ex USAAF 42-72391. Broken up in 1965

Photographer: Bo-Göran Lundkvist.

Photographer: Bo-Göran Lundkvist.

Still in its former operator Wenela's livery, this Transair Cargo Skymaster is a little conundrum. First delivered to the USAAF as 46-17166 in September 1944, to American Airlines as N90420 in November 1945, then Slick Airways; American International; California Hawaiian before joining Wenela as ZS-EKJ, VP-YUU, and A2-ZEQ. Sold as 9Q-CAQ around 1977/78 reprted operating for AMAZ, Transair Cargo, and Kinair before broken up at Kinsasha ca 1981. The exact dates are sketchy. Photographer unknown

(photographer not known)

Delivered to the USAAF as 43-17128 in 1944. Leased to National Airlines NC88817 in 1945. Converted to a DC-4 in 1946 for Pan American Grace Airways and re-registered as N88817 after 1948. To Faucett as OB-PBE-463 in 1957 and re-registered as OB-R-463 in 1964. Sold to Frigorifico Reyes in 1981 and used for parts at La Paz. Still present in 2022.

74-72396 delivered to USAAF in January 1945. To AA in 1946. To Air France in 1949 as F-BELL. Leased to Air Vietnam in 1962. Burnt at Saigon in 1969. Seen on the left is the Friedkin School of Aeronautics building. Kenny Friedkin started Pacific Southwest Airlines in 1949. Photo from: San Diego Air & Space Museum

Very rare photo of ex USAAF 42-72334, which was converted by Douglas to C54B-DC, and delivered to Pan Am as NX88892 in August 1946. For some reason the aircraft was registered with the NX prefix, denoting "experimental". It was reportedly never taken in service and remained unnamed (note it only carries the word "Clipper", without an actual name). Instead it went to Avianca Colombia as C-114 in September 1946, but on February 15, 1947 the aircraft crashed into Mount El Tablazo en-route from Barranquilla to Bogotá, killing all 53 people on board - which at the time, was the worst commercial airline crash in history.

Undated negative from FNG archive. Built 1944 as 42-72350 for USAAF. Converted to C54B-DC (DC-4 standard) by Douglas in 1946 (conversion #38) as NC88903 for Pan American. Leased to Avianca as CP-142 1947, returned 1950 and used for many years on internal German services. T.A. Mirfeni LV-HJC 1962, Aerovias Halcon 1964, Southern Cross 1969. Reimported to US as N88903 1971 for Basler Flight Services but its ultimate fate seems unknown. KLM CV-440 PH-CGB is parked on the right.

Delivered to the USAAF as 43-17128 in 1944. Leased to National Airlines NC88817 in 1945. To Douglas in 1946 and converted to a DC-4 for Pan American Grace Airways. Reregistered as N88817 after 1948. To Faucett as OB-PBE-463 in 1957. Reregistered as OB-R-463 in 1964. Sold to Frigorifico Reyes in 1981 and used for parts at La Paz. Still there in 2013.

Ex USAAF C-54B 42-72399, converted by Douglas to civil C54B-DC in 1946 (conversion #14) and delivered to Pan Am in August 1946. Crashed in Honduras on 12 September 1959.

Converted to passenger configuration for Delta Air Lines in 1946 and imported to the UK in 1958. Here registered to Air Charter (name on steps), but presumably on lease to BUA. Converted to ATL-98 for British Air Ferries in 1964 and withdrawn in 1971. [I cropped this wide to capture G-AOUU since there's no photo on AH at the date of uploading. Note the typical British laborers 'hard at work' (no hard hats, no hi-viz) and doubtless harassing the stewardess walking across the apron. How times have changed!]

Built as 42-72344 for the USAAF. Converted to C-54DC for civilian use and delivered to Pan American World Airways as N88902 in July 1946. Sold to Eastern Airlines in November 1950 and flew with them until sold to the Trans Equipment Company in 1960. Exported to Colombia as HK-528 flying with SAM and later Aerotabo which became Aerolineas Medellin in 1976. The aircraft was withdrawn from use in 1978.

Converted by Sabena to swing-tail configuration for Air Zaire circa1967 and later, while with Kinair Cargo as 9Q-CBK, it was destroyed in a crash near Kinshasa. No details can be found, but maybe the tail became unlatched?

Ex 42-72394, N30054. Originally delivered to USAAF 28th December 1944. Interocean Airways took delivery of it on 3rd May1961. Withdrawn from use and broken up at Luxembourg July 1967.

A former C-54B, 42-72430, and Navy R5D-2, BuNo 39125, flying over Houston, Texas - a helpful Markle Steel Company building is below the nose in the uncropped photo. Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

Wenela Air Services cheatline but no titles

Registered April 79 to Air Freight Corporation. With a private owner by Sep 88. Seen stored Tucson AZ in the early 90s.

Ex USAAF C-54B 42-72423, to Douglas in 1946 as NC88723 and converted to C54B-DC (civilianised). To Braniff as NC59952 in 1947, damaged in landing accident at Dallas on 15 May 1953. Sold to Ed Daly (owner of World Airways) in Jun 1953 and repaired, then briefly leased to World Airways 21 Aug 1954 to 25 Jan 1955, as seen here. Sold to Air Charter Ltd. in the UK as G-ANYB and converted into the Carvair prototype in Jun 1961. Operated by Channel Air Bridge and British United Air Ferries until withdrawn from use on 5 March 1967. Stored at Lydd, UK and broken up there circa July 1970. Photo from: Civil Aviation Historical Society, Melbourne, Australia