Seen in US Bicentenary colours. To the USAAF as a C-54D serial 42-72442 on 31 Oct 1945. To the RAF as KL977 on 20 Feb 1945. To the US Navy as serial 91994 in 1946 as a R5D-3. Later redesignated to a C-54Q. WFU at MASDC - Davis Monthan in Jul 1970. To Aero Union as N62296 on 13 Dec 1974 for use as a water bomber. Registered to N76AU on 20 Jan 1976. Noted in Oct 1991 at CIC painted as USAF '272442' for the air show season. To N3054V on 30 Jan 2002 with Aero Flite. To Brooks Fuel Inc on 28 Jun 2007. To Alaska Air Fuel on 29 Oct 2013. Still current in 2023.

Nice to see a DC-4 in service. Delivered to the USAAF as C-54D 42-72442 then transferred to the RAF as KL977 in 1945. To the US Navy as R5D-3 91994 in 1946. Redesignated as a C-54Q in 1962. Stored at Davis-Monthan AFB with park code 3C065 in 1970. To Aero Union as N62296 in 1974. Converted to a firebomber and reregistered as N76AU in 1976. Deconverted from a firebomber in 1990 and painted in USAAF colours by 1992. To Aero Flite as N3054V in 2001 then to Brooks Fuel in 2007 and Alaska Air Fuel in 2013. Sadly, this aircraft, with its two crew, was lost in a crash immediately after take-off from Fairbanks, Alaska on 23 April 2024. By then, it was the last DC-4 flying commercially in the USA.

Delivered to the USAAF as C-54D 42-72442 then transferred to the RAF as KL977 in 1945. To the US Navy as R5D-3 91994 in 1946. Redesignated as a C-54Q in 1962. Stored at Davis-Monthan AFB with park code 3C065 in 1970. To Aero Union as N62296 in 1974. Converted to a firebomber and reregistered as N76AU in 1976. Deconverted from a firebomber in 1990 and painted in USAAF colours by 1992. To Aero Flite as N3054V in 2001 then to Brooks Fuel in 2007 and Alaska Air Fuel in 2013. Sadly, this aircraft, with its two crew, was lost in a crash immediately after take-off from Fairbanks, Alaska on 23 April 2024. By then, it was the last DC-4 flying commercially in the USA.

Still hauling fuel on a daily basis, 77 years after being built. Sadly, this aircraft, with its two crew, was lost in a crash immediately after take-off from Fairbanks, Alaska on 23 April 2024. By then, it was the last DC-4 flying commercially in the USA.

The aircraft was painted in this special scheme to celebrate 1976 being the Bicentennial year of the British colonies issuing their Declaration of Independence from Britain. The next year the tanker number was changed to '16' with a simple paint modification.

Only ten Skymasters saw service with the RAF. The first was EW999, Churchill's personal aircraft, and this was the second, US serial 42-72442. It reached Britain in February 1945 and was sent to No 232 Sqn in India together with KL978. Uncle Sam wanted these capable Lend-Lease transports back after the end of the war and KL977 became a US Navy R5D-3, 91994. The airframe was still airworthy in the 2010s as N3054V with Alaska Air Fuel at Palmer, Alaska. Information from Airscape. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

One of two DC-4s owned by Alaska Air Fuel.

Operated by Brooks Fuel.

Aero Union's "Santa Monica Maid" in storage at their home base.

Built in 1945 this DC-4 is still airworthy and operated by Brooks Fuel flies from Fairbanks transporting fuel supplies to outlying areas.

Landing on Runway 19 at Fairbanks during early morning, operated by Brooks Fuel.

Built in 01.45 for USAAF as C-54D 42-72442 and here painted thus in 1992. To RAF in 02.45 as KL977 and flown by 232 Squadron on regular Ceylon-Australia flights. Returned to USA in 1946 and allotted to US Navy as 91994. Stored at Davis Monthan 07.70. Bought by Aero Union and became N76AU in 01.76. Used as tanker until sold to Aero Flite in 10.01. Operational in 02.18 as N3054V with Alaska Air Fuel at age 73. Sadly, this aircraft, with its two crew, was lost in a crash immediately after take-off from Fairbanks, Alaska on 23 April 2024. By then, it was the last DC-4 flying commercially in the USA.

Delivered to USAAF as C-54D-1-DC, transferred to USN as R5D-3, converted to C-54Q.