Photo by M. Vogel

Douglas C-54Q Skymaster owned by Aces High, painted in USAF colours as 56498 for a movie about the Berlin Airlift

Delivered to the USAAF as C-54D 42-72525 then transferred to the US Navy as R5D-3 56498 in 1945. Redesignated as a C-54Q in 1962. Stored at Davis-Monthan AFB with park code 3C104 in 1972. To Biegert Aviation as N44914 in 1975. Stored at Chandler-Gila River Memorial for many years. To Atlantic Warbirds in 1996 then to Aces High in 2002, flown to North Weald for some film work which never happened and remained in store there. To International Air Services in 2018 for restoration.

Delivered to the USAAF as C-54D 42-72525 then transferred to the US Navy as R5D-3 56498 in 1945. Redesignated as a C-54Q in 1962. Stored at Davis-Monthan AFB with park code 3C104 in 1972. To Biegert Aviation as N44914 in 1975. Stored at Chandler-Gila River Memorial for many years. To Atlantic Warbirds in 1996 then to Aces High in 2002, flown to North Weald for some film work which never happened and remained in store there. To International Air Services in 2018 for restoration.

Delivered to the USAAF as C-54D 42-72525 then transferred to the US Navy as R5D-3 56498 in 1945. Redesignated as a C-54Q in 1962. Stored at Davis-Monthan AFB with park code 3C104 in 1972. To Biegert Aviation as N44914 in 1975 and converted to a sprayer, spray bars are visible above the wing. Stored at Chandler-Gila River Memorial for many years. To Atlantic Warbirds in 1996 then to Aces High in 2002, flown to North Weald for some film work which never happened and remained in store there. To International Air Services in 2018 for restoration.

Being restored at North Weald under 'Save the Skymaster' project.

This aircraft, one of two that had been in open storage since 2002, looked to be in good condition. The other was broken up in 2017 but this one is in far better condition. There are plans to return it to the air, though that will be a very costly exercise.

This aircraft had been parked along with another C-54 at North Weald for many years. There are plans, perhaps hopes, to return this to the air. The other aircraft, N31356 was scrapped in 2016

By 1995 there were only 21.051 flighthours on the airframe. More than 50 years after its initial delivery it was bought, in 1996, by Atlantic Warbirds Inc (New Hampshire, USA) and they were responsible for a complete restoration in magnificent MATS colourscheme with BuNo 56498. In September 2002 it was bought by Sherman Aircraft Sales Inc and registered that same date to Aces High US Ltd. It arrived together with N31356 at North Weald on 27 September 2002.

In earlier days prior to its UK adventure.

Owned by Aces High US Inc. and parked with N31356 awaiting a possible film role. N44914 was built in 1945 and served with the US Navy until 1972.

Two DC 4s had been in open storage at North Weald since 2002 and one was broken up in 2017. This one is in far better condition and there are plans to return it to the air, though that will be a very costly exercise.