Former USAAF (42-72312), American Airlines (N90437), Air France (F-BBDR), Air Comores (D6-CAA) and SAAF (6907). After being withdrawn from SAAF service the aircraft was sold to Africa Cargo Airlines in 1993, briefly registered ZS-XXX and then ZS-NJN, 7Q-YYY and finally 3D-NJN. Sold in 1998 as 3D-ADW and believed scrapped.

Ex 43-17164, to Pan Am in 1946. Photo from: Melvin Horwitz / Central Connecticut State University

The C-54E was bought by Buffalo Airways the following year, and is still current with them at Yellowknife, North West Territories, where I photographed it again years later.

Lebombo has the distinction of being the last DC-4 off the production line at Santa Monica, CA. Joining the SAA fleet in August 1947, she has spent her entire service life in South Africa. She was involved in a mid-air collision with an SAAF Harvard near Durban in June 1962, but landed safely. Four years later, she joined the SAAF where she served as 6904 with 44 Sqd until the DC-4 fleet was retired in 1991. The following year, SAA bought her back and restored her to former glory and she went on several air show tours the following years. Photographer unknown

Lebombo has the distinction of being the last DC-4 off the production line at Santa Monica, CA. Joining the SAA fleet in August 1947, she has spent her entire service life in South Africa. She was involved in a mid-air collision with an SAAF Harvard near Durban in June 1962, but landed safely. Four years later, she joined the SAAF where she served as 6904 with 44 Sqd until the DC-4 fleet was retired in 1991. The following year, SAA bought her back and restored her to former glory and she went on several air show tours the following years. Photographer unknown

Lebombo has the distinction of being the last DC-4 off the production line at Santa Monica, CA. Joining the SAA fleet in August 1947, she has spent her entire service life in South Africa. She was involved in a mid-air collision with an SAAF Harvard near Durban in June 1962, but landed safely. Four years later, she joined the SAAF where she served as 6904 with 44 Sqd until the DC-4 fleet was retired in 1991. The following year, SAA bought her back and restored her to former glory and she went on several air show tours the following years. Photographer unknown

6904 was the last DC-4 off the production line at Santa Monica, CA. Joining the SAA fleet in August 1947, she has spent her entire service life in South Africa. She was involved in a mid-air collision with an SAAF Harvard near Durban in June 1962, but landed safely. Four years later, she joined the SAAF where she served as 6904 with 44 Sqd until the DC-4 fleet was retired in 1991. The following year, SAA bought her back and restored her to former glory and she went on several air show tours the following years. Photographer unknown

Delivered to the USAAF as 42-72220 in June 1944, transferred directly to the US Navy as R5D-1 Bu. No. 39172. Then to Northwest Airlines as NC49529 in 1946, leased to Pacific Overseas Airlines as N49529 in 1948. Joined Icelandair in 1962, from February 1963 as TF-FID. Four years later, it moved to South Africa and joined Africair/Wenela Air Services as ZS-FCK. After a short tenure, it was leased by Botswana National Airways as VQ-ZEG, later A2-ZEG. The following year it returned to South Africa as ZS-FCK with Protea Airways - Protea Lugdiens. Swazi Air leased it in October 1970 as VQ-ZJN and from May 1971 as 3D-AAL. Photographer unknown

In 1976 transferred to Colombia as FAC-699. Later SATENA (Servicio de Aeronavegación a los Territorios Nacionales). Crashed near Cerro Toledo, Columbia Dec 18, 1979 enroute to Bogota-Eldorado Airport when struck a mountain.

Built in 1946 for Western Airlines, then went to Australia from 1947 to 1977 and imported in 1981 ex-Basler Flight Service (N5581S). On 16 June 1987 it was wrecked when the crew tried to squeeze it into a 3500 ft gravel strip at Hidden Bay/SK. [The minuscule registration is just below the tail logo.]

Ex-EI-ARS of Aer Turas. For maintenance at MIACO's facility.

Ex-IADCOM. Later dumped in a remote corner of Hal Far; fuselage transported to Luqa and burnt on the fire dump in 1983.

Delivered to the USAAF as 42-72220 in June 1944, transferred directly to the US Navy as R5D-1 Bu. No. 39172. Then to Northwest Airlines as NC49529 in 1946, leased to Pacific Overseas Airlines as N49529 in 1948. Joined Icelandair in 1962, from February 1963 as TF-FID. Four years later, it moved to South Africa and joined Africair/Wenela Air Services as ZS-FCK. After a short tenure, it was leased by Botswana National Airways as VQ-ZEG, later A2-ZEG. The following year it returned to South Africa as ZS-FCK with Protea Airways. Swazi Air leased it in October 1970 as VQ-ZJN and from May 1971 3D-AAL. Photographer unknown

Delivered to the USAAF as 41-107469 in 1944. To Chicago & Southern Airlines as NC53103 in 1946, Philippine Air Lines as PI-C102 in 1948 and Pacific Overseas Airlines as HS-POE in 1951. To Thai Airways as HS-TSA in 1958 then to the Thai Air Force in 1960. Returned to Thai Airways in 1965 then to Botswana National Airways as VQ-ZEF in 1966. Reregistered as A2-ZEF in 1968. To Suidwes Lugdiens as ZS-IPR in 1972. To the SAAF as 6906 in 1981. Back to ZS-IPR in 1995 then to the Dutch Dakota Association as PH-DDY in 1997. Preserved at Lelystad from 2004 as NL-316 and PH-TAR from 2020. Photographer unknown

Sold as N98AC in 1975. Photo from: RNZAF/Air Force Museum of New Zealand