Douglas C-117D Skytrooper

The Douglas C‑117D Skytrooper was a United States Army Air Forces transport aircraft that entered service just after World War II. Developed from the proven C‑54 Skymaster airliner, the C‑117 series was equipped with a reinforced floor, large cargo doors and a double‑deck side hatch that allowed rapid loading of troops, equipment and supplies. The D model incorporated upgraded Pratt & Whitney R‑2000 radial engines, improved navigation radios and a strengthened airframe capable of operating from austere airfields. First delivered in 1946, the C‑117D saw extensive use during the Berlin Airlift, where its cargo capacity and reliability helped sustain the isolated city. Throughout the late 1940s and 1950s the type served in a variety of roles, including troop transport, medical evacuation and humanitarian relief missions in Europe, the Pacific and the Middle East. Its versatile design set a benchmark for post‑war military airlift, influencing later cargo aircraft such as the C‑130 Hercules. Today, a handful of restored C‑117Ds are displayed in museums, commemorating an aircraft that bridged the gap between wartime transport and the modern logistical air fleet, global operations.

Douglas

Douglas C-117D Skytrooper

Classification

Design & Classification