Markings: 313th Troop Carrier Group, Fassberg AB, Germany, 1948-1949. In the largest humanitarian airlift ever the United States, Britain, and France delivered over 2.3 million tons of cargo over West Berlin, the vast majority in C-54s, between June 26, 1948 and September 30, 1949. Known as "Operation Vittles" the airlift was the first major confrontation of the Cold War between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union.

Delivered to the USAAF 30 March 1945 and written from use at Davis Monthan in April 1972 but had a second life in the civil avaition as N3366F and C-GQIC until its final retirement in 1986.

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.

Waiting to depart for the 50 years of Heathrow flypast. The last DC-4 built. Delivered to South African Airways as ZS-BMH in 1947. To the SAAF as 6904 in 1966. To the South African Airways Historic Flight as ZS-BMH in 1993.

The last DC-4 built. Delivered to South African Airways as ZS-BMH in 1947. To the SAAF as 6904 in 1966. To the South African Airways Historic Flight as ZS-BMH in 1993.

Delivered to South African Airways as ZS-BMF in 1947. To the SAAF as 6902 in 1966. Preserved at the South African Air Force Museum from 1993.

Delivered to Iberia as EC-DAQ in 1946. Reregistered as EC-ACF in 1951. To Spantax in 1962 then to British Air Ferries as G-BANO in 1972 and used for parts at Stansted. Remains to the fire dump. Expired in 1979.

Delivered to South African Airways as ZS-AUB in 1946. To the SAAF as 6905 in 1967 then to the South African Airways Historic Flight as ZS-AUB in 1995. To Swissair as ZU-ILI then back to the South African Airways Historic Flight as ZS-AUB in 1997.

Built in 1942 for the USAAF and transferred in 1946 to the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force, ended up as a commercial aircraft with Royal Dutch East Indies Airlines, KLM, Air France and Transeuropa who operated it from 1966 to 1975. After retirement it was used as a discotheque named Club D-3 at Porto Cristo, in the East of the Island of Mallorca but it was finally abandoned and destroyed by a fire in September 1983.

This aircraft was written off in January 1985 when it crashed on approach to South Caicos International Airport, Turks & Caicos Islands, and was destroyed by fire.

Imported in 1985 ex US Navy and served with Millardair until withdrawn in August 2008. Here it is making a rare appearance out west, away from its usual routine of hauling automotive parts on the Toronto - Montréal - Detroit triangle.

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.