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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Douglas DC-4 / C-54/R5D/C-112 Skymaster / Carvair ATL / Canadair DC-4M/C-4 North Star
    Latest Model:HC-54D Rescuemaster
    Last Military Serial:42-72517 USAF
    Construction Number:10622
    Compressed ID:Douglas HC-54D sn 42-72517 USAF cn...
    Latest Owner or Location:Military Aircraft Storage and Disposal Center (MASDC)

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a C-54D-1-DC by Douglas at Chicago, IL.

    14 March 1944

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 42-72517 as a JC-54D.

    16 March 1944

    To Douglas Aircraft Company Modification Center, Oklahoma City, OK.

    9 April 1944

    To Memphis, TN.

    11 April 1944

    To Nashville, TN.

    After 11 April 1944

    Transferred to 10th Air Force, Karachi, Pakistan.

    6 September 1945

    Returned to the United States.

    19 September 1945

    Transferred to 1103rd AAF Base Unit, Morrison Field, FL.

    24 March 1946

    Transferred to 4119th AAF Base Unit, Brookley Field, AL.

    26 March 1946

    Transferred to 1103rd AAF Base Unit, Morrison Field, FL.

    21 May 1946

    Transferred to 4136th AAF Base Unit (Area Command), Tinker AAF, OK.

    To 4119th AAF Base Unit, Brookley Field, AL.

    19 August 1946

    Transferred to 554th AAF Base Unit, Memphis, TN.

    22 August 1946

    Transferred to 594th AAF Base Unit, Topeka, KS.

    Transferred to 1100th AAF Base Unit, Kelly Field, TX.

    Transferred to 1377th AAF Base Unit (North Atlantic Division, ATC), Grenier Field, N. H.

    Transferred to 1100th AAF Base Unit, Kelly Field, TX.

    Transferred to 4000th AAF Base Group, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.

    Transferred to 4112th AAF Base Unit, Olmstead Field, PA.

    Transferred to 1377th AAF Base Unit, Grenier Field, N. H.

    31 March 1947

    Transferred to 4112th AAF Base Unit, Olmstead Field, PA.

    By September 1947

    Transferred to 554th AAF Base Unit, Memphis, TN.

    18 September 1947

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Air Force with s/n 42-72517.

    29 September 1947

    Transferred to 1377th AAF Base Unit, Westover AFB, MA.

    Transferred to 4135th Base Unit, Hill AFB, UT.

    July 1948

    To 4136th Base Unit, Tinker AFB, OK.

    August 1948

    Transferred to 313th Maintenance and Supply Group, Bergstrom AFB, TX.

    Transferred to 1420th Base CT, Wiesbaden, Germany.

    Transferred to 313th Troop Carrier Group, RAF Fassberg, Germany.

    7 January 1949

    Transferred to 1600th Air Transport Wing (Medium), Westover AFB, MA.

    2 February 1949

    Transferred to 1600th Maintenance and Supply Group, Westover AFB, MA.

    11 February 1949

    Transferred to 317th Troop Carrier Group, Celle RAF Station, Germany.

    10 June 1949

    Transferred to 1600th Maintenance and Supply Group, Westover AFB, MA.

    4 August 1949

    Transferred to 61st Air Base Wing, Rhein Main AB, West Germany.

    20 February 1950

    Transferred to 2078th Air Weather Reconnaisssance Squadron (Special), Tinker AFB, OK.

    7 March 1950

    Transferred to 513th Reconnaissance Squadron, Very Long Range, Weather, Tinker AFB, OK.

    8 March 1950

    Transferred to 2105th Air Weather Group, Wiesbaden AB, West Germany.

    By March 1951

    To 1600th Maintenance and Supply Group, Westover AFB, MA.

    Circa 1951


    Photographer: Unknown
    Notes: Photographed at Bluie West One, aka Narsarsuaq Air Base, Greenland.

    Transferred to 41st Troop Carrier Squadron, 317th TCG, Wheelus AB, Libya.

    By 1953

    Transferred to 1414th Air Base Group, MATS, Dhahran Air Field, Saudi Arabia.

    Transferred to 41st Troop Carrier Squadron, 317th TCG, Wheelus AB, Libya.

    11 May 1954

    Transferred to 1608th Air Transport Wing (Medium), Charleston AFB, SC.

    By February 1956

    Converted to a SC-54D.

    By February 1956

    Transferred to 29th ARS, Kindley AFB, Bermuda.

    Circa November 1961

    Transferred to 79th ARS, Air Rescue Service, MATS, Andersen AFB, Guam.
    Operated with markings: RESCUE

    By 1966

    Redesignated as HC-54D.

    By April 1966

    Transferred to 438th Military Airlift Wing, McGuire AFB, NJ.

    20 April 1966

    Transferred to the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposal Center (MASDC).

    After 22 June 1966

    Scrapped.


    Credits
    Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...

    Internet Sources
    Air Force Historical Research Agency
    Plane Slides
    The AMARC Experience
    United States Military Services Serial Number Lists by Joe Baugher
    Wikipedia

    Individual Contributors
    Max Sabin

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