DOUGLAS R5D-2Z  (C-54) "SKYMASTER"

R - TRANSPORT
5 - 5TH MODEL
D - DOUGLAS
2 - 2MODIFICATIONS
Z - ADMINISTRATION

The original DC-4, designated as the DC-4E, was built at the request of five major airlines and first flew on 7 June 1938.  The Skymaster is a military version of the Douglas DC-4 long-range commercial transport.  When the U.S. entered World War II the initial order of 24 aircraft was taken over by the U.S. Armed Forces.  Over 1,000 Skymasters were built  to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.  The Skymaster would serve in World War II, the Berlin Airlift, the Korea War and the Vietnam War.  The last Skymaster served in the US military until 1979.  Marine Transport Squadron 352, (VMR-352) departed from Dallas, Texas and delivered four Bell HTL (H-13) helicopters to the Korean combat zone on 23 June 1951, the first time a transport was used to deliver aircraft directly from the factory to the combat zone.  Two VIP Skymasters, The Sacred Cow and Bataan, were used to fly President Roosevelt and General MacArthur.  This R5D-2Z Skymaster was accepted by the Navy on 30 November 1944 and removed from the active inventory in 1970 with a total of 13,504 flight hours, and is restored in the markings of (MARS-37) Marine Aircraft Repair Squadron-37.

DOUGLAS R4D-8 "Super Gooney"

R – TRANSPORT
4 – 4TH MODEL
D – DOUGLAS
8 - MODIFICATIONS

The R4D-8/C-117D configuration was based on the 1935 design of the Douglas DC-3 transport.  Douglas reconfigured the DC-3 to better serve the military mission and the C-47/R4D was produced.  Over 10,000 were built to serve all the nations of the Allied Forces during World War Two.  Versions of the DC-3/R4D/C-47 have served with almost every Air Force in the world  including Russia, the Imperial Japanese Army and Nazi Germany.  After World War Two there was a proposal to replace the R4D/C-47.  Douglas decided to improve the R4D/C-47 by stretching the fuselage by 35 inches adding new wings and tail and changing the engine to the lighter more powerful Wright R-1820.This aircraft was initially delivered as an R4D-6 on 28 December 1944. It was sent to Santa Monica, CA and upgraded to the R4D-8 configuration and redelivered in 1952.  It has served with VR –1(Fleet Logistic Support Squadron) VR-3, VR-4, VR-13, H&MS-17 (Headquarters & Maintenance Squadron), MWHS-1 (Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron) and MCAS Iwakuni, Japan.  It was retired in 1982 with a total of 23,316 hours.

FAIRCHILD R4Q-2 (C-119) "PACKET"
a.k.a. "FLYING BOXCAR"

R - TRANSPORT
4 - 4TH MODEL
Q - FAIRCHILD
2 - 2ND MODIFICATION

The R4Q (C-119) is based on the 1941 designed of the C-82 Packet.  The R4Q-1 Packet stretched and improved the C-82 with a new flight deck positioned lower and further forward, a redesigned nose, changes to the tail design and a change to the 3,000 hp Pratt & Whitney engine from the 2,100 hp Pratt & Whitney  R-2800.  The R4Q-2 introduced the Wright R-3350 in place of the P&W  R-4360.  The Marine Corps operated 41 R4Q-1s (C-119C) and 99 R4Q-2s (C-119F) in all their transport squadrons including reserve detachments.  The LOCKHEED KC-130F replaced the Packets in 1961.  This aircraft was delivered to MCAS Cherry Point and served several different Navy and Marine Transport Squadrons.   This Packet has been restored in the markings of Marine Transport Squadron –252, VMR-252.