11/30/2007. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "The aircraft is wearing the CNAC fleet number 117 and was one of at least twenty C-46s delivered to China under Lend-Lease. It became registered as XT-13 (for cargo) and later it went to the PLAAF (People's Liberation Army Air Force), s/n 97042.

The CNAC logo shown on the aircraft is the Chinese character "chung" which means "in the middle" (China was regarded as "the middle kingdom"). CNAC was formed in July 1930 by the Chinese Government and American interests (including Curtiss-Wright). Pan American Airways took over the American interests in 1933 and CNAC established the first air routes in China.

Early in WW II it pioneered the famous route over the Hump (the Himalayas) between China and India, supplementing the USAAF effort from 1942, operating DC-3s, C-47s, C-53s and later C-46s. After the war the airline received DC-4s, but on June 18, 1949, the airline became under the control of the PLAAF and all operations were halted on August 17, 1949, the fleet was flown to safety in Hong Kong."

Special thanks to Martin S. Best, David Carter, Ruud Leeuw, Jack Mckillop and Matt Miller for their assistance.

Read the type remarks on page 9966.