.now live in Fayetteville,n.c.ph#910-423-5971 /who-or.Airborne.

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