No-frills carrier Southwest Airways began passenger flights between LA and San Francisco in 1946, with no less than eight stops along the way! Ex 43-15728, N63440 was later used to transport live turkeys in even less comfort no doubt - see other photo of this construction number. Note the man in the United Air Lines air freight pick-up and delivery booth in the foreground. This is a crop of overview photo 673029. Photo from: SFO Museum

Delivered to the USAAF as 43-15728 in 1944. Sold as NC63440 in 1946, N63440 after 1948. Withdrawn from use at Arlington, WA by 1979. Has been restored as 315728. Still at Arlington, in 2021. Visible on the satellite image.

Delivered to the USAAF as 43-15728 in 1944. Sold as NC63440 in 1946, N63440 after 1948. Withdrawn from use at Arlington, WA by 1979. Has been restored as 315728. Still at Arlington, in 2021. Visible on the satellite image.

Stored at Arlington since 1979. Restoration started in 1993, and this C-47 was then painted in these USAAF markings, with its original serial 43-15728. The name is only carried on the left side. As can be seen in this photo, by 2006 its condition left much to be desired. Despite that, it was still present at Arlington by mid 2018.
The aircraft still has multiple unusual vents in the fuselage roof and belly, dating back to its time with Amerine Turkey Breeding Farms in the 1960s, when it was used to transport large numbers of live birds. These produce a lot of heat and need appropriate ventilation to survive.