This aircraft has been parked in this location at Overboelare Airfield, home of the Flemish Gliding Centre Phoenix, since May 1971, please refer to the other photos of it on Air History for full details of its history.

Delivered to the USAAF as 42-72247 in 1944. To American Airlines as NC90443 in 1946, Eastern Airlines as N90446 in 1950, Aero Leases in 1955, Miami Airlines in 1958 and Trans Atlantic Airlines then Aerovias Panama as HP-298 in 1961. Impounded at Basle in 1962. Illegally flown to Brussels with fake registration N2894C in 1963 and impounded. Sold in 1967 and moved to Geraardsbergen-Overboelare. Was in very badly corroded in 2010 but is still there in 2022.

Seen here when it was looking better!

This DC-4 was seized at Basel in 1962/1963, and illegally flown to Brussels on 14 June 1963 with fake registration N2894C, where it was seized again. It remained stored there until bought by Rudy Hannecaert in July 1967 and trucked to Geraardsbergen (Grammont), Belgium, with the intention of using it as a bar. The bar never opened and in May 1971 the aircraft was taken over by Armand Coessens, dismantled again and trucked from Geraardsbergen to the nearby airfield at Overboelare, for use as a clubhouse and bar for the local flying club. By 2001 it was no longer in use as such, but it remained there "preserved" in the appaling condition seen here, still as N2894C and with faded Trans Atlantic Airlines titles still visible.

This DC-4 was seized at Basel in 1962/1963, and illegally flown to Brussels on 14 June 1963 with fake registration N2894C, where it was seized again. It remained stored there until acquired by Rudy Hannecaert in July 1967 and trucked to Geraardsbergen (Grammont), Belgium, with the intention of using it as a bar. The bar never opened and in May 1971 the aircraft was taken over by Armand Coessens, dismantled again and trucked from Geraardsbergen to the nearby airfield at Overboelare. Here it was used as a clubhouse and bar for the local flying club. By 2001 it was no longer in use as such, but it remained there "preserved" in the appaling condition seen here, still as N2894C and with faded Trans Atlantic Airlines titles still visible.

USAAF serial, 42-72247. Serving with Trans Atlantic Airlines as N90443, this DC-4 was impounded at Basel in June 1962, reportedly because of unpaid fees. On 14 June the crew made an illegal departure to Milan. Wearing the fake registration N2894C, the aircraft then flew to Brussels where the pilots ran away. Auctioned in 1967, the plane became a bar near Geraardsbergen (Grammont). In the early 1970s she was moved to the local airfield. Though by then part of the Phoenix gliding club premises, she was in terrible shape when I drove by in 2010.