R6D-1 Liftmaster

The Douglas R6D‑1 Liftmaster was the United States Navy’s designation for the military version of the Douglas DC‑4, a four‑engine, propeller‑driven transport that entered service shortly after World II. First flown in 1944, the R6D‑1 was delivered to the Navy beginning in 1945 and quickly replaced older cargo aircraft such as the C‑47 Skytrain. Powered by four Pratt & Whitney R-2000‑18 engines delivering 1,450 hp each, the aircraft could carry up to 28,000 lb of freight, 70 troops, or a combination of both, and it featured a large, unobstructed cargo bay with a reinforced floor and a rear loading ramp that facilitated rapid loading of vehicles and equipment. Its robust airframe, long range of roughly 4,000 mi, and ability to operate from relatively short or damaged runways made it a versatile workhorse for the Navy’s logistical and humanitarian missions. The R6D‑1 played a pivotal role in post‑war Pacific operations, supporting island construction, troop repatriation, and disaster relief, and it laid the groundwork for later strategic airlift platforms such as the C‑124 and C‑130. Though retired in the late 1970s, the Liftmaster remains a symbol of the transition from wartime transport to modern, global air logistics.

Douglas

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