C-54 SKYMASTER

The 'Douglas C-54 Skymaster' was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces in World War II.

Contents

Design and development

Operational history

Variants

Operators

Military operators

Civilian operators

Specifications (C-54G)

References

External links

Related content

Design and development

Like the C-47 Skytrain, the C-54 Skymaster was derived from a civilian airliner (the Douglas DC-4).

Operational history

C-54s began service with the Army Air Forces in 1942, carrying up to 26 passengers. (Later versions carried up to 50 passengers.) The U.S. Navy also acquired the type, under the designation 'R5D'. The C-54 was one of the most commonly used long-range transports by the U.S. armed forces in World War II. 515 C-54s were manufactured in Santa Monica, CA and 655 were manufactured in Chicago, Illinois.
After World War II, the C-54 continued to serve as the primary airlifter of the new United States Air Force and with the United States Navy.
The USAF Strategic Air Command had C-54 Skymasters in service from 1946 through 1975.
President Harry S. Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947, which created the U.S. Air Force, on board "Sacred Cow", the Presidential C-54 which is preserved at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. More than 300 C-54s and R5Ds formed the backbone of the US contribution to the Berlin Airlift in 1948. They also served as the main airlift during the Korean War. After the Korean War, the C-54 was replaced by the Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, but continued to be used by the U.S. Air Force until 1972.
The C-54 was the personal aircraft of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Douglas MacArthur, and Winston Churchill (along with an Avro York). The C-54 was also used by the Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, the Armée de l'Air, and the armed forces of at least twelve other nations.

Variants

;C-54
:First production variant adapted from DC-4, 24 built.
;C-54A
:First military version with strengthened airframe, increased fuel capacity, provision for passengers or cargo, Navy equivalent R5D-1, 252 built.
;MC-54A
:Optional designation for C-54As used for medical evacuation.
;C-54B
:Increased fuel capacity in the wing, One was used by Winston Churchill, 220 built.
;VC-54C
:One C-54A converted as Presidential transport version used by Franklin D. Roosevelt.
;C-54D
:Same as C-54B but with R-2000-11 engines, 380 built.
;AC-54D
:Small number of aircraft modified with special electronic calibration and communications equipment. The aircraft were redesignated 'EC-54D'.
;EC-54D
:Redesignation of the AC-54D.
;HC-54D Rescuemaster
:Redesignation of the SC-54D.
;JC-54D
:Nine C-54Ds temporary converted for missile tracking and nose-cone recovery.
;SC-54D
:38 aircraft converted by Convair, as search and rescue aircraft. Later redesignated 'HC-54D'.
;TC-54D
:C-54Ds converted into multi-engine training aircraft.
;VC-54D
:C-54Ds converted into VIP transport aircraft.
;WC-54D
:C-54Ds converted for weather reconnaissance.
;'C-54E
:Further revision to fuel tanks and provision for rapid conversion from passenger to cargo, 125 built.
;AC-54E
:C-54Es converted for airways calibration, redesignated EC-54E in 1962.
;EC-54E
:AC-54E redesignated in 1962.
;HC-54E
:SC-54E redesignated in 1962.
;SC-54E
:C-54E converted for air-sea rescue, redesingated HC-54E in 1962.
;VC-54E
:C-54Es converted as a staff transport.
;XC-54F
:Proposed experimental paratroop version, not built.
;C-54G
:Same as C-54E but with different version of the R2000 engine.
;HC-54G
:SC-54G redesignated in 1962.
;JC-54G
:C-54Gs used for temporary testing.
;SC-54G
:C-54Gs converted for air-sea rescue, redesignated HC-54G in 1962.
;VC-54G
:C-54Gs converted into VIP/staff transport aircraft.
;C-54GM
:The designation of the DC-4 version made by Canadair.
;C-54H
:Paratroop transport. None built.
;C-54J
:Staff transport project, none built. Navy designation 'R5D-6'.
;XC-54K
:Long range version, one aircraft built with Wright R-1820 engines.
;C-54L
:One C-54A aircraft tested in 1947 with an experimental fuel system.
;C-54M
:Specialized modification of C-54 to carry coal during the Berlin Airlift, 38 conversions.
;MC-54M
:Specialized modification of C-54E for medical evacuation, 30 conversions.
;VC-54N
:R5D-1Z redesignated in 1962.
;C-54P
:R5-D2 redesignated in 1962.
;VC-54P
:R5-D2Z redesignated in 1962.
;C-54Q
:R5D-3 redesignated in 1962.
;VC-54Q
:R5D-3Z redesignated in 1962.
;C-54R
:R5D-4R redesingated in 1962.
;C-54S
:R5D-5 redesingnated in 1962.
;VC-54S
:R5D-5Z redesignated in 1962.
;C-54T
:R5D-5R redesingated in 1962.
;EC-54U
:R5D-4 redesignated in 1962.
;RC-54V
:R5D-3P redesignated in 1962.
;R5D-1
:56 C-54As transferred to the United States Navy.
;R5D-1C
:R5D-1s modified in US Navy service, with a fuel system based on the one used in the C-54B.
;R5D-1F
:Naval staff transport conversions of the R5D-1, redesignated R5D-1Z then VC-54N.
;R5D-1Z
:Interim designation of the R5D-1F.
;R5D-2
:30 C-54Bs transferred to the United States Navy, redesignated C-54P in 1962.
;R5D-2F
:Naval staff transport conversion of the R5D-2, redesignated R5D-2Z then VC-54P in 1962.
;R5D-2Z
:Interim designation of the R5D-2F.
;R5D-3
:95 C-54Ds transferred to the United States Navy, redesignated C-54Q in 1962.
;R5D-3P
:Photo survey conversions of the R5D-3, redesignated RC-54V in 1962.
;R5D-3Z
:Naval staff transport conversions of the R5D-3, redesignated VC-54Q in 1962.
;R5D-4
:20 C-54Es transferred to the United States Navy, redesignated EC-54U in 1962.
;R5D-4R
:Passenger only conversion of the R5D-4, redesignated C-54R in 1962.
;R5D-5
:R5D-2 and R5D-3s re-engined to approximate C-54G standards, redesignated C-54S in 1962.
;R5D-5R
:Passenger only conversion of the R5D-5, redesignated C-54T in 1962, 86 conversion.
;R5D-5Z
:Staff transport conversion of the R5D-5, redesignated VC-54S in 1962.
;R5D-6
:Proposed USN version of the C-54J with passenger interior, not built.
;XC-112
:Pressurized variant of the C-54B with Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engines. None built.
;XC-112A
:As XC-112. One built. Developed into DC-6 / C-118 family.
;XC-114
:Stretched C-54E powered by Allison V-1710 engines. One built.
;XC-115
:XC-114 with Packard V-1650 engines. None Built.
;YC-116
:XC-114 with thermal de-icing rather than rubber boots for testing, one built.
;Skymaster I
:Royal Air Force designation for 22 C-54Ds.

Operators

Military operators

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★ : RCAF (DC-4M)

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★ : Icelandic Coast Guard

★ : IDF/AF

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★ South Africa

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★ : RAF

★ : USAAC, USAAF, USAF, US Navy, USMC, USCG

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Civilian operators

★ : Trans Australia Airlines

★ : Sabena, Avions Fairey, Belgian International

★ : Canadian Pacific, Kenting Aviation, Maritime Central Airways, Pacific Western, Transair

★ : Icelandair, Loftleidir

★ : El Al

★ : Invicta, Starways,

★ : Pan American, Trans World

Specifications (C-54G)

References

★ McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Since 1920: Volume I, , René, Francillon, Putnam, 1979, ISBN 0-87021-428-4

★ McDonnell Douglas: A Tale of Two Giants, , Bill, Yenne, Bison Books, 1985, ISBN 0-517-44287-6

External links

★ Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation - Operates C-54 "Spirit of Freedom" as flying Berlin Airlift Museum

★ Air Force Association page on C-54

★ Air Force Museum page on the VC-54C

★ Warbird Alley: C-54 page

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