Douglas C-54 Skymaster

The Douglas C‑54 Skymaster was a four‑engine, all‑metal transport aircraft developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company in the early 1940s as the military version of the civilian DC‑4. First flown in February 1942, the C‑54 entered service with the United States Army Air Forces during World II, where it proved indispensable for long‑range cargo and troop movements across Europe, the Pacific and the China‑Burma‑India theater. Powered by four Pratt & Whitney R‑2000 radials delivering 1,450 horsepower each, the aircraft could cruise at 275 mph, carry up to 28,000 pounds of payload, and transport 50 passengers or a full infantry company. Its robust airframe, large cargo door, and pressurized cabin made it adaptable for a wide range of missions, including airborne supply drops, medical evacuation, and post‑war civilian airline service. After the war, surplus C‑54s were transferred to commercial operators and governments, playing a key role in the Berlin Airlift of 1948‑49, where they delivered essential food and fuel to a blockaded city. The Skymaster’s reliability, range, and versatility cemented its legacy as a cornerstone of military air logistics and a bridge between wartime transport and the modern airliner era.

Douglas

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

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Design & Classification