Misplaced Pages

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87-606: With the introduction of the Douglas C-54 Skymaster four-engined transport aircraft , the United States Army Air Forces , observing that conventional gliders then in service would be an inefficient use of the C-54's power and capacity, determined that a requirement existed for a new, much larger assault glider. It was determined that the best solution to the requirement was the conversion of

174-461: A C-47-DL was taken in hand for conversion into a glider, which was given the designation XCG-17. The aircraft, formerly a Northwest Airlines DC-3 that had been impressed into military service at the start of World War II, was modified by the removal of the aircraft's engines; the nacelles, containing the landing gear, remained in place, covered with aerodynamically profiled hemispherical domes for streamlining, containing fixed weight to compensate for

261-537: A C-54A disappeared over the Pacific (about 1120 km west of San Francisco —last reported position: 29°20′N 135°00′W  /  29.33°N 135.00°W  / 29.33; -135.00 ) on an executive passenger flight from Honolulu International Airport , Hawaii to Los Angeles International Airport , California . The pilot reported a fire in No. 2 engine, which might make it necessary to ditch. Nothing more

348-592: A Studebaker T-24 Weasel which was slung under the fuselage collided with the C-40A photographic chase plane. Three of the five crew of the C-54A perished along with all five aboard the C-40A. On 3 July 1947: US Army Air Force C-54G 45-519 crashed in the Atlantic 294 mi off Florida after a loss of control caused by turbulence from a storm, killing the six crew. On 14 May 1948, an army transport plane flying through

435-646: A hybrid for Presidential use, had a C-54A fuselage with four cabin fuel tanks and C-54B wings with built in tanks to achieve maximum range. The most common variant was the C-54D, which entered service in August 1944. Based on the C-54B, it was fitted with more powerful R-2000-11 engines. With the C-54E, the last two cabin fuel tanks were moved to the wings which allowed more freight or 44 passenger seats. Aircraft transferred to

522-559: A later date. During the 1360s, the Javanese -centered Hindu-Buddhist Shivaite empire of Majapahit briefly ruled over Luzon as recorded in the epic poem Nagarakretagama , which reports imperial colonies in the Philippines at Saludong ( Manila ) and Solot ( Sulu ). Eventually, the kingdoms of Luzon regained independence from Majapahit after the 1365 Battle of Manila. Sulu also reestablished independence and in vengeance assaulted

609-538: A lot of broken rice, required two to three skilled men and women to work harmoniously and was actually a form of socializing among young folks in the villages. In old Latin, Italian, and Portuguese maps, the island is often called "Luçonia" or "Luconia." Luções, [luˈsõjʃ] (also Luzones in Spanish ) was a demonym used by Portuguese sailors in Malaysia during the early 1500s, referring to

696-428: A lusong, explaining: Traditional milling was accomplished in the 1900s by pounding the palay with a wooden pestle in a stone or wooden mortar called lusong. The first pounding takes off the hull and further pounding removes the bran but also breaks most grains. Further winnowing with a bamboo tray (bilao) separates the hull from the rice grains. This traditional hand-pounding chore, although very laborious and resulted in

783-633: A million souls. People from the Philippines, primarily from Luzon, were recruited by France (then in alliance with Spain ), first to defend Indo-Chinese converts to Christianity being persecuted by their native governments. Eventually, Filipino mercenaries helped the French conquer Vietnam and Laos and to re-establish Cambodia as a French Protectorate. This process culminated in the establishment of French Cochinchina , centered in Saigon . After many years of Spanish occupation and resistance to reform,

870-601: A prince from Mecca who became the Sultan of Brunei , a nation that then expanded its realms from Borneo to the Philippines and set up the Kingdom of Maynila as its puppet-state. The invasion of Brunei spread Chinese royal descent like Ong Sum Ping 's kin and Arab dynasties too into the Philippines like the clan of Sultan Sharif Ali . However, other Luzon kingdoms resisted Islam, like the Wangdom of Pangasinan . It had remained

957-697: A rainstorm crashed in Northampton, Massachusetts , killing the three crew members aboard. On 26 January 1950, a C-54D operated by the United States Air Force disappeared during a flight between Anchorage-Elmendorf Air Force Base ( Alaska ) and Great Falls Air Force Base ( Montana ) with a crew of eight and 36 passengers (34 service personnel and two civilians). No trace of the aircraft or its occupants has ever been found. On June 25, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea. North Korean fighter aircraft attacked airfields at Kimpo and Seoul,

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1044-757: A recreation of Operation Chastise with its bouncing bomb . It was filmed in the UK documentary Dambusters: Building the Bouncing Bomb , Canadian documentary Dambusters Fly Again , Nova season 39 episode " Bombing Hitler's Dams ", and Ice Pilots NWT season 3 episode 2 "Dambusters". The 1950 drama, "The Big Lift" features C-54s flying the Berlin Airlift. Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Related lists Luzon Luzon ( / l uː ˈ z ɒ n / loo- ZON , Tagalog: [luˈson] )

1131-420: A tributary state of China and was a largely Sinified kingdom, which maintained trade with Japan. The Polity of Cainta also existed as a fortified city-state, armed with walls and cannons. The Portuguese were the first European explorers who recorded it in their charts as Luçonia or Luçon , calling the inhabitants Luções . Edmund Roberts , who visited Luzon in the early 19th century, wrote that Luzon

1218-712: A wide variety of non-combat roles such as air-sea rescue , scientific and military research, and missile tracking and recovery. During the Berlin Airlift it hauled coal and food supplies to West Berlin . After the Korean War it continued to be used for military and civilian uses by more than 30 countries. It was one of the first aircraft to carry the President of the United States , the first being President Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II . With

1305-765: Is a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces in World War II and the Korean War . Like the Douglas C-47 Skytrain derived from the DC-3, the C-54 Skymaster was derived from a civilian airliner, the Douglas DC-4 . Besides transport of cargo, the C-54 also carried presidents, prime ministers, and military staff. Dozens of variants of the C-54 were employed in

1392-485: Is covered by 8 administrative regions , 30 provinces and, as of 2014 , 68 cities (8 regions, 38 provinces and 71 cities if associated islands are included). Table note(s): Luzon is part of the Philippine Mobile Belt , a fast deforming plate boundary zone (Gervasio, 1967) hemmed in between two opposing subduction zones, the west-dipping Philippine Trench - East Luzon Trench subduction zone, and

1479-811: Is dominated by the Bicol Peninsula , a mountainous and narrow region extending approximately 150 kilometres (93 mi) southeast from the Tayabas Isthmus in Quezon province to the San Bernardino Strait along the coasts of Sorsogon . The area is home to several volcanoes , the most famous of which is the 2,460-metre (8,070 ft) high symmetrically shaped Mayon Volcano in Albay province. The Sierra Madre range has its southern limits at Quezon province. Ultra-prominent mountains dot

1566-517: Is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines . Located in the northern portion of the Philippine archipelago , it is the economic and political center of the nation, being home to the country's capital city, Manila , as well as Quezon City , the country's most populous city. With a population of 64 million as of 2021 , it contains 52.5% of the country's total population and is

1653-537: The 4th most populous island in the world. It is the 15th largest island in the world by land area . Luzon may also refer to one of the three primary island groups in the country . In this usage, it includes the Luzon Mainland , the Batanes and Babuyan groups of islands to the north, Polillo Islands to the east, and the outlying islands of Catanduanes , Marinduque and Mindoro , among others, to

1740-614: The Andres Novales uprising occurred and it was inspired by the Latin American Wars of Independence . Novales' uprising was primarily supported by Mexicans living in the Philippines as well as immigrant Latinos from the now independent nations of Colombia , Venezuela , Peru , Chile , Argentina and Costa Rica . Although the uprising failed it inspired the Cavite Mutiny , the suppression of which, lead to

1827-582: The Cagayan to the north, and the Pampanga to the south. In the middle of the plain rises the solitary Mount Arayat . The western coasts of Central Luzon are typically flat extending east from the coastline to the Zambales Mountains , the site of Mount Pinatubo , made famous because of its enormous 1991 eruption . These mountains extend to the sea in the north, forming Lingayen Gulf , and to

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1914-412: The Douglas C-47 Skytrain , already in large-scale production, to meet the requirement. The C-47 could be converted to a glider configuration with minimal alteration to the airframe, and would provide the required capacity. Trials conducted using a conventional, powered C-47, first conducting ordinary deadstick landings , then being towed by another C-47, indicated that the scheme was feasible. Therefore,

2001-597: The Indian Ocean , the Strait of Malacca , the South China Sea , and the medieval maritime principalities of the Philippines . His father and wife carried on his maritime trading business after his death. Another important Malacca trader was Curia de Raja who also hailed from Luzon. The "surname" of "de Raja" or "diraja" could indicate that Regimo and Curia, and their families, were of noble or royal descent as

2088-680: The Kapampangan and Tagalog people who lived in Manila Bay , which was then called Lusong ( Kapampangan : Lusung , Portuguese : Luçon ), from which Luzon was also derived. The term was also used for Tagalog settlers in Southern Tagalog region, where they created intensive contact with the Kapampangans. Eventually, the term "Luzones" would refer to the settlers of Luzon island, and later on, would be exclusive to

2175-459: The Pacific War , the Philippines were considered to be of great strategic importance because their capture by Japan would pose a significant threat to the U.S. As a result, 135,000 troops and 227 aircraft were stationed in the Philippines by October 1941. Luzon was captured by Imperial Japanese forces in 1942 during their campaign to capture the Philippines . General Douglas MacArthur —who

2262-877: The United States in the Philippine–American War which the Republic's forces lost due to its diplomatic isolation (no foreign nation recognized the First Republic) as well as due to the numerical superiority of the American military . The Americans then set up the cool mountain city of Baguio as a summer retreat for its officials. The Americans also rebuilt the capital, Manila, and established American military bases in Olongapo and Angeles cities mainly Clark Airbase and Subic Naval Base . During

2349-640: The United States Navy were designated Douglas R5D . With the introduction of the Tri-Service aircraft designation system in 1962, all R5Ds were re-designated C-54. C-54s began service with the USAAF in 1942, carrying up to 26 passengers, later versions carrying up to 50 passengers. The C-54 was one of the most commonly used long-range transports by the U.S. armed forces in World War II. Of

2436-541: The 12th century, and local Tagalog , Kapampangan and Pangasinan potters had marked each jar with Baybayin letters denoting the particular urn used and the kiln the jars were manufactured in. Certain kilns were renowned over others; prices depended on the reputation of the kiln. Of this flourishing trade, the Burnay jars of Ilocos are the only large clay jar manufactured in Luzon today with origins from this time. In

2523-662: The 16th century saw the incorporation of the Luções people and the breaking up of their kingdoms and the establishment of the Las Islas Filipinas with its capital Cebu , which was moved to Manila following the defeat of the local Rajah Sulayman in 1570. Under Spain, Luzon also came to be known as the Nueva Castilla or the New Castile . In Spanish times, Luzon became the focal point for trade between

2610-472: The 17 occupants (six crew, 11 passengers) despite the severity of the attack. The Soviet military authorities defended this attack on an unarmed civilian aircraft by claiming the Air France plane was outside the air corridor at the time of attack. On 23 July 1954, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster civilian airliner, registration VR-HEU , operated by Cathay Pacific Airways , en route from Bangkok to Hong Kong ,

2697-531: The Allied air corridors over East Germany . Although the attack had severely damaged the aircraft, necessitating the shutdown of engines number three and four, the pilot in command of the aircraft managed to carry out a safe emergency landing at Tempelhof Airport. A subsequent inspection of the aircraft's damage revealed that it had been hit by 89 shots fired from the Soviet MiGs. There were no fatalities among

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2784-630: The Americas and Asia. The Manila Galleons constructed in the Bicol region brought silver mined from Peru and Mexico to Manila. The silver was used to purchase Asian commercial goods like Chinese silk , Indian gems and Indonesian spices , which were then exported back to the Americas. The Chinese valued Luzon so much, in that when talking about Spain and the Spanish-Americas, they preferred to call it as "Dao Lusong" (Greater Luzon) while

2871-624: The C-54 of the United States Air Force's 1700th Air Transport Group , based at Kelly Field , San Antonio, Tex. The transport crashed in the Gomor district near the border, between French and Spanish Morocco. Flying from Wheelus Field in Tripoli to Casablanca , it was believed en route to the United States. Eight United States airmen died when their plane exploded in the rugged Riff Mountains of North Africa . On 28 March 1964,

2958-600: The C-54s produced, 515 were manufactured in Santa Monica, California and 655 were manufactured at Orchard Place/Douglas Field, in unincorporated Cook County, Illinois , near Chicago (later the site of O'Hare International Airport ). During World War II , the C-54 was used by Franklin D. Roosevelt , Douglas MacArthur , and Winston Churchill . The American delegates to the Casablanca Conference used

3045-552: The Cordillera Central mountain ranges is the large Cagayan Valley . This region, which is known for being the second largest producer of rice and the country's top corn-producer, serves as the basin for the Cagayan River , the longest in the Philippines. Along the southern limits of the Cordillera Central lies the lesser-known Caraballo Mountains . These mountains form a link between the Cordillera Central and

3132-667: The Majapahit province of Poni ( Brunei ) before a fleet from the capital drove them out. In 1405, the Yongle Emperor appointed a Chinese governor of Luzon, Ko Ch'a-lao, during Zheng He 's voyages . China also had vassals among the leaders in the archipelago. China attained ascendancy in trade with the area in Yongle's reign. Afterwards, some parts of Luzon were Islamized when the former Majapahit province of Poni broke free, converted to Islam , and imported Sharif Ali ,

3219-634: The Portuguese conquest in 1511. Antonio Pigafetta notes that one of them was in command of the Brunei fleet in 1521. However, the Luções did not only fight on the side of the Muslims. Pinto says they were also apparently among the natives of the Philippines who fought the Muslims in 1538. On Mainland Southeast Asia , Lusung/Luções warriors aided the Burmese king in his invasion of Siam in 1547 AD. At

3306-893: The Search and Rescue Squadron of the Lajes Air Base , Azores , flying from the Lisbon Airport back to its base, crashed in the Atlantic , when approaching Lajes. All of the 14 people on board (two pilots, nine mechanics and three other military personnel) were killed. On 29 April 1952, an Air France Douglas C-54A (registration F-BELI) operating a scheduled service from Frankfurt Rhein-Main Airport to Berlin Tempelhof Airport came under sustained attack from two Soviet MiG-15 fighters while passing through one of

3393-435: The Sierra Madre Oriental, Angat, Zambales , Central Cordillera of Luzon , Bicol, and Catanduanes Island blocks. Using seismic and geodetic data, Luzon was modeled by Galgana et al. (2007) as a series of six micro blocks or micro plates (separated by subduction zones and intra-arc faults), all translating and rotating in different directions, with maximum velocities ~100 mm/yr NW with respect to Sundaland/Eurasia. As of

3480-413: The Sierra Madre mountain ranges, separating the Cagayan Valley from the Central Luzon plains. The central section of Luzon is characterized by a flat terrain, known as the Central Luzon plain , the largest in the island in terms of land area. The plain, approximately 11,000 square kilometres (4,200 sq mi) in size, is the country's largest producer of rice, and is irrigated by two major rivers;

3567-428: The Skymaster. The C-54 was also used by the Royal Air Force , the French Air Force , and the armed forces of at least 12 other nations. President Harry S. Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947 , which created the U.S. Air Force, on board Sacred Cow , the Presidential VC-54C which is preserved at the National Museum of the United States Air Force near Dayton, Ohio . More than 300 C-54s and R5Ds formed

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3654-440: The South Korean capital, destroying one USAF C-54 on the ground at Kimpo Air Base . On 19 September 1950, a U.S. Navy C-54 en route to Korea crashed into the sea approximately one minute after takeoff from Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands. The aircraft had 26 personnel aboard including eleven nurses. There were no survivors. On 31 January 1951, the C-54D with tail number 282 of the Portuguese Military Aeronautics , operated by

3741-442: The Spanish, then settled in Cainta, Rizal . Newcomers who were impoverished Mexicans and peninsulares were accused of undermining the submission of the natives. In 1774, authorities from Bulacan, Tondo, Laguna Bay, and other areas surrounding Manila reported with consternation that discharged soldiers and deserters (from Mexico, Spain and Peru) were providing Indios military training for the weapons that had been disseminated all over

3828-443: The U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy, many C-54s were modified for use in civilian firefighting and air tanker roles. This included fitting tanks inside and under the fuselage and the fitting of dumping and spraying equipment also on the wing trailing edges. C-54s continued in this role until the late 1990s. On 9 July 1943: US Army Air Force C-54A 41-37271 crashed in a mid-air collision with a C-40A at Wright Field, Ohio. While para-dropping

3915-439: The United States, Hong Kong, Singapore and Saudi Arabia . Eventually, the People Power Revolution led by Corazon Aquino and Cardinal Jaime Sin , removed Marcos and his cronies from power and they fled to Hawaii where the US granted them asylum. The following administrations are subsequently managing the political and economic recovery of the Philippines with the particular aim of spreading development outside of Luzon and into

4002-416: The XCG-17 proved that the aircraft was satisfactory; compared with conventional gliders in service, the aircraft possessed lower stalling and higher towing speeds than conventional gliders, as well as gliding at a significantly shallower angle. Tow tests were conducted using a variety of aircraft; the most commonly used configuration was a tandem tow by two C-47s, with the towing aircraft coupled one in front of

4089-436: The XCG-17, the conversion included octagonally shaped fairings over the engine mountings, with an auxiliary power unit from a B-24 Liberator bomber being installed. Referred to as "XCG-47" as well as "XCG-17", and named "Nez Perce", the aircraft undertook its initial flight following conversion on June 17, 1946, towed by a C-54. The flight tests of the field-converted aircraft proved favorable, and an ambitious flight, towing

4176-399: The aircraft from Luzon to Tokyo in Japan , was planned. This flight was intended to prove the suitability of large gliders to act as an "aerial freight train " for regular transport. The flight, conducted in late June 1946, took 11 hours of flight time and included an overnight stay on Okinawa ; covering 1,800 miles (2,900 km), it concluded at Tachikawa Airfield near Tokyo. Despite

4263-401: The aircraft was transferred to Mexico, where it remained in civilian service until 1980. Although the XCG-17 failed to lead to any production of a C-47 derived glider type, a single C-47 was converted in the field to glider configuration by the Fifth Air Service Area Command , located at Nichols Field on Luzon in the Philippines , during January 1946. Carried out in much the same manner as

4350-399: The backbone of the US contribution to the Berlin Airlift in 1948. They also served as the main airlift during the Korean War . After the Korean War, the C-54 was replaced by the Douglas C-124 Globemaster II , but continued to be used by the U.S. Air Force until 1972. The last active C-54 Skymaster in U.S. Navy service (C-54Q, BuNo 56501 , of the Navy Test Pilot School, NAS Patuxent River )

4437-440: The early 1300s the Chinese annals, Nanhai zhi , reported that Hindu Brunei invaded or administered Sarawak and Sabah as well as the Philippine kingdoms of Butuan , Sulu , and in Luzon: Ma-i (Mindoro) and Malilu 麻裏蘆 (present-day Manila ); Shahuchong 沙胡重 (present-day Siocon or Zamboanga ), Yachen 啞陳 Oton (Part of the Madja-as Kedatuan), and 文杜陵 Wenduling (present-day Mindanao ), which would regain their independence at

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4524-467: The east-dipping north–south trending Manila Trench - Negros Trench- Cotabato Trench . The Philippine Sea Plate subducts under eastern Luzon along the East Luzon Trench and the Philippine Trench, while the South China Sea basin, part of the Eurasian Plate , subducts under western Luzon along the Manila Trench. The North-Southeastern trending braided left-lateral strike-slip Philippine Fault System traverses Luzon, from Quezon province and Bicol to

4611-418: The following number of tributes, with each tribute representing a family of 6-7, and he reported 90,243 native Filipino tributes; 10,512 Chinese (Sangley) and mixed Chinese Filipino mestizo tributes; and 10,517 mixed Spanish Filipino mestizo tributes. Pure Spaniards are not counted as they are exempt from tribute. Out of these, Fr. Joaqin Martinez de Zuñiga estimated a total population count exceeding half

4698-441: The island, which encompasses most of the Ilocos Region , is characterized by a flat terrain extending east from the coastline toward the Cordillera Central mountains . The Cordillera mountain range, which feature the island's north-central section, is covered in a mixture of tropical pine forests and montane rainforests , and is the site of the island's highest mountain, Mount Pulag , rising at 2,922 metres. The range provides

4785-514: The landscape, which include Mount Isarog and Mount Iriga in Camarines Sur , and Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon . The peninsula 's coastline features several smaller peninsulas, gulfs and bays , which include Lamon Bay , San Miguel Bay , Lagonoy Gulf , Ragay Gulf , and Sorsogon Bay . Several outlying islands near mainland Luzon are considered part of the Luzon island group . The largest include Palawan , Mindoro , Masbate , Catanduanes , Marinduque , Romblon and Polillo . The island

4872-405: The largest lake in the country. The 949-square-kilometre (366 sq mi) lake is drained into Manila Bay by the Pasig River , one of the most important rivers in the country due to its historical significance and because it runs through the center of Metro Manila . Located 20 kilometres (12 mi) southwest of Laguna de Bay is Taal Lake , a crater lake containing the Taal Volcano ,

4959-464: The looming entry of the United States into World War II, in June 1941 the War Department took over the provision orders for the airlines for the Douglas DC-4 and allocated them to the United States Army Air Forces with the designation C-54 Skymaster . The first, a C-54, flew from Clover Field in Santa Monica, California on 14 February 1942. To meet military requirements the first civil production aircraft had four additional auxiliary fuel tanks in

5046-431: The main cabin which reduced the passenger seats to 26. The following batch of aircraft, designated C-54A, were built with a stronger floor and a cargo door with a hoist and winch. The first C-54A was delivered in February 1943. The C-54B, introduced in March 1944, had integral fuel tanks in the outer wings, allowing two of the cabin tanks to be removed. This change allowed 49 seats (or 16 stretchers) to be fitted. The C-54C ,

5133-402: The main port for Luzon and many Mexican soldiers and sailors were stationed in the naval garrisons there. When the Spanish evacuated from Ternate , Indonesia; they settled the Papuan refugees in Ternate, Cavite which was named after their evacuated homeland. After the short British Occupation of Manila , the Indian Sepoy soldiers that mutinied against their British commanders and joined

5220-437: The martyrdoms of Priests, Gomburza and the subsequent execution of the reformist and hero, Jose Rizal . Reeling against this, the Philippine Revolution against Spain erupted in Cavite and spread all throughout Luzon and the Philippines. Consequently, the First Philippine Republic was established in Malolos, Bulacan . In the meantime, Spain sold the Philippines to the United States and the First Philippine Republic resisted

5307-407: The more isolated provinces of the Visayas and Mindanao . During the administration of Ferdinand Marcos' son, Bongbong Marcos , Luzon became a destination of American and Japanese investments, it being the location of the Luzon Economic Corridor. Luzon island alone has an area of 109,964.9 square kilometres (42,457.7 sq mi), making it the world's 15th largest island . It is bordered on

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5394-519: The northwestern part of the island. This fault system takes up part of the motion due to the subducting plates and produces large earthquakes. Southwest of Luzon is a collision zone where the Palawan micro-block collides with SW Luzon, producing a highly seismic zone near Mindoro island. Southwest Luzon is characterized by a highly volcanic zone, called the Macolod Corridor, a region of crustal thinning and spreading. Using geologic and structural data, seven principal blocks were identified in Luzon in 1989:

5481-476: The original Luzon was referred to as "Xiao (Small) Lusong" to refer to not only Luzon but the whole Philippines. Luzon also became a focal point for global migration. The walled city of Intramuros was initially founded by 1200 Spanish families. The nearby district of Binondo became the center of business and transformed into the world's oldest Chinatown . There was also a smaller district reserved for Japanese migrants in Dilao . Cavite City also served as

5568-431: The other and the leading aircraft detaching following takeoff. This configuration was dangerous for the "middle" C-47, however, and it was determined that a single C-54 was the optimal tug aircraft. The XCG-17's cargo hold had a capacity of 15,000 pounds (6,800 kg); alternatively, up to 40 fully equipped troops could be transported, these figures being significantly larger than conventional gliders' capacity. The XCG-17

5655-691: The peoples of Central Luzon . Before 1000 CE, the Tagalog , Kapampangan , and Pangasinan peoples of south and central Luzon had established several major coastal polities , notably Maynila , Tondo and Namayan . The oldest known Philippine document, written in 900, is the Laguna Copperplate Inscription , which names places in and around Manila Bay and also mentions Medan , a place in Indonesia. These coastal Philippine kingdoms were thalassocracies , based on trade with neighboring Asian political entities, and structured by leases between village rulers ( Datu ) and landlords ( Lakan ) or Rajahs , by whom tributes were extracted and taxes were levied. There

5742-435: The prototype, its trials complete, was placed in storage, being ferried to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base for disposal in August 1946. In August 1949, the aircraft was sold to Advance Industries , its engines being reinstalled to return the aircraft to powered status in DC-3C configuration. Some sources, however, indicate that the XCG-17 was reconverted to C-47 configuration in 1946. Following its restoration to powered status,

5829-460: The removal of the engines. Other equipment, no longer necessary with the conversion to an unpowered configuration, was also removed to save weight; items removed included the aircraft's wiring and bulkheads, along with the navigator's and radio operator's positions. The conversion, carried out at Clinton County Army Air Field , was completed on June 12, 1944, with the aircraft undergoing its initial flight test shortly thereafter. The flight testing of

5916-433: The same time, Lusong warriors fought alongside the Siamese king and faced the same elephant army of the Burmese king in the defence of the Siamese capital at Ayutthaya. Luções military and trade activity reached as far as Sri Lanka in South Asia where Lungshanoid pottery made in Luzon were discovered in burials. Scholars have thus suggested that they could be mercenaries valued by all sides. The Spanish arrival in

6003-448: The smallest in the country. The environs of the lake form the upland Tagaytay Ridge , which was once part of a massive prehistoric volcano that covered the southern portion of the province of Cavite and the whole of Batangas province. South of Laguna Lake are two solitary mountains, Mount Makiling in Laguna and Batangas provinces, and Mount Banahaw , the highest in the region of Calabarzon . The southeastern portion of Luzon

6090-451: The south, forming the Bataan Peninsula . The peninsula encloses Manila Bay , a natural harbor considered to be one of the best natural ports in East Asia, due to its size and strategic geographical location. The Sierra Madre mountain range continues to stretch across the western section of Central Luzon, snaking southwards into the Bicol Peninsula . Southern Luzon is dominated by Laguna de Bay ( Old Spanish , " Lake of Bay town "),

6177-417: The south. The islands of Masbate , Palawan and Romblon are also included, although these three are sometimes grouped with another of the island groups, the Visayas . The name Luzon is thought to derive from ᜎᜓᜐᜓᜅ᜔ lusong , a Tagalog word referring to a particular kind of large wooden mortar used in dehusking rice. A 2008 research paper by Eulito Bautista and Evelyn Javier provides an image of

6264-483: The success of the flight, the "aerial freight train" concept did not catch on; the aircraft had its engines re-fitted in August 1946 and was returned to service as a normal C-47. Data from General characteristics Performance Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Related lists [REDACTED] Media related to Douglas XCG-17 at Wikimedia Commons Douglas C-54 Skymaster The Douglas C-54 Skymaster

6351-577: The term is an abbreviation of Sanskrit adiraja . Fernão Mendes Pinto noted that a number of Luções in the Islamic fleets went to battle with the Portuguese in the Philippines during the 16th century. The Sultan of Aceh gave one of them (Sapetu Diraja) the task of holding Aru (northeast Sumatra) in 1540. Pinto also says one was named leader of the Malays remaining in the Moluccas Islands after

6438-577: The territory during the British war. There was also continuous immigration of Tamils and Bengalis into the rural areas of Luzon: Spanish administrators, native nobles, and Chinese businessmen imported them as slave labor during this period. In the 1600s, Fr. Joaqin Martinez de Zuñiga, conducted a census of the Archdiocese of Manila which held most of Luzon under its spiritual care, and it had

6525-470: The time the XCG-17's evaluation was completed the need for such a large assault glider had passed. The primary role for the glider had been intended to increase the amount of supplies that could be carried to China over " The Hump "; the war situation had, however, become more favorable and the added capacity an oversized glider would provide was no longer necessary. No further examples of the type were produced;

6612-585: The upland headwaters of the Agno River , which stretches from the slopes of Mount Data , and meanders along the southern Cordillera mountains before reaching the plains of Pangasinan . The northeastern section of Luzon is generally mountainous, with the Sierra Madre , the longest mountain range in the country, abruptly rising a few miles from the coastline. Located in between the Sierra Madre and

6699-720: The west by the South China Sea ( Luzon Sea in Philippine territorial waters), on the east by the Philippine Sea , and on the north by the Luzon Strait containing the Babuyan Channel and Balintang Channel . The mainland is roughly rectangular in shape and has the long Bicol Peninsula protruding to the southeast. Luzon is roughly divided into four sections; Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Southeastern Luzon. The northwestern portion of

6786-443: The world's many colonies. Subsequently, the Philippines gained independence from the United States. Luzon then arose to become the most developed island in the Philippines. However, the lingering poverty and inequality caused by the long dictatorship of US-supported dictator, Ferdinand Marcos , gave rise to the Philippine diaspora and many people from Luzon have migrated elsewhere and had established large overseas communities; mainly in

6873-543: Was "discovered" in 1521. Many people from Luzon were employed within Portuguese Malacca. For example, the spice magnate Regimo de Raja , based in Malacca, was highly influential and was appointed as Temenggong (Sea Lord)—a governor and chief general responsible for overseeing of maritime trade—by the Portuguese. As Temenggong , de Raja was also the head of an armada which traded and protected commerce in

6960-516: Was also a Buddhist polity known as Ma-i or Maidh, described in Chinese and Bruneian records in the 10th century CE, although its location is still unknown and scholars are divided on whether it is in modern-day Bay, Laguna or Bulalacao , Mindoro . According to sources at the time, the trade in large native Ruson-tsukuri (literally Luzon-made , Japanese: 呂 宋 製 ) clay jars used for storing green tea and rice wine with Japan flourished in

7047-497: Was also capable of carrying three jeeps in a single load, or alternatively two 105-millimetre (4.1 in) howitzers . Regardless of the aircraft's load, no ballast was required to maintain the aircraft's center of gravity , a trait unique among American assault gliders. Despite the satisfactory results in testing, however, the aircraft failed the Army's requirement that it be capable of landing on unimproved fields; in addition, by

7134-467: Was certain. MacArthur had to wait two years for his wish; it was 1944 before a campaign to recapture the Philippines was launched. The island of Leyte was the first objective of the campaign, which was captured by the end of December 1944. This was followed by the attack on Mindoro and later, Luzon. The end of the World War necessitated decolonization due to rising nationalist movements across

7221-575: Was en route to a classified destination referred to as "Watertown" (now known as the Area 51 test site in Nevada) from Burbank, California. There were 14 passengers and air crew on board from the U.S. Air Force, the CIA, and several government contractors who were working on the top secret U-2 spy plane project. There were no survivors and the crash investigation remained classified until 1998. On 11 December 1955,

7308-417: Was heard from the aircraft, nor was any trace of it found despite an extensive search. Three crew and six passengers died in the accident. Data from McDonnell Douglas aircraft since 1920 : Volume I General characteristics Performance A C-54, registration C-FIQM ( Buffalo 5-721 (tail 57)), was used as a substitute Lancaster bomber due to its similar top speed and maximum payload, for

7395-509: Was in charge of the defense of the Philippines at the time—was ordered to Australia, and the remaining U.S. forces retreated to the Bataan Peninsula . A few months after this, MacArthur expressed his belief that an attempt to recapture the Philippines was necessary. The U.S. Pacific Commander Admiral Chester Nimitz and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Ernest King both opposed this idea, arguing that it must wait until victory

7482-497: Was retired on 2 April 1974. In late 1945, several hundred C-54s were surplus to U.S. military requirements and these were converted for civil airline operation, many by Douglas Aircraft at its aircraft plants. The aircraft were sold to airlines around the world. By January 1946, Pan American Airways was operating their Skymasters on transatlantic scheduled services to Europe and beyond. Trans-Pacific schedules from San Francisco to Auckland began on 6 June 1946. After disposal by

7569-496: Was shot down by Chinese PLAAF Lavochkin La-11 fighters off the coast of Hainan Island , killing ten people. On 17 November 1955, United States Air Force C-54 Flight 9068 crashed into the south eastern flank of 11,916 foot Mount Charleston at approximately the 11,300 foot elevation. The crash occurred at roughly 8:30am during a high wind snowstorm with limited visibility approximately 35 miles northwest of Las Vegas. The airplane

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