When I started researching and writing China’s Wings, I expected the world famous DC-3 to be my favorite airplane in the story, and I read a stack of books lauding its excellence. But the deeper I delved into the story, the more I came to appreciate its predecessor, the much less renowned DC-2. For the China National Aviation Corporation, the DC-3 was an evolution — the revolution had come with the DC-2.
And so here’s a gallery of photos honoring the DC-2 (they enlarge pretty well if you click on the individual pics):
The DC-2 comes to China, CNAC’s first DC-2 arriving at Lunghwa Airport, 1935
The DC-2 arrives in China
Coming ashore
DC-2 center section
CNAC’s first DC-2, assembled and ready to fly
CNAC’s first DC-2 crew: Hewitt Mitchell and Moon Fun Chin (with three airport porters)
CNAC DC-2 at a passenger terminal
CNAC’s first DC-2 over the Shanghai Bund on her maiden flight, 1935
Maiden flight over Shanghai, 1935
Maiden flight over the Shanghai Bund, 1935
DC-2 over Lunghwa Pagoda, 1935
CNAC promotional poster, 1936 or 1937 (cnac.org)
Edward P Howard drawing
Repairing a DC-2 tail wheel, 1935 or ’36
Loading a DC-2, probably at Chengdu, 1936
Hand fueling a DC-2, 1936
CNAC hangar at Lunghwa Airport, on the Whangpoo River
DC-2 on Sanhupa Airstrip in Chungking, 1938
A DC-2 in Pan Am livery
Salvaging Woody’s DC-2, shot down by the Japanese, 1938
When I started researching and writing China’s Wings, I expected the world famous DC-3 to be my favorite airplane in the story, and I read a stack of books lauding its excellence. But the deeper I delved into the story, the more I came to appreciate its predecessor, the much less renowned DC-2. For the China National Aviation Corporation, the DC-3 was an evolution — the revolution had come with the DC-2.
