Sunset Park in Santa Monica in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Douglas DC-3
“Spirit of Santa Monica”
The aircraft on display was built here at Santa Monica Airport and delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps as a C-53-DO on February 17, 1942. Its initial role was as a 28-seat paratrooper and glider tug.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Powerplant: Two Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 Twin Wasp 14-cylinder radials with a takeoff rating of 1,050 hp and a maximum rating of 1,200 hp at 7,500 feet
Wingspan: 95 feet
Wing Area: 987 square feet
Length: 63 feet, 9 inches
Empty Weight: 18,000 lbs
Loaded Weight: 26,000 lbs
Maximum Weight: 31,000 lbs
Maximum Speed: 230 mph @8,800 feet
Cruising Speed: 160 mph
Stall Speed: 67 mph
HISTORY OF THIS AIRCRAFT
February 17, 1942: Delivered to the USAAC as 41_20107
February 21, 1942: Transferred to the US Navy as a R4D-3 as BuAer No. 05075
August 31, 1946: Retired from military service, purchased by Nationwide Airlines as DC-3 tail # NC1075M
December 1, 1953: Purchased by Richfield Oil Company
April 4, 1956: Reregistered as N60R
Fall of 1957: Reregistered as N596AR to Atlantic Refining Company
May 1970: Reregistered to Atlantic Richfield Company of Philadelphia
By 1985: Stored at Sonoma County Airport
Spring of 1989: Displayed at the Museum of Flying, Santa Monica, on loan from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
May 1, 1997: Purchased by David G. Price from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
October 6, 2004: Donated to the City of Santa Monica by David G. Price
June, 2005: Restoration team begins work on the "Spirit of Santa Monica"
December 17, 2005: Ceremony for the completed restoration and groundbreaking for the monument
March 21, 2009: DC-3 "Spirit of Santa Monica” monument dedication
Erected 2009.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Native Sons/Daughters of the Golden West series list.
Location. 34° 0.904′ N, 118° 26.859′ W. Marker is in Santa Monica, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Sunset Park. Marker is at the intersection of Airport Avenue and Donald Douglas Loop, on the left when traveling west on Airport Avenue. At the Museum of Flying. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3100 Airport Ave, Santa Monica CA 90405, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Clover Field (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Venice Japanese American Memorial Monument (approx. 1˝ miles away); Moreton Bay Fig Tree (approx. 1.6 miles away); Sturdevant Bungalow (approx. 1.7 miles away); Saint Florian (approx. 1.8 miles away); Westminster Place (approx. 1.8 miles away); Ray Bradbury House (approx. 1.9 miles away); Jones & Emmons Building (approx. 2 miles away).
Also see . . . Douglas DC-3 Monument. Museum of Flying website has information on this and other aircraft on display. (Submitted on June 22, 2018.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 314 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 22, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.