16 Nov '44: TOS USAAF. 1949: Air Force Reserve; used for crew proficiency training. 1950: Sent to Japan, and throughout the Korean War it operated out of Japan and Korea. 1955: TOS Japanese Air Self Defense Force with s/n 51-1121. By February/69 to after November/77: JASDF Flight Check Squadron. 1980: Alaska Rental and Sales with c/r N5579Z. During the next few years Alaska Rental and Sales swapped this plane for a C-118 through the Air Force Museum Loan Program, and on 11 October 1986 a dedication ceremony was held for this plane at the Air Command Park, Hurlburt Field, FL, where it remains on display.

Photo: Toshiyuki Toda

Preserved ex USAAF 44-77424, Japan 51-1101 and N5579Z.

Distant shot, aircraft parked far away from the show area. This Commando was delivered to the JASDF in January 1955 and was withdrawn from use in 1978. It became N5579Z on 31 July 1980 with Alaksa Rental & Sales Co. (Cliff Everts), who traded it to the USAF Museum in 1986. They loaned it to the Memorial Air Park at Hurlburt Field, FL, for display in its original markings as USAF 44-77424.