USAF 49-0132. I just can't put into words how wonderful it was for me to visit the Pima Air and Space Museum. To walk around/under all these amazing & beautiful old aircraft was a memory that will stay with me for a long time.

Originally this C-119 was US Air Force 48-322. Becoming N13475 when it was used by Aero Union and later, Hemet Valley Flying Service as a fire fighting air tanker, it had a Steward-Davis jet-pack conversion utilizing a Westinghouse J34 engine added to the fuselage. The registration was cancelled in 1995 and the aircraft went on display at the Milestones of Flight Air Museum, Fox Field, Lancaster, CA where it remains today.

Built for USAAF in June 1945 as 45-0481. Stored at Davis Monthan in 07.73 and bought by Aero Union in 11.78. Converted to tanker. Operated by Hemet Valley FS as '166' from 10.85 until sale to Hawkins & Powers in 01.93. Still operational with them in 04.07 when 62 years old and still currently registered in 2018.

Seen here at Lancaster Fox field in 1979, still in operational condition. In 1992 it returned to this same airport, now for preservation at the Milestones of Flight Museum. It was still there by 2018.

Fire bombers at rest. Behind are Hemet Valley C-119C N13744 '86' and Aero Union C-54A N11712 '02'

Showing to advantage the auxiliary J34 turbojet fitted atop after her USAF career as 49-0199, this impressive fire bomber has been preserved since the early 90s in the Castle Air Museum. Was part of a fleet including three more C-119s, KC-97s, O-2 Super Skymasters and TS-2 Trackers

Hemet Valley Flying Service was a pioneer in the field of aerial firefighting, having converted many aircraft types to airtankers. N13744 / 86 (ex USAF 49-199) was one of four Flying Boxcars this company operated out of their base in southern California. It was acquired by the Castle Air Museum in 1993, and placed on display at Castle AFB, CA. In the early 2000s it was painted in full USAF markings as 49-199.