Continuity mistake: When Radar is slipping the glass of milk into Buzz's tent, we see the outside of the tent and there are no windows. From the inside, the milk is placed on a table that is right under a window. Also, the milk is already on the table in a scene before Radar puts it there. (00:13:20)
Continuity mistake: When Frank is trying to examine the Colonel, in some shots Buzz's robe is open and in others it is tied at the waist. (00:10:50)
Answer: The C-42 was a military variant of the Douglas DC-2. Very few C-42's were built, so it's questionable that Potter would specifically have seen that particular model, but, given his military background, it's not entirely unreasonable that he might use the military designation even when the aircraft in question is actually a civilian DC-2.
Tailkinker ★