Our C-47 was built at the Douglas Aircraft plant in Long Beach, California and was delivered to the US Army Air Force on April 19, 1944.  It went to Europe in May of 1944, and saw service in the 9th Air Force, which provided airlift for the Normandy Invasion on D-day.  It returned to the US in August of 1945 and was assigned to the 817th Base Unit, Kellogg Field, Michigan.  It is almost entirely made of aluminum, but flight controls, rudder, elevators, and ailerons are fabric covered.  This saved weight, as there is no power assist for its flight controls, just the strength of the pilot and co-pilot. It was nicknamed the "Gooney Bird" because of its awkwardness in taking off and landing.