|
| Despite having been the world's largest landplane transport when it flew in 1945, the Douglas C-74 Globemaster was actually too small-in volume-to accommodate the outsized loads dictated by the American military's postwar logistical needs. In response to this problem, the fifth C-74 was held back at the factory to undergo far- reaching modifications under the new designation YC-124. Using the wings, engine nacelles, and tail group of the C-74, Douglas evolved an entirely new fuselage by adding five feet ten inches to overall length, raising the height of the main cargo bay five feet, and lowering the depth of forward fuselage to permit loading of trucks, artillery pieces, aircraft sub- assemblies, or bulky equipment through a set of full- width clamshell doors in a new nose section that incorporated a built- in, hydraulically lowered ramp. The aft, belly loading hatch of the C-74 was retained, and to assist fore and aft movement of large loads, two overhead hoists, with 16,000 lbs. lifting capacity each, were installed in the main cargo bay. When rigged in a double deck configuration, the new fuselage design could also house 200 fully equipped troops or 127 evacuees in medical litters.
Dubbed "Globemaster II," the YC-124 completed its maiden flight on November 27, 1949, and deliveries of the first of 204 C-124A production models to the USAF commenced in May 1950. The prototype became the YC-124A when re- powered with 3,800-hp R-4360-35A engines, then reemerged in 1954 as the YC-124B after being modified to serve as a flying testbed for 5,500-shp Pratt & Whitney YT34 turboprop engines. A KC-124B tanker variant was considered as a potential KC-97 replacement but never materialized. The Long Beach plant shifted to production of 243 improved C-124Cs delivered between 1952 and 1955, which differed in having 3,800-hp R-4360-63A engines, an APS-42 weather radar in a nose- mounted thimble radome, and wingtip- mounted combustion heaters that provided thermal de-icing and cabin heating, and over a period of years, the existing C-124A fleet received retrofits that brought them up to the C standard. A pressurized variant was studied as the C-124X but never built, and during the mid-1950s, a much redesigned turboprop- powered, swept- wing derivative, designated XC-132, got as far as the mockup stage but was ultimately canceled in favor of the C-133.
C-124As began entering service during 1950 in time to play an important role in the Korean War (1950-1953). For the first time, MATS possessed a long- range aircraft capable of loading bulky items like tanks, guns, trucks, and construction equipment without major disassembly; and in Strategic Support Squadrons, new Globemasters gave SAC the ability to deliver large aircraft components to any of its widespread bases. As the USAF's C-124A and C fleet grew to planned strength in the mid-1950s, it formed the bulk- carrying nucleus of every major U.S. military airlift operation conducted from that time up until the late 1960s. Some of the C-124's more notable achievements included moving an entire squadron of Lockheed F-104s from the U.S. to Taiwan during the Formosa Straits Crisis in 1958; during Operation Deep Freeze (1957-1962), regular airdrops from C-124s formed the supply line from McMurdo Base to outlying stations in the Antarctic; and as part of Operation Big Lift in 1963, MATS C-124s moved the 2nd Armored Division and a TAC Strike Force from U.S. bases to Germany in two and a half days.
At their peak in 1963, 377 C-124s were operating with 20 different transport squadrons. As American involvement in Southeast Asia escalated in the mid-1960s, C-124s began flying transport sorties directly into South Vietnam, and from early 1966, continued with Military Airlift Command (MAC) when that organization replaced MATS. Although the USAF started the process of phasing- out C-124s from frontline service and transferring them to reserve and ANG units in mid-1960s, the type's bulk cargo capacity was not matched until Lockheed C-5s became operational with MAC during 1969-1970. From 1964 to 1972, to augment MATS/MAC operations, USAF reserve units flew C-124s on overseas sorties from eleven different bases within the continental U.S., and starting in 1966, they also served in eight ANG squadrons until the last examples were retired in mid-1974, finally ending the type's military service. The last recorded flight of a C-124 occurred on October 9, 1986 when C-124C AF Ser. No. 52-0994 was ferried from Selfridge ANG Base, Michigan to McChord AFB, Washington.
E.R.Johnson "American military transport aircraft since 1925", 2013
There was little doubt of the load-carrying capability of the C-74 and when, in late 1947, the newly-formed US Air Force decided it needed a heavy strategic cargo transport, discussions between the.USAF and Douglas resulted in development of the C-124 Globemaster II, based on the C-74.
In fact, the prototype YC-124 was basically the fifth C-74 provided with a new, deeper fuselage and strengthened landing gear. Powered by 2610kW R-4360-49 radial engines, it was flown for the first time on 27 November 1949. The type entered production as the C-124A, of which 204 were built, the first of them entering service with the USAF in May 1950. The next, and final, production version was the C-124C, with more-powerful R-4360 engines, weather radar in a distinctive nose radome and, equally useful recognition points, wingtip fairings housing combustion heaters to de-ice the wing and tailplane leading edges and to heat the cabin. C-124C production totalled 243, the last machine being delivered during May 1955.
The fuselage of the Globemaster II had clamshell nose loading doors with an associated built-in loading ramp, an electric hoist amidships which was a carry-over from the C-74, and two overhead cranes (each with a capacity of 7257kg which could traverse the entire length of the 23.47m-long cargo hold. The flight deck, accommodating a crew of five, was mounted high in the nose, over the clamshell doors. When used in a transport role (with two decks installed), the Globemaster II could carry a maximum of 200 fully-equipped troops, or 123 stretcher cases plus 45 ambulatory patients and 15 medical attendants.
Serving with the USAF's Air Materiel Command, Far Eastern Air Force, Military Air Transport Service, Strategic Air Command and Tactical Air Command, and used in conjunction with Douglas C-133s, the Globemaster Us remained in service until replaced by the Lockheed C-5A Galaxy during 1970.
When the Globemaster Is ended their useful, service life; some were acquired by civil cargo operators.
D.Donald "The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft", 1997
| CREW | 6 |
| PASSENGERS | 200 |
| ENGINE | 4 x P+W R-4360-63, 2795kW |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 84000 kg | 185189 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 53.1 m | 174 ft 3 in |
| Length | 39.8 m | 131 ft 7 in |
| Height | 14.7 m | 48 ft 3 in |
| Wing area | 233.0 m2 | 2507.99 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Cruise speed | 520 km/h | 323 mph |
| Ceiling | 6100 m | 20000 ft |
| Range w/max.fuel | 6500 km | 4039 miles |
| Range w/max payload | 1970 km | 1224 miles |
| Deborah Gregory, e-mail, 24.01.2015 06:10 I am looking for anyone who flew c124's out of Hickam 1958-1962 and who might have flown with my father. His name is Raymond Clark and he was a Major at that time. In particular, I'm looking for anyone connected to an incident on a flight from Hickam to Travis where engines were feathered and cargo was jettisoned in order to make the mainland. He was flight commander on that flight.
He passed away a year ago, but he always said that of all the planes he flew in his 33 years in USAF, starting in WWII and through Korea and Vietnam, the 124 was his favorite.
Thank you to all of you who served. reply | | Gene Clayton, e-mail, 14.01.2015 23:34 I was crew chief on the C-124A & the C-124C for 12 years. 1961 to 1972. In 1972 I had one with a GTPU. The only one in our squadron with a GTPU. The C-124A had the old removable engine cowling. The exhaust system was terrible. The exhaust ports were sweated in on the old -20 engines & were bad to blow out. The Ignition system was the high tension ignition system with seven magnetos. I remember when a contract field team changed the engine cowling to the "Orange Peel' A great idea. We would fly from Tinker AFB to Vietnam. 100 hours flying time. We would fly from Hickam to Tinker in 18 hours nonstop. We delivered a big red firetruck to Ascension, Is in the Pacific. We had to remove the upper deck from the cargo section, let the tires on the firetruck half-flat & remove the red rotating light from the firetruck in order for it to fit inside. I practically flew around the world on "Old Shakey" & loved it. Worked my tail off!! reply | | tom siwek, e-mail, 13.01.2015 04:33 was also a member of the 61st field transit squadron at hickum and loved every minute of it. worked on 124-c97-and others. still remember the anchor inn right outside the back gate. They Had the best french onion soup I have ever had. reply | | ira g' briggs, e-mail, 31.12.2014 22:07 I was a panel flight engineer In old shakey and have over
8000hrs in the air in this aircraft.
and was an instructor of ingineers on C124 aircraft for
6yrs reply | |
| | John Walls, e-mail, 26.12.2014 22:23 how do I get a Picture of radio operator position and equipment reply | | julie(Giakovmis)Franco, e-mail, 09.12.2014 03:27 If anyone knew my father, Major George K. Giakovmis,who died in a C-124 Accident on Iwo Jima please contact me.He raced hydroplanes in Japan as well as belonging to model airplane clubs. Based at Tachikawa AFB from 1946-1955 with a short time at Moses Lake,Washington.I would especially like to talk to Mr. Watkins who was a crew chief for the C-124 and was to return to Japan on that fatal flight back but was replaced by another person.Thank you for any information I can get on this.Julie...maryjuliafranco@gmail.com reply | | James C. "Speedy" Wheeler, e-mail, 25.11.2014 15:27 Forgot to leave you my email address so here it is:
theec47@gmail.com I was in the 19th LOG from Feb. 56 until May 60 and again from Aug. 67 until it was de-activated.
Remember them they were called "Bird Cages" about a dozen would make a load.
"SPEEDY" reply | | James C. "Speedy" Wheeler, e-mail, 24.11.2014 14:21 How many of you old 19th LSS folks remember what entire Load for our birds as big as it was, could be hauled out to us in One Pickup Truck and in just One Trip?? SPEEDY reply | | Ura A. Matthews, e-mail, 22.11.2014 23:46 Ssgt U.A. Matthews, I was the loadmaster on acft 490258 that went to Nebraska in July 1969 along with L /C Billy Morrison, pilot, Capt Sam Lane, co-pilot, Tsgt E.J.Blanchard, Flight Engineer, and Tsgt R.P. Lloyd, Flight Engineer. When we were on approach, I was sitting in the back scanning the right wing when the pilot said we were going to do a pop-up. I grabbed ahold of the bar that the seats are attached to and held on. We were really "busting up the base" and then we popped up. Old Shakey really shook!!! The inside compartment buffed and expanded over and over until we leveled out and started our approach again. There is a dvd of this event and it is put out by the Military History Archives. We taxied in and stopped engines and I opened the nose doors and lowered the ramps and we proceeded to be greeted by the Governor of Nebraska and the Air Force Commanders and dignitaries. It was quite a day and the weather was great. Now the aircraft is at the muesuem (sp) at Dover. There is a tour video of this aircraft if you go to Google and type in "C-124 In Action" and watch the tour. There are some minor errors but they are forgiven. This plane can not carry 440 combat troops and in the movie Stratigic (sp) Air Command with Jimmy Stewart this aircraft can not carry a 18 wheeler fuel truck and all those troops together. Makes for a long day loading. I got on the C-124 in Aug 1965 after we lost our other acft C-119 which went to Clinton County, OH. When I got on we were hauling troops from Charleston to Travis constantly due to an airline strike. Later we started picking up missions that the C-141's were suppose to do but they were getting thin. I read in a comment up above about hauling AO. Yes, we hauled AO from Travis to Vietnam. I was briefed that I was hauling "automobile parts" and I didn't find out what I was really hauling until I got to Clark and the traffic sergeant looked at my cargo manifest and jumped up and down and wanted to look at my load. I was hauling "bars, rockets, hand grenades, all kind of munitions." When I got back to Travis I reported the one who briefed me with an "OHR" and he was removed.
The ramps are lowered by cables that came off of a hoist and were stowed on each side of the plane by what we called "a closed circuit cable", just to keep the cables from getting tangled during on-load and off-load. @joe schara, the elevator platform measured 88" x 108" and was raised and lowered by two hoist that were on a rail system at the top of the fuselage. I am sure there are photos around somewhere due to when I was at Wake a photographer was taking pictures of me loading an aircraft engine. The aircraft engine container was longer that the opening of the elevator well, so it had to be tilted and you had to make sure you didn't attach the cables at the bottom of the container or it would be flipped upside down and that is not good, so the cables had to be hooked at the top of the container. Seems like the ramp cables were hydralic driven because you opened them while the engines were still running using the hydralic pumps., The hoise up above on the rail used acft power or power generator power, since they were electric. Also, you had to stow the hoist on the rail to the floor so the hoist wouldn't run up and down the rails during take-off and landing. I flew on Old Shaky from Aug 1965 to July 1972. It was fun and I wouldn't trade any of it for the world. reply | | Bob Archer, e-mail, 05.11.2014 00:06 Would Bruce Harding please contact me on carlscroop@aol.com, as I am interested in the accident involving an AAC C-124 at Cape Newingham in 1972. Many thanks
Bob Archer reply | | tom nolan, e-mail, 10.10.2014 17:54 I had the privilege to have worked on this aircraft as a engine buildup and flight line mechanic from 1968-1970 at Hickam AFB Hawaii. My fondest memories were when opening the (clamshell) cowling doors during the swing shift, and hearing all the exhaust studs roll down. This dictates your workload for the night. We had engine changes down to 3 hours. A record I understand at the time. reply | | Pepe, e-mail, 30.08.2014 00:07 C-124 A & C autopilots were functional when they were properly maintained until (at minimum) 1970. The IRAN contract for which I flew acceptance test, required in-flight testing of the autopilot and autopilot approach, which incidentally, was very good. MATS policy, however, (and I flew MATS "Shakeys" for four years)was "do not use the autopilot for approaches" Strange things in those days.
But, it was a great airplane, took me around the world (twice). reply | | Gene Zutell, e-mail, 19.07.2014 23:18 In March, 1967, I hitchhiked in a Globemaster from Norton AFB in southern CA to Guam in three days, with overnights in Hawaii and at Wake. The cargo was a Huey chopper. The pilots seat in the Huey was the most comfortable place to sit. So, I may be said that I flew across the Pacific in the Huey. The above listed cruise speed of 323 mph is far higher than the 180 knots (approx.210) that we averaged on that trip. reply | | Bruce Harding, e-mail, 18.07.2014 19:22 I was the last loadmaster on the last c-124 in the USAF. I was assigned to the 5041 st in June of 1972. We had two aircraft. There were three uphill runways in Alaska. One way in and one way out. We crashed one at Cape Newingham in the Fall of 72. No one was injured. I was told that for years the station used it as a boat house. The acft was pulled on the side of the runway with the clamshell doors pulled open. There was no aircraft then and now that could do what the C-124 did. We took large outsized cargo (like dump trucks, road graders, etc. and landed on 300 ft uphill runways. Once you were on final approach, there was no go around. You either landed it, or you crashed it. Couldn't out climb the mountains. The C130s could carry the weight, but not the size cargo. I was on C-141s, C130s, C123s, C-47s in my flying career.......but the best and most fun acft was old Shakey. Everyone in the crew wanted to operate the overhead hoists. And of course they did. At 65 below zero......it was all hands on deck to offload and get back to Elmendorf.
We had a small squadron with some excellent people.
Loved my time as the very last loadmaster on the C-124. The last acft flew in 1974 and later disassembled at Elmendorf. reply |
|
| | Dan Lucey, e-mail, 18.07.2014 04:44 Have been reading and looking for old names from the SAC 2ndSS. I have bragging rites for a couple of things. We left Hickam headed for Travis in Cal. in the oldest C-124 flying. 49-235. With a good tail wind and 3 great maintenance people we logged 8 hours and 15 min. from block out to shut down. the previous time was 8 hr. 30 min. The maint. crew was C /C squeeky McEwen, me Ed Nelson and Jim Mason. Acft Commander was Lt Buck.
since I am writting, I saw that someone had asked about a C-124 nose gear collapse at Clark AB. I was there in the ramp control truck. Cargo 2. I did witness the collapse and called for emer. equip. Not much could be said about a sad situation like that. reply | | Jack, e-mail, 17.06.2014 18:42 Further on my last post . . . thank you for the responses. I am getting the idea that only SAC C-124s were flown without autopilots. Apparently there was a problem with manually disconnecting the autopilot (With changes in temperature the cables expanded and contracted differently than the structure, and occasionally would not actuate to disconnect.) Our fathers who were in Omaha did not want to face that risk in view of the highly classified high-value cargo which we often carried. So . . . the USAF solution: don't bother to fix the problem. Simply remove the autopilots. Corky, can you shed any light on this? Or anybody? reply | | jack, e-mail, 10.06.2014 18:12 Does anyone out there know an ACCURATE reason why C-124 autopilots (both A and C models) were permanently and intentionally disabled? I flew both models in the 1st SSS, Biggs AFB El Paso Tx in 1953\\54. I flew the Atlantic to Casablanca and also to Mildenhall, also Thule and the Pacific to Guam and Eniwetok. Also the North Country. Hand-flew the beast all the way. Never had an autopilot. Always wondered why. Anybody know the real reason . . . no rumors or folk stories, please. reply |
| Alan, e-mail, 29.05.2014 03:00 This is not a Douglas C-124 "GLOBMASTER ! I'm sure it is a USN named "CONSTITUTION." Only 2, maybe 3 were built. reply | | Stanley R. Lewis, e-mail, 05.04.2014 02:55 I was a Air Craft Propeller Repairman on C-124 at McChord AFB August 1965 Thru November 1965. Had some good times at the snake pit. Was sent to Vietnam Jan. 1966. reply | | Alan Colla, e-mail, 14.03.2014 23:55 My name is Alan Colla, I am the nephew of US Airforce retiree Edward E Colla. I am trying to research information about my uncle who was involved in a record breaking engine change on a C-124 as far as I can tell at Brookley AFB. The only info that I have is a very grainey photocopy that belonged to my father that was copied from an article written in the Air Force Times in January 14 (year unknown - but looks like it may read 1966) and shows a photo of 5 men standing in front of an unidentified aircraft but possibly an C-124. It would be very much appreciated if you could help me find this story or direct me to someone who may be able to help. I have done some research on my own but cannot find the story of these men who did the engine swap on this aircraft. I have the grainy photo but cannot get it on here. Anyone who would like to see it can email me directly.
Thank you for any help you can provide to me. reply |
|
Do you have any comments?
|
| 
COMPANY
PROFILE
All the World's Rotorcraft
|
jack
My eyes are giving me trouble can't write much . Look at my new comment on the site Denis
reply