Canadian Warplanes 5: Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

(RCAF Photo via Mike Kaehler)

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars taxi out for take off loaded with paratroops during Op Char I, at Goose Bay, Labrador. Note the Hercules in the background.

(RCAF Photo via Ken Hennessey)

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, RCAF (Serial No. 22115), over the prairies in 1957.

Fairchild C-119F Flying Boxcar (35), (Serial Nos. 22101-22135).

The Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar was a military transport aircraft developed from the Second World War era Fairchild C-82 Packet.  It was designed to carry cargo, personnel, litter patients, and mechanized equipment, and to drop cargo and troops by parachute.  The first C-119 made its initial flight in November 1947, and by the time production ceased in 1955, more than 1,100 C-119s had been built.  Its cargo-hauling ability and unusual twin-boom design earned it the nickname "Flying Boxcar".  The RCAF received 35 new C-119Fs delivered from 1953, later upgraded to C-119G standard.

(RCAF Photo via Mike Kaehler_

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, clamshell cargo doors open to unload a Canadian Army Willys jeep.

(Henk Schakelaar)

Fairchild CC-119 Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22101).  Built as USAF (Serial No. 51-2687), this aircraft was delivered to Canada in Sept 1952 as a C-119F.  It was converted to a C-119G.  It was struck off charge in 1967 and sold to Aircraft International Associates (USA), Reg. No. N15505.  It was later used in the restoration of a US Marine Corps C-119.

(RCAF Photo via Mike Kaehler)

Fairchild CC-119 Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22110), No. 435 Squadron. Depending on when the photo was taken, the squadron was either based at RCAF Station Edmonton followed by RCAF Station Namao, Alberta.

(RCAF Photo via Chris Charland)

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars and C-130 Hercules aircraft at RCAF Station Goose Bay, Labrador, during a major airlift exercise in support of the Canadian Army.

(DND Photo via Chris Charland)

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, RCAF (Serial No. 22126), possibly Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, ca 1950s.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584722)

Fairchild C-119F Flying Boxcar, (Serial No. 22101), 22 Sep 1952.  

(DND Photo via James Craik)

Fairchild C-119F Flying Boxcar, (Serial No. 22101).

(DND Photo via Chris Charland)

Fairchild C-119F Flying Boxcar, (Serial No. 22122), with the Electronic Warfare Unit based at RCAF Station St. Hubert, Quebec along with an Avro CF-100 Canuck Mk. 5C (Serial No. 18772).

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584721)

Fairchild C-119F Flying Boxcar, RCAF (Serial No. 22102), 22 Sep 1952.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3228256)

Fairchild C-119F Flying Boxcars, (Serial Nos. 22101 and 22102), No. 435 Squadron, 22 Sep 1952.

(DND Photo via James Craik)

Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar, RCAF (Serial No. 22102), UN, late 1956.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3951061)

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, RCAF (Serial No. 22102),  ca 1958.

(RCAF Photo)

Fairchild C-119F Flying Boxcar, RCAF (Serial No. 22104).

(RCAF Photo via Mike Kaehler)

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22106).

(DND Photo via Mike Kaehler)

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22106), No. 435 Squadron, doing a run-up at Resolute Bay.

(RCAF Photo)

Fairchild C-119F Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22110), dropping supplies.

(RCAF Photo)

Fairchild C-119F Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22110), loading paratroopers for a cold winter drop, c1963.

(DND Photo via James Craik)

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22110).

(RCAF Photo)

Fairchild C-119F Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22110), in flight.

(DND Photo via James Craik and Shaun Mullins)

Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar, RCAF (Serial No. 22111) cn 10776, later Reg. No. N8093, Hagerstown Aviation Museum, Maryland.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584858)

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, RCAF (Serial No. 22112).

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584861)

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, RCAF (Serial No. 22112).

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3585147)

Fairchild C-119 Boxcar, RCAF (Serial No. 22117), Air Force Day, Rockecliff, Ontario, 1955.

(RCAF Photo)

Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22120), c/n 1087 of the Central Experimental and Proving Establishment (CEPE),  Uplands, Ottawa.

(RCAF Photo via Mike Kaehler)

Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22120), c/n 1087, coded PX-120, of the Central Experimental and Proving Establishment (CEPE),  Uplands, Ottawa, 4 May 1961, later Reg No. N961S.

(RCAF Photo)

Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22120), coded PX-120.

(Historic Edmonton Photo)

Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar over Edmonton, Alberta, ca 1950s.

(DND Photo via Francois Dutil)

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22133) in the NWT.

(DND Photo via Francois Dutil)

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22127) in the NWT.

(DND Photo via Francois Dutil)

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22123) in the NWT.

(DND Photo via Francois Dutil)

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22123) in the NWT.

(Peter Behring Photo)

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22127).

(RCAF Photo via Mike Kaehler)

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, RCAF (Serial No. 22133) being loaded through the front and rear doors at North Luffenham, England.

(RCAF Photo via Mike Kaehler)

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, RCAF (Serial No. 22133) being loaded through the front and rear doors at North Luffenham, England.

(DND Photo via James Craik)

Fairchild C-119F Flying Boxcars (Serial Nos. 22129, 22133 and 22009), 435 & 436 Squadrons, Rivers, Manitoba.

(RCAF photo via Fred Paradie)

Fairchild C-119F Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22133), Resolute Bay, Northwest Territories.  This aircraft was retired and went on to fly in the civilian world as Reg. No. N383S, with Hawkins & Powers in Wyoming as Tanker No. 133.

(DND Photo via James Craik)

Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22134), with Army personnel wait to board one of the twenty C-119 aircraft taking part in Exercise Globetrotter, which simulated an actual operation anyplace in the world. 1958 at London, Ontario airport.

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Although none are preserved in Canada, quite a few former RCAF C-119s have been preserved in the USA.

Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22101), Fort Campbell, Clarksville, Tennessee.

(RCAF Photos via Mike Kaehler)

Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22103), No. 435 Squadron, RCAF, in UN markings at Abu Suweir Airport, Egypt. 22103 is being refuelled by Egyptians while being unloaded by Swedes.

Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22103), ex-USAF (Serial No. 51-2689), c/n 10678, Reg. No. N8092, 03, now on display at the National Warplane Museum, Geneseo, New York.

(Martin McGuire Photo)

Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22105),  painted as a USAF C-119G (Serial No. 51-2680), Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, Niagara Falls, New York.

(Author Photo)

Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22106), c/n 10773, Tanker 06, Reg. No. N5215, Museum of Flight and Aerial Firefighting, Greybull, Wyoming.  Reg. No. N3003.  Pride Capital Group, Deerfield, Illinois.

Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22107), painted as USAF (Serial No. 52-2107), Hill Aerospace Museum, Hill AFB, Roy, Utah.

Fairchild C-119F Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22108), Museum of Flight and Aerial Firefighting, Greybull, Wyoming.

(Author Photo)

Fairchild C-119F Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22111), Hagerstown Aviation Museum, Hagerstown, Maryland.

(Author Photo)

Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22113), Tanker 136, Reg. No. N5216R.  Museum of Flight and Aerial Firefighting, Greybull, Wyoming.

(Alan Wilson Photo)

Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22114), Aerospace Museum of California, McClelland, California.

Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22116), Fort Benning, Columbus, Georgia.

(AMCM Photo)

Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22118), painted as USAF (Serial No. 51-2881), Air Mobility Command Museum at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware.

(Tony Clarke Photo)

Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22122), painted as USAF (Serial No. 51-0906), March Field Air Museum, Riverside, California.

(RCAF Photo via Daniel White)

Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22130),  (Serial No. 10955), currently Reg. No. N15501.

(Alan Wilson Photo)

Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22130),  (Serial No. 10955), N15501, Lauridsen Aviation Museum, Buckeye, Arizona.

(Alan Wilson Photo)

Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22134), USAF (Serial No. 53-22134), Travis AFB Heritage Centre, Travis AFB, Fairfield, California.

Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22135), Museum of Flight and Aerial Firefighting, Greybull, Wyoming.

(DND Photo via James Craik)

Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22113), Blue Lightning Bolt, used for Electronic Warfare.

(DND Photo, PL 101513)

Fairchild C-119F Flying Boxcar (Serial No. 22110) dropping supplies from the forward belly hatch in support fo an Army exercise near Quebec City, 4 Feb 1955.

(DND Photo)

Fairchild C-119F Flying Boxcar, clamshell doors open/

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