Douglas C-47 Skytrain

Developed from the Douglas DC-3, the C-47 Skytrain was used extensively by the United States Air Force and the Allies in World War II, remaining in front line operations through the 1950's.

In the Books
In 1959, under the guise of Himalayan Air Services, the CIA gathered 14 C-47s in Burma as part of a paramilitary support effort in response to Langston Overholt III's request, 4 of which had been converted to gunships. Unfortunately, President Eisenhower denied the CIA permission to mobilize.