Sunset Park in Santa Monica in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Douglas DC-3

“Spirit of Santa Monica”

— Santa Monica Airport —

Douglas DC-3 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 27, 2018

1. Douglas DC-3 Marker

Inscription.

Douglas DC-3. “Spirit of Santa Monica”. The first flight of a DC-3 took place on December 17, 1935, at the Santa Monica Airport. These aircraft were so successful and reliable that many DC-3 aircraft remain in service throughout the world today. , 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 and 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

The first flight of a DC-3 took place on December 17, 1935, at the Santa Monica Airport. These aircraft were so successful and reliable that many DC-3 aircraft remain in service throughout the world today.
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

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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.

Douglas DC-3 and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 27, 2018

2. Douglas DC-3 and Marker

It is in Sunset Park. It is on Airport Avenue west of Bundy Drive, on the left when traveling west. Located 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.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles

and in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Santa Monica Municipal Airport (within shouting distance of this marker); Clover Field (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Venice Japanese American Memorial Monument (approx. 1½ 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); Santa Monica Nikkei Hall (approx. 1.8 miles away);

Douglas DC-3 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 27, 2018

3. Douglas DC-3

In front of the Museum of Flying.

Westminster Place (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Santa Monica.

Also see . . . Douglas DC-3 Monument. Museum of Flying website has information on this and other aircraft on display. (Submitted on June 22, 2018.)

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 27, 2018

4. Boeing 737

Marker Inside Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 27, 2018

5. Marker Inside Museum

Santa Monica Airport “Clover Field”, opened in 1919, is recognized nationally for its role in shaping the future of aviation. (The airport is scheduled to close at the end of 2028)

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 27, 2018

6. Marker Inside Museum

First Aircraft to fly around the world, 1924.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 745 times since then and 68 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.