Douglas DC-4 / C-54

1942


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In response to the requirements of five major US airlines, Douglas designed and built the large 52-passenger DC-4, which made its first flight on 7 June 1938. This type was not put into production; instead a smaller unpressurised development was ordered by American, Eastern and United Air Lines. This, too, bore the designation DC-4 and the original aeroplane became the DC-4E. The new aircraft flew on 14 February 1942, by which time the US was at war and all 24 DC-4A built were taken by the armed forces.

The DC-4 had a retractable nosewheel undercarriage and was powered by four 820-1,080kW Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasps. It was, for its time, an ideal long-range heavy logistic transport with a payload of up to 9,980kg. The military production version was the C-54. A total of 207 C-54A were built, followed by increased-capacity C-54B, similar C-54D with Pratt & Whitney R-2000-11 radials, C-54E with convertible cargo/passenger interiors, and C-54G with new engines. Nine hundred and fifty-two Skymasters were completed for the USAAF and 211 for the US Navy which designated them as R5D Skymasters.

Used in all theatres of war, none achieved a more impressive record than those operated by the USAAF's Air Transport Command. With this Command C-54 established the first regular transport service across the North Atlantic, averaging for a long period 20 double-crossings per day. One, the VC-54C-DO Sacred Cow, served as President Roosevelt's special aircraft and a C-54B-1-DO was used by Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

After the war Douglas built 79 civil DC-4-1009 and many of the military aircraft became available for airline operation - mostly with 44 seats but later with as many as 86. On 7 March 1946 American Airlines was first to introduce DC-4 on US domestic services, between New York and Los Angeles. However in October 1945 American Overseas Airlines had introduced DC-4 on North Atlantic services.

Specification

CREW	4
PASSENGERS	40-44
ENGINE	4 x P+W R-2000-25, 1065kW
WEIGHTS
Take-off weight	33140 kg	73062 lb
Empty weight	20000 kg	44093 lb
DIMENSIONS
Wingspan	35.8 m	117 ft 5 in
Length	28.6 m	94 ft 10 in
Height	8.4 m	28 ft 7 in
Wing area	136.0 m²	1463.89 sq ft
PERFORMANCE
Max. speed	450 km/h	280 mph
Cruise speed	365 km/h	227 mph
Ceiling	6900 m	22650 ft
Range w/max.fuel	6000 km	3728 miles
Range w/max payload	2200 km	1367 miles

Comments

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charles WITTMER, e-mail, 03.06.2011 23:31

Would anybody know if the commercial C47 /DC4 had round or oval passenger windows?
thank you.
Charles

Hal Maynard, e-mail, 23.04.2011 04:22

I was a nav at Wheelus AB, Tripoli Libya in the 58th Air rescue Squadron. I have a picture of 49033.

Betty Jo Streff Reed, e-mail, 03.04.2011 04:17

After the WASPs were deactivated Dec.44, I returned to Douglas Chicago Plant. After being on a mech. team several mon., the Flt Off needed a dispatcher for a later shift. Eventually Col.Randolf Holiday Checked out LT.Oswald as a !st. pilot so needed two more co-pilots. Ellen W. and I had been Eng. Chc.Pil. so asked if we would want to study and of course. Have list the planes I flew Co-pilot on. That was the pride of my life at 22yrs. Later flew Corp. Kingair and Mu-2. Some of this disappeard at the beginning.

Gerry Foley, e-mail, 30.01.2011 08:04

I was recalled to active duty at the start of the Korean war and was sent to Hadena AB in Japan and I was assigned to the 1273rd Air Transport Sq. Our mission was to fly daily missions to and from various bases in Korea with troops and cargo inbound and wounded and deceased personnel back to Japan. I was a mechanic and later a crew chief on C54M model aircraft. These aircraft were configured as medical evacuation aircraft. Spent a year there and if you are familiar with this operation, I would like to hear from you.

Bob Thompson, e-mail, 24.01.2011 04:34

I saw the DC-4E when it was in Dayton for several weeks in 1939. Orville Wright took a ride in it.

loomas marshall, e-mail, 15.01.2011 14:20

RE: C-54 #590 We departed Dover AFB the next day. After a routine preflt and run-up I noticed a funny noise coming from #1 eng. However everything looked good so off we went down the runway. Just at lift-off a fire light came on for #1 Eng. I alerted the pilot, Capt Ikes and he looked out the window and stated he didn't see any fire. I said we don't want to see any fire, as I had my finger on the feather button, I urged him to feather the engine The Col in the right seat finally said "Better punch it out Les" at which time he said feather # 1. After the shut down and return to base as we were taxing in the aforementioned Sgt from the transit alert truck struck.We were still a VC54 with a code 7, however this time we were parked out in the boonies,in the trees ,out of site. We all had a laugh about this. This tale continues if you're interested.

loomas marshall, e-mail, 15.01.2011 14:20

loomas j marshall, e-mail, 14.01.2011 16:51

Upon landing at Dover, we were escorted to the VIP spot as a VC-54 with a code 7. The Transit Alert Sgt said'" What is this crap VC-54" after seeing the condition of the bird and the plywood floor, I flipped hi the forms and said There's a code 7 as the Col stepped out of the cockpit. more on this flight later.

loomas j marshall, e-mail, 14.01.2011 16:39

I was stationed at Rhein-Main AB Germany from Aug 68 thru july72. Base Flt had 2 c-54s, 9099, a VC model which we received from the Navy in Naples where it served an Admiral for some years. The cabin had a private room for the VIP with table and chairs and two beds. It only had room for 13 passengers. It was also equiped with an electric ladder for remote exit and entrance. The AC was very comfortable to fly.
The other 5 assigned was an old timer 40-590 with 35,000 hrs. which at one time in the past was a PAN AM bird because their logo could be seen faintly over the entrance. When we received the bird it was designated a VC. However we striped the cabin and installed a plywood floor for cargo. Higher Headquarters would not change the VC designation so we were stuck with it. Around 1970 the bird was to be transferred to Davis-Monthan Az for salvage. I was assigned as the Engineer with my favorite pilot, Col James H Newton and my direct OIC Capt Les Ikes. The AC Was na8 tank model but it had a discrepancy: only three fuel gauges worked! The Col had a funny look when I told him but I said "Col I can keep up with the fuel if you want to go." He thought for a second and said OK. walked across the ramp to a C-141 and borrowed a Form -52 Fuel log and off went to Torrejon Spain. After an overnight we departed for the Azores. I refueled the bird and topped off all the tanks to the rim. 3540 Gallons. The Fuel Flow gauges worked just fine so I kept a close count of the fuel remaining and range. We had filed a flt plan for Argentia Newfoundland. Approaching Argentia, The Col asked How much fuel we had remaining and I said 9hrs and forty minutes. He said it's only six hrs to Dover. I said fine, turn left and proceed..
After 13:40 hrs flt time we arrived with 530 Galls of fuel and enough for another two and half hrs flying time. More on this flight later.

Ira Nehring, e-mail, 06.01.2011 21:05

In 1948, my squadron packed all of our equipment into C-54s and flew from Tachikawa, Japan to Weisbaden, Germany, with a stop in the USA to winterize the aircraft. I was a propeller specialist when I arrived at Weisbaden, but after a few check rides I became a crew chief and flight engineer. We moved on up to Celle, in the British Sector and flew coal into Berlin. My aircraft was due for major maintenance in the states at the time I rotated back to the states, so I flew home on it. It was a great aircraft!

Jerry Reed, e-mail, 29.12.2010 23:47

I was a flight eng and crew chief on the SC-54D for Air Rescue in Bermuda and also on CIA loan in Alaska for nav. aid to the U-2's flying over Russia. We had extra bladder fuel tanks and could stay up 14 hours plus special Nav aids.

Denny L. Williams, e-mail, 13.12.2010 22:53

Hi Roy B. I was station in Goose Bay Labrador with 54 th ARS from 1958 to 1960 and I was a flight engineer on the 4 SCH 54 they had. I flew on 42-72536, another number was 527 last number I remember it flew in the Berlin Air Lift. Would like to hear from you. Denny L. Williams.

Art Ladley, e-mail, 18.11.2010 20:57

I was pilot of Coast Guard R5Ds operating out of Barbers Point, Oahu from '57-'60. We flew SAR and Loran support missions to Japan, Korea, the Philippines and many other islands in the Pacific. The R5D was a great machine except for not being pressurized.

Leonard B. Chapman, e-mail, 13.11.2010 02:31

My father, M /Sgt. Leonard J. Chapman, as Flt /Eng. had many hrs. in the C-54, during the CBI and later at Fassberg, Berlin Airlift. He said the German men who unloaded the A /C were the ones who made the job so easy. A very small man would crawl under the floor and vacum out the coal dust.
He joined the Army Air Corps in 1928, spent 3yrs. in Philippines, 1930-40 at March Field, the 6th Ferrying Command at Long Beach. Then India, CBI and Berlin Airlift, back at Long Beach, retired in 1959. Passed away 2005 age 96. Buried Riverside Nat. Cem., near March, like coming home agian.

Wolfgang Boeltzig, e-mail, 10.11.2010 14:41

I was an 8 years old eye-witness of the Berlin Airlift, livin 3.2 km from touch down RWY�s 09 L /R of Tempelhof Air Base. In 1959 I joined the German Air Force and became ATC-controller. As it was forbidden to travel through the Russian Zone, I very often flew with PAA DC 4 to vitit my parents. It was a lovely plane.
During my post as Base Operation Officer in Fassberg, I became one of the foundtors of the magnificant Berlin Airlift Memorial Collection there. Because there is world wide no C 54 model available, I changed C 118 (DC 6) models into SKYMASTERS. They are in display in our beautiful museum in FASSBERG, the former coal base for the supply of Berlin 1948 /49.

Jay Friedman, e-mail, 19.09.2010 16:35

My first overseas flight was a trip to Europe as a present from my parents following college graduation in 1961. It was a student charter flight in a DC-4. The route was New York-Gander-Shannon-Frankfurt. Coming back a couple of months later the route was Frankfurt-Keflavik-Gander-New York.

Leroy McVay, e-mail, 19.06.2010 17:43

My last flight in a military fixed wing was a Navy R5D / C54. Head up his butt pilot got us into trouble at Sand Point Naval Air Station, Seattle. Made 4 approached to land under GCA rules. Waved off on #1, too far off course. Approach #2 got on deck, too fast for snow covered runway, full power at last moment, rt gear struck drainage ditch, broke right wing, don't know what held it on. Approach #3 waved off, crash equipment not in position. Stayed on on approach #4, rt wing snapped off, slow rolled to right and slid on top. All hands walked down the ceiling to get out, all okay, no injuries. Testiment to Douglas engineers for a very sturdy plane!

George Detraz, e-mail, 19.08.2010 00:52

During 1959-1961 while stationed at Patuxtant River MD in VR-1 the Navy called it a R5D. I remember that there were two R5D's, one (last three numbers of the BU NO) was 390. According to the craft log book it had carried coal in the Berlin air lift. When we had it it had been completely refurbished to a VIP craft. It was used to carry high ranking Admirals and Sec Navy etc. The other oas numbered 505. It had been bellied in in Greenland, salvaged and we were using it as a cargo plane. I remember on one trip to GITMO Cuba we ran into a storm and lightening hit us and water was running all over the deck inside. We had passangers and cargo on board. The passengers's eyes were wide open. But we made it safetly. As an Aviation Electrician and certified as an Orderly I spent much time airborne in that craft.

Randy, e-mail, 20.09.2010 23:42

I was a crew chief /mechanic on C-54's while stationed at Rhein-Main Airvase, Germany from 1962 to 1965. Our was a "SAMS" squadron( Special Air Missions). We had flights all over Europe, Lybia, North Afica etc. We also had regular flights to Berlin and many other points in Germany. A great aircraft! I returned to Germany and visited a small memorial at Frankfurt Airport dedicated to the Berlin Airlift. I have many fond memories of the C-54....all very good memories. Randy

John Hancocks, e-mail, 14.05.2010 09:15

BOAC used the Merlin powered Canadair variant (Argonaut) extensively, I flew as a passenger Heathrow /Accra in one, it was a "lollipop special" in that it was packed with boarding school kids myself included, out to visit parents. Somewhere over the French Alps a pillow flight errupted using the head rests, as battle surged back and forth the skipper asked us to resume our seats, we'd upset the aircraft's trim. It was pressurised and we cruised at 18,000 feet as I recall. The aircraft was said to be underpowered...perhaps this was so for one was lost on that route in rather strange circumstances, it was the subject of much speculation. Anyway, the Argonaut had replaced the Handley Page Hermes - a real lemon - so I suppose anything would have been seen as an improvement.

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