Found! Daughter of World War II Veteran Locates His Douglas C-47 in the Midwest, Part 3: The Journey to Find the Aircraft in St. Louis

By Carmelo Turdo

The story of Jenny Nunn Brawley's search for the Douglas C-47 her father, Major Thomas E. Nunn, flew in Europe during his USAAF service in World War II continues with a look at the aircraft and how it was found in the St. Louis area. The trail took some twists and turns along the way, but with tenacity and help from the aviation community around the world, she found the aircraft where it had been sitting idle for years. 

The aircraft found in St. Louis was discovered during the search for another Douglas C-47, Tug Boat Annie, flown by Major Nunn during the D-Day airborne assault and in support of Allied Forces in Holland as mentioned in Part 2 of this series. He was serving with the 76th Troop Carrier Squadron, part of the 435th Troop Carrier Group. Jenny Nunn Brawley tells the story in her own words:
   

"The search for this plane started a while back when I started conversing with Hans den Brok in the Netherlands. He has written books about the Airborne Operations in WWII, especially Operation Market Garden (Holland invasion). He sent me a photograph of my Dad’s plane, Tug Boat Annie, that I had never seen. I asked him if there was any way to find out if that plane was still around. He traced it to Vietnam Airlines and it has seemingly dropped out of sight after 1971. So I put that behind me and never gave it another thought."

In recent months, she discovered a letter from her dad to her mother, Anabel, dated September 28, 1944. In this letter, written just following participation in Operation Market Garden in Holland, Major Nunn mentions that he received a new aircraft. It is also during this time that Tug Boat Annie, flown by another crew, was damaged by flak, injuring the radio operator. She found this passage in the letter:

"I snatched a new airplane today – it’s a beauty with all the latest gadgets.  By the time I get all the homemade gadgets from Tug Boat Annie installed, I’ll have some 'rigged-up' airplane. The name is all settled – Miss Anabel Lee.”   

This new information was sent back to Hans den Brok, who continued to research the identity of the second aircraft. He researched war records from the 435th Troop Carrier Group and found the military serial number 43-48719 listed with Major Nunn and his crew. From there, the records of C-47B 43-48719, now civilian registered as DC-3C N68CW, were followed to the current owner and location. One twist to the story, however, was experienced when the current owner was identified as being within the Washington, D.C. area, a short commute. Jenny Nunn Brawley wrote a letter to the owner's business in September, but she did not receive a reply. She even went to several small airports in Maryland to look for it.  

She was back on the trail, searching the internet for the aircraft's civil registration and finding several more photos. Some of those photos were posted by The Aero Experience, showing the aircraft on the apron at St. Louis Downtown Airport. In that post, the DC-3 was being towed across the apron to the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum for display at an open house event. Following confirmation that the aircraft was still in St. Louis (it had never been physically acquired by the new owner due to company financial difficulties and the large investment needed to make it commercially airworthy), Jenny Nunn Brawley contacted the previous owner and caretaker of the aircraft, Aviation Business Corporation, to set up a visit to St. Louis. Initial coverage of her visit to the aircraft was featured in Part 1 of this series.

Museum Open House, June 2012

CF-BXY getting repainted, Feb. 15, 1982, Fort St John,

British Columbia. (Photo courtesy of Stephen Aubury)

Records of the DC-3's service life following demobilization resume in the 1960s forward as N2768A, flying cargo in Canada and Alaska. In 1966 she was named Something Special.  She was owned briefly by a Colorado company and then an oil drilling company - Knight's Rathole Drilling. The aircraft was exported to Canada as CF-BXY and operated by North Cariboo Air in the early 1980s, transporting hunters to remote camps, and then to Sabourin Lake Airlines for freight operations. While with Sabourin Lake Airlines, she was pictured on a postcard in 1994. She was sold to an owner in Texas as N68CW in 1999, and was used to fly auto parts to factories in Mexico. The aircraft had been with the St. Louis owner since 2007, and as mentioned above, remains following its sale in 2016. It is currently again for sale, though it will take some investment to restore her for a ferry flight. 

Currently, the DC-3 remains at the north end of the apron at St. Louis Downtown Airport in faded North Cariboo Air colors. Below are some views of the aircraft over the last few years.

Jenny Nunn Brawley visited St. Louis Downtown Airport to see her father's wartime aircraft on December 15. The Aero Experience was privileged to be a part of her visit and record these moments aboard the aircraft. It was an emotional experience for her to board the aircraft her father flew during the height of World War II, especially when seated in the cockpit's left pilot seat. It would take a little imagination to transform the faded Canadian airline colors into the olive drab of the USAAF's 76th Troop Carrier Squadron, and the interior airline seats into paratrooper benches. But it was not difficult to imagine that this very aircraft still retained the heart of Major Nunn's Miss Anabel Lee as it was known in 1944-1945. She spent some time just looking over the aircraft interior, sitting in the cockpit and passenger seats, probing for evidence of wartime service and learning about the modifications made over the years (such as removal of the radio operator's station). Here we show the visit aboard the aircraft that day. 

         

The aircraft was still set up in a sparse, utilitarian arrangement, able to transport people or cargo as needed. During the visit to the aircraft, Jenny Nunn Brawley wanted to capture some iconic moments of remembrance in these images to honor her father's wartime service.
  

Following the tour of the aircraft, it was time for Jenny Nunn Brawley to close the cargo door and take another look around the aging Douglas DC-3 as it sat forlornly on the apron. The fading paint and missing elevators and ailerons were the more obvious condition problems, but these signs of wear also uncovered the scars of it's service to the nation and later with the civilian operators. Evidence of skin repairs and even a new right wing, nothing unusual for a workhorse DC-3, were visible to even to the casual observer. Flaws and all, she was beautiful in her own way. And this day, Jenny Nunn Brawley, daughter of Major Thomas E. Nunn of the 76th Troop Carrier Squadron, 435th Troop Carrier Group, found and climbed aboard Miss Anabel Lee.

The Aero Experience thanks Jenny Nunn Brawley, Aviation Business Corporation and those mentioned above who contributed historic information used to find Major Thomas E. Nunn's USAAF C-47B, Miss Anabel Lee. Check back soon for Part 4 of this series featuring Major Nunn's post war career and family life.

Found! Daughter of World War II Veteran Locates His Douglas C-47 in the Midwest, Part 2: Major Thomas E. Nunn

By Carmelo Turdo

Jenny Nunn Brawley's search for her father's World War II-era C-47B transport aircraft, as introduced in Part 1 of this series, was more than just a curiosity about a 74-year-old warbird. The aircraft is a tangible part of the wartime service of Major Thomas E. Nunn, who in this and similar aircraft, flew critical missions to help liberate much of Europe. He served as a glider tow and resupply cargo plane pilot with the 76th Troop Carrier Squadron of the 435th Troop Carrier Group for the Allied D-Day Invasion of Normandy, the Invasion of Southern France, the airborne assault on German forces in Holland, the resupply of Allied forces in Belgium and the rescue of Allied forces during the Battle of the Bulge. Major Nunn served as the squadron Operations Officer and held a group staff assignment during those critical years of the war. He was also a devoted newlywed, who kept his bride informed of his situation as much as possible with frequent letters.  

Thomas E. Nunn was commissioned as a U.S. Army Reserve 2Lt on May 27, 1940 following college graduation. He first served at a Fourth Corps Quartermaster depot and was recommended for further active duty the following year after receiving an "Excellent" review. He was promoted to 1Lt in February of 1942 and transferred to the U.S. Army Air Forces in March. He went to flight training and received his wings in November of that year.

During this time, the U.S. involvement in World War II was ramping up, and the need for air transport of Allied invasion forces for future operations was being addressed with the activation of the 76th Troop Carrier Squadron at Bowman Field, KY. The squadron had several stateside stations in 1943, including Sedalia Army Air Field, MO, Pope Field, NC and Baer Field, IN, before making the move to RAF Langer, England in November. During this training period, Thomas Nunn married his sweetheart, Anabel, on July 25, 1943. Newly promoted Captain Thomas Nunn was then involved in the overseas migration of a squadron of Douglas C-53 and C-47 cargo planes - a significant achievement for these young pilots. But after making stops in West Palm Beach, FL, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Brazil and Marrakech, the squadron was in place.

In early 1944, the squadron moved again to RAF Welford Park, where it would remain for about a year. Thomas Nunn was now a Major, and as Squadron Operations Officer he had been involved in preparing the crews for what would become major combat operations. Though he was flying a little less than in previous months, Major Nunn did name his C-47 Tug Boat Annie and flew in an aerial salute to General Eisenhower and Prime Minister Winston Churchill in April of that year.      

A series of epic battles was coming quickly for the 76th TCS, and Major Nunn was at the forefront of the operations. First was Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of France. He was briefing officer for the first of a series of crew meetings starting on June 2, 1944, and sounded the order to prepare for takeoff the night of June 5. Major Nunn flew in the lead aircraft of the next wave of glider tow formations on the evening of June 6th, returning in the early hours of the morning. Resupply missions were flown later in the month, the aircraft returning with the wounded troops. 

Major Nunn, sitting, with his crew in 1944

By mid-July, the squadron detached to Tarquinia Airfield, Italy to prepare for the next operation: the Allied Invasion of Southern France. During that time, the 76th TCS was attached to the Provisional Troop Carrier Air Division under the direct command of Lt. General Ira Eaker, who visited the base August 7. On August 15, 1944, Major Nunn led a glider towing formation in what was codenamed Operation Bluebird. This mission was cancelled as it approached the landing zone, and the formation returned to base. Another similar but complete mission was flown later that day. The 435h TCG was unique in towing the British Horsa gliders, a challenging mission completed through the sheer skill of the C-47 and British glider crews. On August 16, Major Nunn flew on Operation Eagle, flying the Number 10 position on a "milk run" parachute resupply mission to southern France. Then it was back to RAF Welford Park, and resupply missions to Allied troops in Belgium. 

It wasn't long until the next major campaign, Operation Market Garden, began with the airborne assault into Holland. On three consecutive days, September 17-19, 1944, Major Nunn flew glider tow and resupply missions, and the 76th TCS continued to support the operation. Tug Boat Annie was hit with flak on one mission, injuring the radio operator. It was during this period that he received a new plane, which he named Miss Anabel Lee, again after the bride he left behind over a year prior. The new aircraft, and the new name, were mentioned in a letter to Anabel dated September 28, 1944:
     
"I snatched a new airplane today - it's a beauty with all the latest gadgets. By the time I get all the homemade gadgets from Tug Boat Annie installed, I'll have some 'rigged-up' airplane. The name is all settled - Miss Anabel Lee."

This aircraft, C-47B serial number 43-48719, is the subject of his daughter's recent search that led her to St. Louis last month. The visit of Jenny Nunn Brawley to see the aircraft in its current location will be covered in more detail in Part 3 of this series.

The 76th TCS continued to fly resupply missions through October and November, and Major Nunn was able to get a few days leave and some travel to Paris on squadron business. He writes in a November 15th letter: "My crew chief had a little taxi accident with Anabel Lee this morning. She will be 'out' for a few days for a new wing." 

In December 1944 he was transferred to 435th Troop Carrier Group staff, and was involved with new mission planning for the group. He writes that he sees the end of the line for the C-47 class aircraft, and he was checked out in other aircraft types such as the B-24. In late December, crews of the 76th TCS participated in emergency resupply missions of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, saving Allied forces from encirclement and defeat during the German counterattack. Miss Anabel Lee was flown by other crews during these missions, and came back safely each time. The squadron was redeployed to Bretigny-sur-Orne, France in February of 1945 to support Allied forces sweeping through Germany until the end of hostilities in Europe. Demobilization quickly brought the squadron stateside, and the 76th TCS was deactivated in November. Major Nunn was discharged from active duty December 7, 1945 and later flew for a major airline.

We will pick up the story of Jenny Nunn Brawley's search for her father's aircraft in Part 3 of this series coming soon on The Aero Experience. As mentioned previously, she located and visited one of these aircraft, formerly known as Miss Anabel Lee, in St. Louis in December. Here are a few photos included in honor of her father, Major Thomas E. Nunn.

Found! Daughter of World War II Veteran Locates His Douglas C-47 in the Midwest, Part 1: The St. Louis Connection

By Carmelo Turdo

The Douglas DC-3/C-47 family of aircraft has been serving the civil airlines and military forces of the U.S. and countries around the world since entering operational service on June 26, 1936 with American Airlines. A development of the Douglas DC-2 that began commercial service with TWA in 1934 as a rival to the Boeing 247, the DC-3 and various follow-on models have assumed a deserved place in the history of aviation as an example of a timeless aircraft design. Throughout its service as the standard airliner of a generation (over 600 built) and the first practical military air transport (about 10,300 built in the U.S.), the DC-3/C-47 has exceeded the expectations set by the Douglas Aircraft Company. Even today, the best replacement for a Douglas DC-3 is often another DC-3. The fact that there are still DC-3/C-47s in service attests to the capabilities of the original design.

The story of one C-47 intersects at various points throughout the world, currently meeting at St. Louis Downtown Airport in Cahokia, IL. One 1943 C-47B, now re-licensed as a DC-3C N68CW and carrying the construction number 25980, has been sitting on the apron in various stages of airworthiness for over a decade. In a former lifetime, as USAAF serial number 43-48719, it was produced by the Douglas Aircraft Company at the Oklahoma City facility and served valiantly in resupply missions during the Battle of the Bulge and other historic World War II engagements. And yet, the story of this aircraft and her crew would not be told today if not for the daughter of one of the pilots who happened to be looking for her father's wartime aircraft. The lady who has researched her father's wartime service, and found the aircraft sitting right here in the Midwest, is Jenny Nunn Brawley, whose father, Major Thomas E. Nunn, flew this very C-47 from September of 1944 until the end of the war in Europe. The aircraft, named Miss Anabel Lee after Major Nunn's newlywed bride, was later acquired by civilian operators in the U.S. and Canada. Jenny Nunn Brawley recently visited the aircraft at St. Louis Downtown Airport, and The Aero Experience was honored to be there to share her experience.

Major Thomas E. Nunn and Jenny Nunn Brawley

In a series of reports over the coming weeks, we will continue the story of Jenny Nunn Brawley's journey to find her father's Douglas C-47 Miss Anabel Lee that was here in the Midwest all along. We will retrace the missions over Europe that were flown in this aircraft, and get a unique look at the wartime service of a veteran pilot who helped win World War II for the Allies. In the process, we will learn more about the Greatest Generation and how their heroism saved the world from tyranny.

Jenny Nunn Brawley visited her father's C-47 at St. Louis Downtown Airport on December 15, and The Aero Experience accompanied her on the aircraft and during lunch that afternoon. We thank her and the former owner of the aircraft for making this visit enjoyable and for permission to post these photos of the visit. 

  

Check back soon for our next post in this series as we continue our coverage of Jenny Nunn Brawley's search for her father's World War II aircraft, and how she ultimately found it here in the Midwest! 

Happy New Year From The Aero Experience Team!

The Aero Experience Team wishes everyone a very Happy New Year! We hope you have enjoyed sharing our Midwest Aviation adventures and have relived some of the best stories of 2017 with us throughout December on our Facebook page. We are preparing for another year of Celebrating Midwest Aviation, with lots of great stories and some surprises coming along the way. We thank our sponsors and advertisers for their support, and we appreciate our readers and those who have participated in our stories, events and projects - you are all essential to the survival and growth of the Midwest Aviation community and all that it contributes to the well-being of the region, the nation and the world.

Again, Thank You, and Happy New Year!