Very rare photo of ex USAAF 42-72334, which was converted by Douglas to C54B-DC, and delivered to Pan Am as NX88892 in August 1946. For some reason the aircraft was registered with the NX prefix, denoting "experimental". It was reportedly never taken in service and remained unnamed (note it only carries the word "Clipper", without an actual name). Instead it went to Avianca Colombia as C-114 in September 1946, but on February 15, 1947 the aircraft crashed into Mount El Tablazo en-route from Barranquilla to Bogotá, killing all 53 people on board - which at the time, was the worst commercial airline crash in history.

First registered to Western Airlines in April 1946 as N10203, it was sold to Australian National Airways (ANA) in July 1947 as VH-ANG. Then to British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines (BCPA) in April 1948 as VH-BPD before being purchased by QEA in May 1949 as VH-EBM. After being with them for ten years it was sold to Zantup Air Transport (N600Z) and probably converted for cargo operations. In April 1962 it was purchased by Trans Mediterranean Airways (OD-AEC) but crashed on 9 July 1962. (Photographer Unknown)

Why this aircraft was in New Zealand then is unrecorded, but TEAL - New Zealand's national airline - did later lease TAA DC-4s for services when Sandringham flying boats were grounded and for services from Christchurch. Ordered new by TAA and entered service on 4 November 1946. Leased to British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines from April 1948 to February 1949 and registered as VH-BPB. Returned to TAA and registration renewed as VH-TAB but name changed to "John Gilbert". Later converted to a freighter in 1959. Renamed "David Collins". Sold in 1970. (Whites Aviation, Auckland Photo No. 5563)

Purchased new by ANA and entered service on the 10 June 1946. Crashed on landing at Sydney on 16 October 1952. The aircraft was recovered and transported to Melbourne but was declared beyond economical repair. (British Columbia Government Travel Bureau Photo - 1947)

Departing Whenaupai Airport - Auckland's International Airport from 1945 to 1965 - probably on March 8th,1946 during Sydney-Auckland-Sydney demonstration flight. The aircraft operated its first revenue flight on 11 February 1946 but was lost in a crash shortly after take-off from Perth, Western Australia 26 June 1950 with the loss of all on board. (Unknown Photographer)

Loading 3 million doses of hog cholera (swine fever) serum on behalf of the UNRRA (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration) for delivery to Shanghai, to combat a serious outbreak of that disease in China. Photo from: American Airlines

Ex-Spantax EC-ACD. Delivered to Stansted for British Air Ferries on 29th January 1973. On overhaul at the time of the photo with #1 engine out, it was air-tested on 1st February 1974. It departed 5 days later on delivery to Octavian Airways of Vientiane, Laos, arriving at Bangkok on 20th February. I have been unable to find any subsequent history of the aircraft.

Ex-Spantax EC-ACD. Delivered to Stansted for British Air Ferries on 29th January 1973. On overhaul at the time of the photo with #1 engine out, it was air-tested on 1st February 1974. It departed 5 days later on delivery to Octavian Airways of Vientiane, Laos, arriving at Bangkok on 20th February. I have been unable to find any subsequent history of the aircraft.

A typically smoky start from "Big John" as it prepares for another cross-channel trip. In its later colour scheme with dark blue undersides. WFU in 1977 and stored at Southend. Scrapped in 1983.

Transports Aeriens Intercontinentaux was the French airline that served Australia and onwards to French possessions in the South Pacific. TAI was merged with UAT to form UTA. F-BDRJ was later transferred to Réseau Aérien Interinsulaire (RAI), a subsidiary of TAI/UTA based in Tahiti. Photo from: Library and Archives NT

Undated negative from FNG archive. Built 1944 as 42-72350 for USAAF. Converted to C54B-DC (DC-4 standard) by Douglas in 1946 (conversion #38) as NC88903 for Pan American. Leased to Avianca as CP-142 1947, returned 1950 and used for many years on internal German services. T.A. Mirfeni LV-HJC 1962, Aerovias Halcon 1964, Southern Cross 1969. Reimported to US as N88903 1971 for Basler Flight Services but its ultimate fate seems unknown. KLM CV-440 PH-CGB is parked on the right.

Manufactured by Douglas Aircraft Company Inc, Santa Monica, this C-54 was delivered US Army Air force 14/5/1945 war service serial 44-9126. Utilised for troop and cargo transport until 1971, this C-54 was retired and stored at Davis Montham Airbase in Arizona. In 1995 brought to Australia for Pacific island freight operations, then stored at Archerfield until being donated to HARS in 2008 and flown to Albion Park in December 2009, to be restored to flying condition.

In Dec 1992 this C-54 became the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation's "Spirit of Freedom" N500EJ. It was eventually damaged beyond repair during a tornado in March 2020. Photo by Clay Jansson.

started life with the USAAF - to American in 1946. Air France used the DC-4 from 1949 until 1967. Then she moved to the French overseas territorries serving with UTA, Air Polynesie and Air Commores. Ended up with the South African Air Force as 6907. Back on the civilian market as 3D-NJN in 1993 - photographer unknown

from my collecvtion, photo by T.Sogalla

from my collection, photographer unknown, buiult 1944 for USAF as 42-72230, then in service for Pan American World Airways as N88922, to Balair/CTA as HB-ILC in 1960, to Air Ferry as G-ASFY late 1963, to Libyan Aviation Co. (LAVCO) as N3454 in 1968, most probably b/u in 1969

slide scan from the NK collection. - Since 1974, "Big John" was operated in a revised BAF-colour scheme - single-tone blue cheatline, and a dark underside. It was withdrawn at Southend in 1977 and later broken up.