The XC-99 was located just outside of Kelly AFB when this slide was taken. In 1973 it was owned by the San Antonio chapter of the Disabled American Veterans organization. It was open to the public at that time, with a nominal charge to go up inside it, which we did. At this point there were no longer any USAF markings on the aircraft.

This sole example flew cargo for the USAF from 1950 to 1957 before being retired. Seen on display at the National Air Show in Philadelphia. The SAAMA logo on the fin refers to San Antonio Air Materiel Area. Comparing this view to the one taken 1 year earlier shows more weathering, stripes at the tip of the tail and no red on the prop spinners.

This sole example flew cargo for the USAF from 1950 to 1957 before being retired. The SAAMA logo on the fin refers to San Antonio Air Materiel Area. Note the red, white and blue prop spinners.

No identifying marks on airframe

It is said that 90,000 people turned out for the XC-99's first flight. This transport derivative of the B-36 bomber never made much sense, and the wheel pressure caused by the original undercarriage even ensured there were very few places it could fly to! Its last flight was on 19 March 1957, following which it was preserved at Kelly AFB in San Antonio, TX. It was acquired by the USAF Museum in 1993, but it took 15 years before the aircraft was actually moved to their main facility in Dayton, OH, in early 2008. In 2012 the disassembled XC-99 was moved again, this time to Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona for storage. It is said that restoration could take more than 30 years. Photo from: Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie