Southend attracted more than its fair share of exotic propliners seeking the attentions of ATEL and this C-54 was no exception. Of 1944 vintage, she went to KLM in 1945 and France's TAI in 1948. Bought by Air Afrique 1966 and sold to Air Comores after the Southend overhaul as F-OCSV. Lastly to SOACO as TR-LUT in 1975 and wfu two years later, then broken up

Delivered to the USAAF in September 1944 as 42-72293, later served KLM as PH-TSA and Air France as F-BELF. Bought by Air Congo and registered TN-AAD in November 1963. Withdrawn in 1967. Was at Wymeswold for overhaul. Bahamas Airways Viscount VP-BCF at right.

USOA DC-4 at the airline's former base of operations

Delivered to USAAF as 42-72294 in September 1944. Operated by American Airlines from February 1946 until February 1954 as N90442. LX-IAL with Interocean Airways from July 1960 to May 1966.

VH-TAC was the last aircraft in the TAA fleet to carry the triangular Royal Air Mail pennant on the fin, a relic of the airline's 1950s livery. It was sold to Air Siam in 1970 as HS-VGX.

My father, Rasmus Pettersen, took this picture at the old IAB at JFK. My mother and I flew in this DC-4, named "Hekla", to Norway in the summer of 1954. Shortly after this picture was taken, it was replaced by DC-6's on the North Atlantic run.

TAP's Skymaster taxies past the public enclosure, with its very low wooden fence, towards the Heathrow North apron. CS-TSA, with minute registration on its fin tip, served TAP from 05.47 until transfer to the Portugese AF as 6606 in 12.60.

Delivered to USAAF in August 1944 as C-54A 42-72263. Converted to DC-4 standard by Douglas in June 1946 serving Panagra and Pan Am as N88925. To Cubana in April 1948 as CU-P188 and later CU-T188, named "Estrella de Cuba". Lost in a collision with a US Navy Beech SNB over Key West Florida on 25 April 1951. From Cubana 60 years ago.

After Qantas relinquished the Norfolk Island service in 1977 in favour of East West Airlines and its special long-range Fokker Friendships, VH-EDB went to Air Express as a cargo aircraft.

VH-TAC being prepared for its ferry flight to Thailand where it became HS-VGX.

VH-EDB sets off on its regular run to Norfolk Island.