TOS USAAF July 1944 with s/n 44-70296. Assigned to several units being sold in 1946. Passed through many owners in Canada and USA, including airlines. Last owner was Robert E. Purcell of Ft. Worth, TX, who acquired the plane in January 1980 and registered it N57WS. He donated it to the Air Force Museum in March 1981. It was restored by November 1984, marked as 44-70534 as it appeared in 1946 with Air Transport Command in Alaska.

TOS USAAF July 1944 with s/n 44-70296. Assigned to several units being sold in 1946. Passed through many owners in Canada and USA, including airlines. Last owner was Robert E. Purcell of Ft. Worth, TX, who acquired the plane in January 1980 and registered it N57WS. He donated it to the Air Force Museum in March 1981. It was restored by November 1984, marked as 44-70534 as it appeared in 1946 with Air Transport Command in Alaska.

This aircraft is a Fairey-built, ex-RAAF Beaufighter which was recovered from a farm by the Moorabbin Air Museum in Melbourne, Australia. It was used as a spares source for the Museum's Beaufighter A8-328 before it was sold and ended up at the NMUSAF by a very circuitous route. It is marked as the USAAF Beaufighter flown by Capt. Harold Augspurger, commander of the 415th Night Fighter Squadron, who shot down a He 111 carrying German staff officers in September 1944.

The U-4B was used by President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1956 to 1960, for short trips. It was the smallest "Air Force One," and the first Presidential aircraft to have only two engines. After Eisenhower left office, the aircraft was used for transporting senior Government officials. On 1 October 1969 it was transferred to the Air Force Academy, where it was used for cadet parachute training and the Academy's skydiving team. In November 1977 the U-4B was sent to the Nebraska Civil Air Patrol. It was obtained by the NMUSAF from a private owner in 1996.

Impossible to shoot full-frame without some obstructions, so this was about the best photo possible.

Constructed in 1936 by Mr. M.M. Wilder, with c/r NC16817. He was a member of the Civil Air Patrol and based this plane at Coastal Base 2, Rehoboth, DE, during WWII. Mr. Wilder was awarded the Air Medal for his service at Coastal Patrol Base 2. 28 Sep '72: George L. Weiss, Ft. Washington, MD. In 1991 Mr. Weiss donated this plane to the Air Force Museum and flew it there; at the time he was a retired Lt. Colonel. The plane was then repainted as it appeared while flying with the CAP during WWII. 

Ca.1943: TOS USAAF. Ca.1944: Free French Air Force. 16 Jun 45: State Ministry of Air/Air Transport Department, Paris and registered F-BAMA. 22 Jan 48: South African Tropical Transportation, Algeria. Sometime over the next few years this plane ended up in the hands of G.L. Waggoner and registered N94540. 15 Sep 66: Unknown owner with c/r N51605. Ca.1979: Unknown owner in Mexico with c/r XA-SEX. 1981: Ferried to the Air Force Museum where it was restored as a USAAF aircraft.

1944: Constructed as a VC-54C using a C-54A fuselage mated to modified C-54B wings. VIP interior included an elevator at the rear of the aircraft for President Roosevelt and his wheel chair. It also had bullet-proof picture windows. By Jun 44: TOS USAAF, assigned to the 503rd Army Air Force Base Unit, Bolling Field, DC. 21 Jan 45: Departed Washington, DC for its participation in movement of personnel for the Yalta Conference. For security reasons, it was marked with a serial number of a C-54 which was lost in the Pacific (42-72252).

Painted as 40-829 / FG 'SCAT XXVII', the personal ride of USAF legend Brigadier General Robin Olds, in which he scored his 3rd and 4th MIG-kill on May 20, 1967

29 Jan '42: TOS USAAF as C-53 41-20095 and assigned to Bolling Field, Washington, DC. Mar '42: Ferry Command, Presque Isle Army Air Field, ME. Jul '42: North Atlantic Wing of Air Transport Command. There is some information which says this plane was in the Pacific Theatre for a short time and that for two months it was used as General MacArthur's personal transport. Ca.Nov '42 to ca. May '43: Participated in Operation Torch. Sep 45: Begin life in civilian world. Oct '64: Ohio State Became primarily a transport for Ohio's governor, using the calls sign "Ohio One." Sep 1977: Air Force Museum.

Loaned by the Smithsonian Institution, NASM. Restored at Patterson Field, 1965-71. Exhibited in the USAF Museum from 1971-1975.

Photographer unknown - real serial 49-389

29 Nov '44: TOS USAAF as C-47B. Nov '44 to 1947: four units at three bases. Ca.1947: Converted to C-47D. 1947 to 1974: Seventeen units at six bases. 30 Jun '75: Retired and flown from Eglin AFB, FL to the Air Force Museum. It was the last C-47 in USAF service and ended with 20,821 flying hours.

29 Nov '44: TOS USAAF as C-47B. Nov '44 to 1947: four units at three bases. Ca.1947: Converted to C-47D. 1947 to 1974: Seventeen units at six bases. 30 Jun '75: Retired and flown from Eglin AFB, FL to the Air Force Museum. It was the last C-47 in USAF service and ended with 20,821 flying hours.

29 Nov '44: TOS USAAF as C-47B. Nov '44 to 1947: four units at three bases. Ca.1947: Converted to C-47D. 1947 to 1974: Seventeen units at six bases. 30 Jun '75: Retired and flown from Eglin AFB, FL to the Air Force Museum. It was the last C-47 in USAF service and ended with 20,821 flying hours.

29 Nov '44: TOS USAAF as C-47B. Nov '44 to 1947: four units at three bases. Ca.1947: Converted to C-47D. 1947 to 1974: Seventeen units at six bases. 30 Jun '75: Retired and flown from Eglin AFB, FL to the Air Force Museum. It was the last C-47 in USAF service and ended with 20,821 flying hours.