Ordered by the USAAF as C-47B 43-48373. Delivered to the US Navy as R4D-6 17259 in 1944. Registered as NC21769 in 1946, N21769 after 1948, N777DG in 1971, N777PG in 1978 and N777YA in 1984. Damaged in an accident at McGrath, AK in 2015 and stored at Palmer, AK. Cancelled from the register in 2018.

The airport at Kotzebue is today named after one of the Wien brothers. This aircraft is ex US Navy R4D-6 Bu17259, which was struck off-charge on 31 Oct 1946 and became NC21769 with Wien Alaska soon thereafter. It was still operational in Alaska (as N777YA) until it crashlanded near McGrath, AK, on 22 Nov 2015. From Oct 1939 until Mar 1942 the registration NC21769 was carried by DST-217A c/n 2149. Photo by: Joel Halpern / University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries

Starting engines to haul a load of steel plate out to a mine.

Arctic-liner with a typical Alaskan reflections in the water, nicely ruined by the rain. Just like the scenic background, and the light conditions for the photo also ruined by the rain.

Named "Arctic Liner"

'A Naval Air Transport Service plane just before departure for Point Barrow.' In the background are C-47s on delivery to Russia. 17259 was delivered to the USN in September 1944 and joined VR-5 in February 1945. This aircraft kept flying in Alaska as N777YA until 2015! Photo from: United States Naval Academy

Acquired by Bush Air Cargo more than a year earlier and operated by them, but titles not yet applied. Still has "44896" clearly visble on the fin (vertically), which indicates that this fin came from DC-3 NC44896 c/n 9665.

This is the only DC-3 in Alaska that is certified to operate with skis and land on frozen lakes.

The only DC-3 in Alaska certified to operate on skis departs Anchorage from Runway 32.

Showing lots of wear and tear which is not surprising from an aircraft that was built in 1944. This DC-3 is still airworthy and was loaded up with freight later in the day for a delivery.

You don't see too many ski-equipped C-47's. Triple Seven Yankee Alpha had been stored for quite some time at Palmer and had seen several changes of ownership but kept the 'Woods Air Service' titles. Its career took off again in 2007 and ended with Bush Air Cargo in 2015 due to a landing accident, still in the same colours.