Photographer: Karl Krämer.

Delivered to the USAAF as C-54B 43-17188 then transferred to the US Navy as R5D-2 90389 in 1944. Redesignated as a C-54P in 1962. Stored at Davis-Monthan AFB with park code 3C091 in 1971. To Biegert Aviation as N44906 in 1975 and converted to a sprayer. Stored at Chandler-Gila River Memorial by 1987. To Brooks Fuel in 2001 and used for parts. Remains still there in 2022.

K25 slide scan. Built 1944 as R5D-2 90389 for USN. Redesignated C-54P 1962. Retired to MASDC 1971, auctioned 1975. Registered N44SB, Biegert Aviation N44906 as sprayer 1977. Initially Falcon Field, Chandler Memorial from 1980. Stored from early 1980's. Acquired by Brooks Fuel for spares 2001, remained at Chandler for part out, becoming derelict.

Scrapped

Sad end for World War II veteran built as 43-17188 and transferred to the US Navy on delivery as bu 90389. Ending up with Biegert Aviation and used for aerial spraying, the company's DC-4 fleet remained stored at Chandler Memorial airport when the business closed down. Acquired by Brooks Fuel Inc of Alaska in 2001, it remained in place as a source of parts. After commercial operators were evicted from the airport in 2007, at airport was abandoned and the aircraft deteriorated and .became graffiti billboards.

Former Biegert Aviation aircraft abandoned and later set on fire by vandals in 2015 or 2016 resulting in the nose section separating from the rest of the fuselage. I believe the remains of this aircraft are still on the field in 2018.

One of five DC-4s stored by Biegert at Chandler. A very large and unfriendly dog guarded four of these aircraft making photography a very nervous endeavor!