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There is very little literature on the Fairchild C-119s and no reference books on the individual C-119 histories. This page is an attempt to learn a little more about "the Dollar Nineteen". I would welcome contributions from anyone with some first hand experience on these airplanes.
Graham Robson sent me this image and explained:
"Thought you might like these, as part of your string on N3276U. These shots are of the C-119 that didn't make it to Namibia for that movie, but was ready to go.
131706 had been a resident of South Western Alloys since at least 1982, when I first visited Tucson and there it remained, until the movie project emerged, when it moved across to DMI. This is where these pics were taken, the first in April 2004, at which time Don Howell of DMI did say the aircraft fuselage was originally meant to go to Africa but the movie producers then said they didn't need this one...
By April 2006, when I took the other pictures, it is interesting to see that the nose numbers had been over-painted. The fuselage pod was still there in April of 2007, when I last visited."
More about C-119s used for Flight of the Phoenix click HERE...
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Douglas sent me this C-119 photo, asking me to help with the identification.
The tailnumber N801W has been painted on, rather crudely. The photo was made by Steve Robbins at Eloy,AZ on 12Apr1980.
I hope someone can help me on its construction number and what happened to it.
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I browsed to 1979 - 1983 (Vol. 1-18) of Propliner magazine, but found no images of this N801W.
Bob Reid offered the following theory:
"I am wondering if the date on the photo may be incorrect?
N801W has always been registered to a Beech 65!
The aircraft in the accident as shown below was a drug runner and I recall this
accident well, as I was working for the State of Arizona as an investigator..
The
C-119 exploded on impact, as it was filled with 55gal barrels full of avgas. There wasn't much left.
The N number on the photo taken by Steve may have been fictitious?
NTSB Identification: LAX79FA059 - 14 CFR Part 91 General Aviation
Event occurred Sunday, July 08, 1979 in CASA GRANDE, AZ
Aircraft: FAIRCHILD C-119L, registration: N1040E
Departure point: Chandler,AZ.
Type of accident: no.1 engine failure during flight cruise, emergency landing, made an intentional wheels up landing off airport in open field, fire broke out after impact.
Note: no mention of the operator. See also ASN report.
Fact remains that the date is earlier than the alleged date of photography and quoted tailnumber is different than the N801W roughly painted on.
Images of N1040E to compare? N1040E was also a Lockheed Learstar, see 1970 photo. |
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I thought you might enjoy what Jay Carter wrote me:
"I flew mostly out of Anchorage from 1977 to 1984. In particular, the C-119 Boxcar N9027K was one of the airplanes
that got my attention.
In the summer of 1982 I flew that one along with 5 others that belonged to Jack Gifford's Flying Service.
Late in the season, I was departing Dillingham at about 3 am for ANC. We used to carry up to 24,000 pounds of fish, but we only had about 18,000 this night. It was September, so it was dark at 3 am now. The 30 inch check on run-up came up just a
wee bit short of the 2600 RPM that is supposed to show at 30 mg... But it was close.
So we let off the brakes and rolled for takeoff. Right about V1, FO Ken Johannssen, calls out that the number two is failing! It still showed positive BMEP, so there was really no choice but to rotate and go...
Number 2 indeed was working itself backward, so I called for "Throttle, mix, prop, feather, check for feather, check for fire". Checklist complete, started my turn back, and Ken says "yep, she's on fire"... 
We had fire bottles on those. It's also incredibly loud at takeoff in a 119, even with one in feather. It climbed, but not much. Went downwind at about 300 ft. I knew the airport well enough to make a visual turn to a rounded base leg. Rolled onto a short final but couldn't see the runway. There is a river on short final so I knew right where I was but couldn't see the runway. Ken and I
spotted it about the same time, and I was not lined up exactly right. Ken says better go around. No way! I skidded it over, called for gear down, was in the flare, nose gear still up, said don't worry about the nosegear Ken we are gonna live, and right as the mains hit, the nose wheel came down and locked!
Made the first turn off. 
The Boss was there. He said nice job, but I have one question. I asked what?. He said how come you didn't
use the Pilot controlled runway lights here at Dillingham that were installed last year? Dunno boss, I never flew here at night..
I had made the take off without runway lights before so I wasn't too worried about the TO. But it sure would have helped to land!!
True story.
But the best part of my Alaska experience was flying with Merrill Wien in 1977. I see that his son Kent sent some pictures that you
used on your website. The Wien Family were the best and most influential Alaskan aviators that I ever had the pleasure of knowing.
See N9027K  on my Anchorage 2006 report |
Douglas sent me this C-119 photo, asking me to help with the identification.
The tailnumber N801W has been painted on, rather crudely. The photo was made by Steve Robbins at Eloy,AZ on 12Apr1980.
I hope someone can help me on its construction number and what happened to it.
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I browsed to 1979 - 1983 (Vol. 1-18) of Propliner magazine, but found no images of this N801W.
There is no reference of N801W (afaik) in Alwyn T.Lloyd's book about the C-82 packet & C-119 Flying Boxcar; but then the amount of info on the civilian careers of these aircraft is limited.
Bob Reid offered the following theory:
"I am wondering if the date on the photo may be incorrect?
N801W has always been registered to a Beech 65!
The aircraft in the accident as shown below was a drug runner and I recall this
accident well, as I was working for the State of Arizona as an investigator..
The
C-119 exploded on impact, as it was filled with 55gal barrels full of avgas. There wasn't much left.
The N number on the photo taken by Steve may have been fictitious?
NTSB Identification: LAX79FA059 - 14 CFR Part 91 General Aviation
Event occurred Sunday, July 08, 1979 in CASA GRANDE, AZ
Aircraft: FAIRCHILD C-119L, registration: N1040E
Departure point: Chandler,AZ.
Type of accident: no.1 engine failure during flight cruise, emergency landing, made an intentional wheels up landing off airport in open field, fire broke out after impact.
Note: no mention of the operator. See also ASN report.
Fact remains that the date is earlier than the alleged date of photography and quoted tailnumber is different than the N801W roughly painted on.
Images of N1040E to compare? N1040E was also a Lockheed Learstar, see 1970 photo. |
Chuck Lunsford wrote a book about his days as a radio operator onboard the C-119:
 "Departure Message"
He also wrote a novel, featuring the C-119 Flying Boxcar, called "Boxcar Down, the Albanian Incident"
Both books can be bought through Amazon.com
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To email me, click on the image and write the correct adress as given below
(replace -AT- by the @ symbol).
Sorry for the inconvenience, but this is because spam has increasingly become a problem.
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Last updated 9.4.2006
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