Delivered to the USAAF as 42-72539, withdrawn to MASDC at Davis Monthan in 1970 and bought in 1977 by Aero Union as N65397. Sold to Soundair in Canada 1979 as C-GCXG and returned to the US in 1990 before being sold in Kenya in 1995. Registered 9Q-CLM with Transcontinental in October 1996 and joined Air Transport office in December 1996. Sold to Cargo Express Congo shortly after this photo was taken and registered as EL-WLS. Suspected of operating supply flights to UNITA rebels and impounded by the Angolan Air Force in 1998, it ended its days on the dump at Luanda and was scrapped by June 2012.

Former USAAF (42-72312), American Airlines (N90437), Air France (F-BBDR), Air Comores (D6-CAA) and SAAF (6907). After being withdrawn from SAAF service the aircraft was sold to Africa Cargo Airlines in 1993, briefly registered ZS-XXX and then ZS-NJN, 7Q-YYY and finally 3D-NJN. Sold in 1998 as 3D-ADW and believed scrapped.

Ex 43-17164, to Pan Am in 1946. Photo from: Melvin Horwitz / Central Connecticut State University

The C-54E was bought by Buffalo Airways the following year, and is still current with them at Yellowknife, North West Territories, where I photographed it again years later.

Lebombo has the distinction of being the last DC-4 off the production line at Santa Monica, CA. Joining the SAA fleet in August 1947, she has spent her entire service life in South Africa. She was involved in a mid-air collision with an SAAF Harvard near Durban in June 1962, but landed safely. Four years later, she joined the SAAF where she served as 6904 with 44 Sqd until the DC-4 fleet was retired in 1991. The following year, SAA bought her back and restored her to former glory and she went on several air show tours the following years. Photographer unknown

Lebombo has the distinction of being the last DC-4 off the production line at Santa Monica, CA. Joining the SAA fleet in August 1947, she has spent her entire service life in South Africa. She was involved in a mid-air collision with an SAAF Harvard near Durban in June 1962, but landed safely. Four years later, she joined the SAAF where she served as 6904 with 44 Sqd until the DC-4 fleet was retired in 1991. The following year, SAA bought her back and restored her to former glory and she went on several air show tours the following years. Photographer unknown

Lebombo has the distinction of being the last DC-4 off the production line at Santa Monica, CA. Joining the SAA fleet in August 1947, she has spent her entire service life in South Africa. She was involved in a mid-air collision with an SAAF Harvard near Durban in June 1962, but landed safely. Four years later, she joined the SAAF where she served as 6904 with 44 Sqd until the DC-4 fleet was retired in 1991. The following year, SAA bought her back and restored her to former glory and she went on several air show tours the following years. Photographer unknown

6904 was the last DC-4 off the production line at Santa Monica, CA. Joining the SAA fleet in August 1947, she has spent her entire service life in South Africa. She was involved in a mid-air collision with an SAAF Harvard near Durban in June 1962, but landed safely. Four years later, she joined the SAAF where she served as 6904 with 44 Sqd until the DC-4 fleet was retired in 1991. The following year, SAA bought her back and restored her to former glory and she went on several air show tours the following years.

Delivered to the USAAF as 42-72220 in June 1944, transferred directly to the US Navy as R5D-1 Bu. No. 39172. Then to Northwest Airlines as NC49529 in 1946, leased to Pacific Overseas Airlines as N49529 in 1948. Joined Icelandair in 1962, from February 1963 as TF-FID. Four years later, it moved to South Africa and joined Africair/Wenela Air Services as ZS-FCK. After a short tenure, it was leased by Botswana National Airways as VQ-ZEG, later A2-ZEG. The following year it returned to South Africa as ZS-FCK with Protea Airways - Protea Lugdiens. Swazi Air leased it in October 1970 as VQ-ZJN and from May 1971 as 3D-AAL.

In 1976 transferred to Colombia as FAC-699. Later SATENA (Servicio de Aeronavegación a los Territorios Nacionales). Crashed near Cerro Toledo, Columbia Dec 18, 1979 enroute to Bogota-Eldorado Airport when struck a mountain.

Built in 1946 for Western Airlines, then went to Australia from 1947 to 1977 and imported in 1981 ex-Basler Flight Service (N5581S). On 16 June 1987 it was wrecked when the crew tried to squeeze it into a 3500 ft gravel strip at Hidden Bay/SK. [The minuscule registration is just below the tail logo.]

Ex-EI-ARS of Aer Turas. For maintenance at MIACO's facility.

Ex-IADCOM. Later dumped in a remote corner of Hal Far; fuselage transported to Luqa and burnt on the fire dump in 1983.