Today in WW II: 18 May 1944 Battle of Monte Cassino, Italy, ends with German evacuation of the site and occupation by Allied troops.

CV-2 / C-7 Caribou Aircraft

The CV-2 Caribou was procured from DeHavilland Aircraft of Canada. The Caribou made its first flight in 1958, and the U.S. Army flew several prototypes for evaluation. In 1961 De Havilland delivered the first 22 out of a total of 159 C-7s to the Army. Originally designated AC-1, the aircraft was redesignated CV-2 in 1962, and it retained that designation for the remainder of its Army service. The U.S. Army purchased 173 CV-2 Caribou aircraft, which were transferred to the U.S. Air Force in April 1966 along with all other fixed-wing tactical transports. Following the transfer, Caribou was re=designated as the C-7 Caribou.

The CV-2's were ferried to Vietnam in 1962 where their excellent short-field performance and their three-ton payload served well. Among other missions, they were used for resupply of inaccessible Special Forces outposts where the ability of the CV-2 to make a slow, steep approach into short-field, primitive airstrips was unmatched by any other aircraft.

CV-2 / C-7 Caribou Specifications and Performance

Wing span	95 ft., 8 in.
Length	72 ft., 7 in.
Height	31 ft., 9 in.
Transport capacity	Crew of two and 32 pass., 24 combat-equipped troops, or 14 litters and 8 troops.
Weight (Empty)	16,920 lbs.
Weight (Gross)	28,500 lbs.
Armament	None
Engine	Two Pratt & Whitney R2000-7M2 piston engines (1,450 hp each)
Propellers	Hamilton Standard three-bladed, variable pitch metal propellers
Maximum speed	216 mph
Cruising speed	152 mph
Range	1,175 miles
Service ceiling	27,500 ft.

CV-2 Caribou, Vietnam, 1967.

C-7B Caribou, 13 September 1970.

C-7A Caribou at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, OH.