History
Douglas developed the DC-4 in response to requests from Eastern and United Airlines, after the failed DC-4E, which proved too complicated and uneconomical.
Before the type entered production World War Two broke out and all contracts were taken over by the USAF, designating the aircraft as C-54; US Navy gave it the designation R5D.
The first C-54 made its first flight on 14 February 1942. 1163 Examples were built between 1942 and 1946. After the war a further 79 DC-4s were built.
After the war the type was developed into the larger DC-6 and DC-7.
Versions.
At this website you may find an overview of DC-4 and C-54 variants.
| Dimensions: | |||
| Length: | 28,2 m | Wingspan: | 35,8 m |
| Height: | 8,38 m | Wing area: | 136 m2 |
| Weights: | |||
| Empty weight: | 17 660 kg | Max. start weight: | 33 000 kg |
| Performances: | |||
| Max. speed: | 442 km/hr | Rate of climb: | - m/min |
| Cruising speed: | 310 km/hr | ||
| Range: | 6400 km | Service ceiling: | 6800 m |
| Miscellaneous: | |||
| Engine type: | Four Pratt & Whitney R-2000-9 rated 1450 hp each. (type of engine installed may vary) | ||
| Crew: | - | ||
| Armament: | None | ||
In service with NGAT (Netherlands Governent Air Transport) and NEIAF.
In service with Netherlands Government Air Transport.
The NGAT was in fact the successor of no. 1316 (Dutch Communications) Flight. Autumn 1945 fourteen C-54s were acquired from the USAF by the Dutch Government.
These aircraft were completely overhauled and modified for transport of 28 passengers and 2000 kg freight.
Initially the orange triangle was applied as national insignia and also "military" serials were added. The aircraft were property of the Dutch Government and flown by KLM crew. One of the reasons was that in those days it was forbidden for civil aircraft to use several (military) airfields along the route to Netherlands East Indies. Spring 1947 the situation has changed and the aircraft were officially handed over to the KLM and received a civil KLM colour scheme and also civil registrations.
See also the site of Herman Dekker for more information about this subject.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
In service with NEIAF.
The four Skymasters arrived in November 1946 and entered service with no 19 squadron NEIAF. The aircraft flew mainly for NIGAT, Netherlands-Indies Government Air Transport.
The aircraft were meant for exploitation by the KNILM (Koninklijke Nederlands-Indische
Luchtvaart Maatschappij).
As this came to nothing, the aircraft were sold to KLM in August
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Serial overview NGAT and NEIAF
Serial overview NGAT
| Serial
Serial
|
US Fiscal Year nr.
US Fiscal Year nr.
|
Constr.nr.
Constr.nr.
|
Date in service
Date in service
|
Date out of service
Date out of service
|
Notes
Notes
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All aircraft were in use with no 1316 Flight RAF | |||||
| NL300 | 41-37303 | 3094 | To KLM as PH-TAB | ||
| NL301 | 42-72275 | 10380 | To KLM as PH-TAC | ||
| NL302 | 42-72274 | 10379 | To KLM as PH-TAD | ||
| NL303 | 42-72316 | 10421 | To KLM as PH-TAA | ||
| NL304 | 41-37290 | 3081 | To KLM as PH-TAF | ||
| NL305 | 42-72315 | 10420 | To KLM as PH-TAG | ||
| NL306 | 41-37277 | 3067 | 1316 Dutch Communication Flight. Burned on 5-11-1946 | ||
| NL307 | 42-72287 | 10392 | To KLM as PH-TAH | ||
| NL308 | 41-37288 | 3079 | To KLM as PH-TAI | ||
| NL309 | 42-107445 | 7464 | To KLM as PH-TAK | ||
| NL310 | 42-72270 | 10375 | To KLM as PH-TAL | ||
| NL311 | 42-72286 | 10391 | To KLM as PH-TAM | ||
| NL312 | 41-37293 | 3084 | To KLM as PH-TAN | ||
| NL313 | 41-37308 | 3099 | To KLM as PH-TAO | ||
| NL314 | 42-72271 | 10376 | To KLM as PH-TBS | ||
| NL315 | 42-72272 | 10377 | To KLM as PH-TBU | ||
| NL316 | 42-72207 | 10312 | To KLM as PH-TCD | ||
| NL350 | 42-107436 | 7544 | It is uncertain wether this serial was actually used. After the war (19-2-1946) to KLM as PH-TCP (ntu), became PJ-ALW | ||
Serial overview NEIAF.
| Serial | US-Fisc. Year-nr. | Constr.nr. | Date in service | Date out fo service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DT-994 | 11-1946 | 08-1947 | |||
| DT-995 | 11-1946 | 08-1947 | |||
| DT-996 | 11-1946 | 08-1947 | |||
| DT-997 | 11-1946 | 08-1947 |
1/72nd Scale
Kits
- Mach2
- GP034: Douglas DC4/C54 Skymaster (PanAm, USAAF, US Navy)
- Revell
- 04877: Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Modelling add-on
- Harald Hensel
- Set 72007: Corrected DC4/C54 Engine set (MACH2)
- Aeroclub
- Set P084: 2x Hamilton Standard 3 bld 13`6'' diam prop (C54,DC4)
- Red Roo
- Set 72148: DC4 Canopy and astrodome (MACH 2)
- Eduard
- Set E73-530: Detailset C54 Skymaster Cargo Interior (Revell)
- Set E73-529 / SS529: Detailset C54 Skymaster Interior Self adhesive (Revell)
- Set E72-605: Detailset C54 Exterior (Revell)
Decals
- Dutch Decal
- Set 72079: Dutch Flags (B25 Mitchell, C54, Lockheed L12 (NEIAAF), B24 Liberator, Catalina, D24 (MLD), Do24 (RAAF))
- Set DC723: Douglas C54/DC-4, (Neth Government Air Transport, KLM, KNILM)
- FlevoDecals
- Set FD72-003: Netherlands East Indies KNIL 1942-1947 part 1 (Hurricane, C47, C54, P40N, B25 Mitchell)
1/48th Scale
Kits
- --
- Kit --: --
Modelling add-on
- --
- Set --: --
Decals
- --
- Set --: --
The Skymasters were overall bare metal.
| Scheme | Colour name | FS number | BS number | Humbrol | XtraColor | WEM | Vallejo Model Color | Vallejo Model Air | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard #1 | Overall bare metal | ||||||||
Check www.paint4models.com for an extensive conversion table with lots of colour and paint systems.
Literature.
| Dutch Military Aviation 1945-1978 | Paul A. Jackson | pag. 126 | 1978 | Uitgever: Midland Countries Publications, Leicester |
| Nederlandse Vliegtuig-Encyclopedie No. 14 Douglas Skymaster en DC-4 | Hugo Hooftman | 1982 | COCKPIT-uitgeverij, Bennekom | |
| Luchtvaartwereld; jaargang 1, nummer 7: Luchtvaartwereld Vliegtuigdossier nr. 8 Douglas DC-4 Skymaster | Harm J. Hazewinkel | pag. 38 - 39 | 1982 | Uitgever: Geromy, Maarssen |
| AVIA; 43e jaargang nummer 1: DC - De geschiedenis van de Douglas-verkeersvliegtuigen. | Bart van der Klaauw | Pag. 54 - 57 | 1984 | Uitgevers Wyt, Rotterdam |
| Luchtvaartwereld; 4e jaargang nummer 7/8: Skymasters voor de vliegende Hollander | Nico Geldhof | pag. 215 - 219 | 1987 | Uitgeverij Ten Brink, Meppel |
| Luchtvaartwereld; 4e jaargang nummer 9: Skymasters voor de vliegende Hollander | Nico Geldhof | pag. 245 - 251 | 1987 | Uitgeverij Ten Brink, Meppel |
| Squadrons van de Koninklijke Luchtmacht (derde herzien druk) | Willem Helfferich | pag. 22 | 1994 | Uitgevers Wyt, Rotterdam |
| Camouflage en Kentekens | J.Greuter e.a. | 1997 | Bonneville – Bergen (NH) |
Websites.
--
Nederlands (nl-NL) 
English (United Kingdom)