Delivered to the USAAF as 42-72308 in 1944, then to Northwest as NC14747 before moving to Capital and later Transamerica as N95409. Air Algerie was the next stop as F-OAVS then 7T-VAS. In 1973 she became F-BRHE with Air Comores. Reregistered D6-CAC before clandestinely sold to the SAAF in the early 1980s as 6908. She later became 9Q-CJ, EL-WBB and 3D-JHL with TAC Air Service. Finally scrapped at Rand Airport in 2006.

from my collection, photographer unknown

After wartime service with the USAAF as 42-72209, the C-54A was operated post-war as N90432 by American Airlines (1946-1950, Eastern Airlines (1950-1955) and leased to Flying Tiger Line, probably supporting Cold War DEW Line radar site contraction in the Arctic. Pacific Western Airlines imported it as CF-PWB in it Nov. 1957 and it flew with the airline for 15 years until sold to Cryderman Air Service as "N-74183" in Nov. 1972. It was photographed three weeks after a hydraulic line burst when departing for Everett from Chico, CA. Flew for many years in Florida. Preserved at MCAS Miramar, CA.

Delivered to South African Airways as ZS-AUA in 1946. To the SAAF as 6901 in 1966 then to Aero Air as ZS-NUR in 1995 and the Dutch Dakota Association as PH-DDS in 1996, Reregistered as ZS-AUA in 1993. Returned to South Africa by 2004. With the South African Airlines Museum at Rand by 2010.

Painted as "NL-316" in Netherlands Government Air Transport colours for Aviodrome's museum display

Delivered to the USAAF as 42-72308 in 1944. Subsequently served with Northwest Airlines (N14747), Pennsylvania Central Airlines, Capital Airlines and Los Angeles Air Services (N95409), Air Algerie (F-OAVS and 7T-VAS), Cie Air Fret, (F-BRHE) Air Comores (D6-CAC) and the South African AF as 6908. Became 9Q-CJL with Transair Cargo of Zaire in June 1993 and was re-registered with them as EL-WBB in August 1997. Ultimately registered 3D-JHL with TAC Air Service in July 1998, bought by Phoebus Apollo for spares and stored at Rand for several years before being scrapped in 2006.

The aircraft is painted to represent R5D BuNo 90392 (c/n 27232) which was the personal aircraft for an Admiral of 7th Fleet. In reality it is an ex USAAF aircraft 42-72209 that served with Canadian Pacific as CF-PWB post-WWII and later became N74183 in the USA.

Photo taken with a Kodak box camera

Well-worn C-54 between flights at Fort Lauderdale.

from my collection, photographer unknown, built in 1944 the Skymaster was in service for the US Army Air Forces and the US Navy before civil operations started in May 1947 for Colonial Airlines as N93267, merged into Eastern Airlines in 1956, but sold on to PSA and in operation for them until April 1962 when it was purchased by Mercer Enterprises. To Canadian Arctic Co.-Op. in Dec 1969 and operated furtheron for Air Commonwealth as CF-QIX, later C-FQIX, damaged and w/o after a take-off accident at Thompson, Manitoba in June 1979, whilst operating for Aero Trades Western. Location is a guess.

from my collection, photographer unknown

Sold to the Netherlands Government as NL-309. Photo from: Air Force Museum of New Zealand

Photo taken over Paris. 42-72235 was withdrawn from use at Charleston, North Carolina, in September 1945 and scrapped. Photo from: National Archives at College Park, Maryland

Ex 42-72205. Bought by KLM for West Indies Branch. Reg not taken up and aircraft delivered as PJ-ALO. Named Oranjestad. To Cathay Pacific in 1949 as VR-HEU. Shot down by Chinese La-7 fighters off Hainan Island on 23 July 1954.

Delivered to the USAAF as 42-72312 in 1944. To American Airlines as NC90437 in 1948 then to Air France as F-BBDR in 1949, UTA in 1967, Air Polynesie in 1971 and Air Comores in 1973. Reregistered as D6-CAA in 1976. To the SAAF as 6907 around 1980. Sold as ZS-NJN in 1993 and reregistered as 7Q-YYY in 1994 and 3D-NJN in 1996. 3D-ADW in 1998 and back to 3D-NJN. Last flight to Rand in 2006 and scrapped.

Delivered to the USAAF as 42-72308 in 1944. To Northwest Airlines as NC14747 in 1946, Pennsylvania Central Airlines as NC95409 in 1947 and Capital Airlines in 1948. Reregistered as NC95409 after 1948. To Air Algerie as F-OAVS in 1956. Reregistered as 7T-VAS in 1964. To Air Fret as F-BRHE in 1968 then to Air Comores in 1973 and reregistered as D6-CAC in 1977. To the SAAF as 6908 around 1980, Sold as 9Q-CJL in 1993. Reregistered as EL-WBB in 1997 and 3D-JHL in 1998. Withdrawn from use at Rand by 2005 and scrapped in 2006.

Our group had a pleasure flight in it. Delivered to the USAAF as 42-72284 in 1944. To American Airlines as N90444 in 1946. Used by other operators after 1954. Sold as CF-GNI in 1969. Reregistered as C-FGNI by 1980. To Air North in 1988. Crashed after take off from Bronson Creek in 1996.