So imagine my surprise when I saw the above featured aircraft circling Ashland yesterday. Even an amateur plane-spotter such as myself could immediately recognize it as a DC-3, probably a “D,” in magnificent condition, piston engines (possibly original), no obvious corporate markings (private, non-sponsored ownership). I was driving at the time and, after watching the plane circling a couple times, i lost track of the plane and assumed it had continued on its way.

A little later, back at the house, i was puttering with some pictures at my computer and heard the lush throb of twin piston engines pulling hard. Came out on my front stoop (aka “the observation platform”) in time to snap the above photo as the shiny bird circled right over my house and departed to the north.

Again, maybe 30 minutes later, i heard the engines yet again and came out to watch as the plane head south over the town with the landing gear down. A-hah!

I grabbed my camera bag, jumped in the rover and buzzed over to Ashland muni just in time to catch the plane taxiing in. I parked and headed over toward where she’d come to park. On my way, walking between numerous private planes in the tie-down area, i saw a couple standing and looking toward the plane. “Howdy,” i called, “do you know the story behind that bird?”

“Oh… indeed i do,” the man said, “you want to hear it?”

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