Douglas C-54 Skymaster

C-54 Skymaster
Role	Military transport aircraft
Manufacturer	Douglas Aircraft Company
Introduced	1942
Retired	1975
Primary users	United States Army Air Forces United States Navy United States Air Force
Number built	1,170
Developed from	Douglas DC-4

The Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces and British forces in World War II and the Korean War. Besides transport of cargo, it also carried presidents, British heads of state and military staff. Dozens of variants of the C-54 were employed in a wide variety of non-combat roles such as air-sea rescue, scientific and military research and missile tracking and recovery. During the Berlin Airlift it hauled coal and food supplies to West Berlin. After the Korean War it continued to be used for military and civilian uses by more than thirty countries.

Design and development

Like the C-47 Skytrain, the C-54 Skymaster was derived from a civilian airliner (the Douglas DC-4).

Operational history

C-54s began service with the US Army Air Forces in 1942, carrying up to 26 passengers. (Later versions carried up to 50 passengers.) The U.S. Navy also acquired the type, under the designation R5D. The C-54 was one of the most commonly used long-range transports by the U.S. armed forces in World War II. 515 C-54s were manufactured in Santa Monica, California and 655 were manufactured in Chicago, Illinois.

After World War II, the C-54 continued to serve as the primary airlifter of the new United States Air Force and with the United States Navy.

1949 stamp from West Berlin with a Douglas C-54 Skymaster over Tempelhof airport, Scott 9N57

In late 1945, several hundred C-54s were surplus to U.S. military requirements and these were converted for civil airline operation, many by Douglas Aircraft at its aircraft plants. The aircraft were sold to airlines around the world. By January 1946, Pan American Airways was operating their Skymasters on transatlantic scheduled services to Europe and beyond. Trans-Pacific schedules from San Francisco to Auckland began on 6 June 1946.^[1]

On July 23, 1954, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster civilian airliner, registration VR-HEU, operated by Cathay Pacific Airways, en route from Bangkok to Hong Kong, was shot down by Chinese Communist La-7 fighters off the coast of Hainan Island, killing 10.^[2][3][4][5]

President Harry S. Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947, which created the U.S. Air Force, on board "Sacred Cow", the Presidential C-54 which is preserved at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. More than 300 C-54s and R5Ds formed the backbone of the US contribution to the Berlin Airlift in 1948. They also served as the main airlift during the Korean War. After the Korean War, the C-54 was replaced by the Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, but continued to be used by the U.S. Air Force until 1972.

The C-54 was the personal aircraft of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Douglas MacArthur, and Winston Churchill (along with an Avro York). The C-54 was also used by the Royal Air Force, the Armée de l'Air, and the armed forces of at least twelve other nations.

The last active C-54 Skymaster in U.S. Navy service (C-54Q, BuNo 56501, of the Navy Test Pilot School, NAS Patuxent River) was retired on 2 April 1974.^[6]

Variants

Berliners watching a C-54 land at Tempelhof Airport (1948).

A Douglas C-54 Skymaster, called Spirit of Freedom, currently operated as a flying museum regarding the Berlin Airlift.

VC-54C, the first aircraft used in the role of Air Force One (by President Franklin D. Roosevelt).

C-54D repainted in USAAF wartime markings. Chico, California, October 1992

C-54E.

C-54

First production variant adapted from DC-4, 24 built.

C-54A

First military version with strengthened airframe, increased fuel capacity, provision for passengers or cargo, Navy equivalent R5D-1, 252 built.

MC-54A

Optional designation for C-54As used for medical evacuation.

C-54B

Increased fuel capacity in the wing, One was used by Winston Churchill, 220 built.

VC-54C

One C-54A converted as Presidential transport version used by Franklin D. Roosevelt and later Harry Truman.

C-54D

Same as C-54B but with R-2000-11 engines, 380 built.

AC-54D

Small number of aircraft modified with special electronic calibration and communications equipment. The aircraft were redesignated EC-54D.

EC-54D

Redesignation of the AC-54D.

HC-54D Rescuemaster

Redesignation of the SC-54D.

JC-54D

Nine C-54Ds temporary converted for missile tracking and nose-cone recovery.

SC-54D

38 aircraft converted by Convair, as search and rescue aircraft. Later redesignated HC-54D.

TC-54D

C-54Ds converted into multi-engine training aircraft.

VC-54D

C-54Ds converted into VIP transport aircraft.

WC-54D

C-54Ds converted for weather reconnaissance.

C-54E

Further revision to fuel tanks and provision for rapid conversion from passenger to cargo, 125 built.

AC-54E

C-54Es converted for airways calibration, redesignated EC-54E in 1962.

EC-54E

AC-54E redesignated in 1962.

HC-54E

SC-54E redesignated in 1962.

SC-54E

C-54E converted for air-sea rescue, redesingated HC-54E in 1962.

VC-54E

C-54Es converted as a staff transport.

XC-54F

Proposed experimental paratroop version, not built.

C-54G

Same as C-54E but with different version of the R2000 engine.

HC-54G

SC-54G redesignated in 1962.

JC-54G

C-54Gs used for temporary testing.

SC-54G

C-54Gs converted for air-sea rescue, redesignated HC-54G in 1962.

VC-54G

C-54Gs converted into VIP/staff transport aircraft.

C-54GM

The designation of the DC-4 version with Merlin engines built by Canadair.

C-54H

Paratroop transport. None built.

C-54J

Staff transport project, none built. Navy designation R5D-6.

XC-54K

Long range version, one aircraft built with Wright R-1820 engines.

C-54L

One C-54A aircraft tested in 1947 with an experimental fuel system.

C-54M

Specialized modification of C-54 to carry coal during the Berlin Airlift, 38 conversions.

MC-54M

Specialized modification of C-54E for medical evacuation, 30 conversions.

VC-54N

R5D-1Z redesignated in 1962.

C-54P

R5D-2 redesignated in 1962.

VC-54P

R5D-2Z redesignated in 1962.

C-54Q

R5D-3 redesignated in 1962.

VC-54Q

R5D-3Z redesignated in 1962.

C-54R

R5D-4R redesingated in 1962.

C-54S

R5D-5 redesingnated in 1962.

VC-54S

R5D-5Z redesignated in 1962.

C-54T

R5D-5R redesingated in 1962.

EC-54U

R5D-4 redesignated in 1962.

RC-54V

R5D-3P redesignated in 1962.

R5D-1

56 C-54As transferred to the United States Navy.

R5D-1C

R5D-1s modified in US Navy service, with a fuel system based on the one used in the C-54B.

R5D-1F

Naval staff transport conversions of the R5D-1, redesignated R5D-1Z then VC-54N.

R5D-1Z

Interim designation of the R5D-1F.

R5D-2

30 C-54Bs transferred to the United States Navy, redesignated C-54P in 1962.

R5D-2F

Naval staff transport conversion of the R5D-2, redesignated R5D-2Z then VC-54P in 1962.

R5D-2Z

Interim designation of the R5D-2F.

U.S.Navy R5D-3 Skymaster at Blackbushe, Hampshire, in 1954

R5D-3

95 C-54Ds transferred to the United States Navy, redesignated C-54Q in 1962.

R5D-3P

Photo survey conversions of the R5D-3, redesignated RC-54V in 1962.

R5D-3Z

Naval staff transport conversions of the R5D-3, redesignated VC-54Q in 1962.

R5D-4

20 C-54Es transferred to the United States Navy, redesignated EC-54U in 1962.

R5D-4R

Passenger only conversion of the R5D-4, redesignated C-54R in 1962.

R5D-5

R5D-2 and R5D-3s re-engined to approximate C-54G standards, redesignated C-54S in 1962.

R5D-5R

Passenger only conversion of the R5D-5, redesignated C-54T in 1962, 86 conversion.

R5D-5Z

Staff transport conversion of the R5D-5, redesignated VC-54S in 1962.

R5D-6

Proposed USN version of the C-54J with passenger interior, not built.

XC-112

Pressurized variant of the C-54B with Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engines. None built.

XC-112A

As XC-112. One built. Developed into DC-6 / C-118 family.

XC-114

Stretched C-54E powered by Allison V-1710 engines. One built.

XC-115

XC-114 with Packard V-1650 engines. None Built.

YC-116

XC-114 with thermal de-icing rather than rubber boots for testing, one built.

Skymaster I

Royal Air Force designation for 22 C-54Ds.

Operators

Netherlands Government Air Transport C-54A on display at the Aviodrome.

USAF C-54 Skymaster.

Military operators

 Argentina

 Belgium

• Belgian Air Force - One former R5D1 from 1950–1971, also operated one DC-4.^[7]

 Bolivia

• TAM – Transporte Aéreo Militar - one former USAF VC-54D and one C-54G both bought in 1973.^[8]

 Brazil

 Cambodia

 Chad

 Colombia

 Cuba

 Denmark

Royal Danish Air Force 6 C-54D/G, 1959–1977

 Ethiopia

• Ethiopian Air Force - One former USAF C-54D from 1966 and one former US DoT C-54G in 1969.^[8]

 France

• French Air Force - One C-54E donated in 1945 and transferred to the Navy in 1960. One C-54A 1961-1975.^[8]
• French Naval Aviation - One C-54E transferred from the Air Force in 1960, destroyed in 1982. One C-54B 1962-1969.^[8]

 Honduras

 Iceland

Icelandic Coast Guard

 Israel

Israeli Air Force

Netherlands East Indies

• Netherlands East Indies Air Force - four C-54As operated in 1946.^[7]

 Niger

• Nigerian Air Force - One C-54B 1968-1974.^[9]

 Peru

 Portugal

• Portuguese Air Force - Four C-54Ds operated from 1952 supplemented in 1961 by four former C-54As that had been modified to DC-4 standard.^[8] In 1965 ten former USAF HC-54Ds were obtained with an additional four as spares.

 Republic of China

• Chinese Nationalist Air Force - former USAF aircraft 2 × C-54D (one bought in 1965 and one in 1966), and 1 × C-54G (bought in 1968)^[8]

 Saudi Arabia

• Royal Saudi Air Force - one former Saudia C-54A from 1960 and now preserved.^[10]

 South Korea

 Spain

• Spanish Air Force - Four former C-54Ds given to Spain by the USAF in 1959 were later supplemented by another 13 second-hand aircraft which included C-54, C-54A, C-54B, C-54E, C-54G and 5D-3s.

 Thailand

 Turkey

• Turkish Air Force - three C-54Ds from 1966-1976.^[7]

 United Kingdom

• Royal Air Force - 10 C-54Ds transferred from USAF under lend-lease in 1945 and returned in 1946.^[8] One special fitted C-54B for the use by Winston Churchill transferred in 1944 and returned in 1945.
  • No. 232 Squadron RAF
  • No. 246 Squadron RAF
  • Metropolitan Communications Squadron

 United States

United States Army Air Forces, US Air Force, United States Navy, US Marine Corps, US Coast Guard

 Venezuela

• Venezuelan Air Force - One C-54A 1949-1955.^[9]

 Zimbabwe

Civilian operators

 Australia

Trans Australia Airlines

 Belgium

Sabena, Avions Fairey, Belgian International

 Canada

Buffalo Airways (14 registered as of 11 March 2010 with 4 in operation^[11][12]), former airlines; Canadian Pacific, Curtiss Reid Flying Services Canada, Kenting Aviation, Maritime Central Airways, Pacific Western, Transair

 Colombia

Avianca

 Hong Kong

Cathay Pacific Airways

 Iceland

Icelandair, Loftleidir

 Israel

El Al

 Paraguay

Paraguayan Airways Service, Lloyd Aéreo Paraguayo S.A.

 Republic of China

China Airlines

 United Kingdom

Invicta, Starways,

 United States

Pan American, Trans World Airlines, Aero Union, Pacific Southwest Airlines, Capital Airlines, Eastern Airlines

Specifications (C-54G)

General characteristics

• Crew: 4
• Capacity: 50 troops
• Length: 93 ft 10 in (28.6 m)
• Wingspan: 117 ft 6 in (35.8 m)
• Height: 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m)
• Wing area: 1,460 ft² (136 m²)
• Empty weight: 38,930 lb (17,660 kg)
• Loaded weight: 62,000 lb (28,000 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 73,000 lb (33,000 kg)
• Powerplant: 4× Pratt & Whitney R-2000-9 radial engines, 1,450 hp (1,080 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 275 mph (239 kn, 442 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 190 mph (165 kn, 310 km/h)
• Range: 4,000 mi (6,400 km)
• Service ceiling: 22,300 ft (6,800 m)
• Wing loading: 42.5 lb/ft² (207 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.094 hp/lb (160 W/kg)

See also

Related development

• Douglas DC-4
• Douglas DC-6
• Douglas DC-7
  

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of the United States
• List of military aircraft of the United States (naval)
  

References

• Berry, Peter and others (1967). The Douglas DC-4. Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN none. 
• Francillon, René (1979). McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Since 1920: Volume I. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-87021-428-4. 
• Yenne, Bill (1985). McDonnell Douglas: A Tale of Two Giants. Greenwich, Connecticut: Bison Books. ISBN 0-517-44287-6. 
• The PSA History/Oldtimers Page [1]
• Eastwood, Tony; John Roach (1991). Piston Engine Airliner Production List. The Aviation Hobby Shop. ISBN 0 907178 37 5. 

External links

• Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation - Operates C-54 "Spirit of Freedom" as flying Berlin Airlift Museum
• Air Force Association page on C-54
• Air Force Museum page on the VC-54C
• Warbird Alley: C-54 page
• Cockpit View of C-54 During Landing/Taxi